Syracuse University
Northeastern
Ice Hockey Opens Season At Home
9/29/2010 12:28:41 PM | Ice Hockey
Game Notes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The third season of the Syracuse University women's ice hockey program will be under way on Friday, October 1 when the Orange takes on Northeastern at 7 p.m. For the first time in program history, Syracuse will open the season at home. In each of its first two seasons, the Orange played its first seven games on the road before returning home to Tennity Ice Pavilion. SU will play in front of its home crowd for the first five games of the 2010-11 season.
Head coach Paul Flanagan and the Orange are eager to hit the ice on Friday.
"We are optimistic at this point," Flanagan said. "We are trying to slowly make some strides here and hopefully move up the ladder, not only in our league but try to make some noise nationally and start creeping into that top 10."
Scouting the Huskies
Friday's game will mark the first meeting between Syracuse and Northeastern and is the season opener for both teams. The Huskies finished the 2009-10 season ranked ninth nationally in the USCHO.com poll with a record of 17-9-7 and 9-6-6 in Hockey East play.
Northeastern returns 16 members from its 2009-10 roster. Goaltenders junior Florence Schelling, the reigning Hockey East Co-Player of the Year and senior Leah Sulyma provide a solid duo in the goal. Senior Kristi Kehoe was the Huskies' leading scorer last season with 12 goals and 14 assists. Senior Julia Marty and twin sister Stefanie Marty of the Orange will go head-to-head for the first time in their careers. Julia, one of Northeastern's top returning defenders, will have the task of stopping Stefanie, SU's top goal scorer from a year ago (16).
2009-10 in Review
In just its second year of the program, the Orange doubled its win total from its inaugural season in 2008. SU registered an overall record of 18-17-1 and went 8-8 in College Hockey America (CHA) action. Syracuse finished third in the CHA and placed seven members on the all-conference honors list, including Coach of the Year Paul Flanagan. Forward Isabel Menard was a unanimous first-team selection and was tabbed Rookie of the Year. Honorees which are also returning to the 2010-11 squad are second-team selection Stefanie Marty and all-rookie team member Holly Carrie-Mattimoe.
A Look at the Orange
The 2010-11 Orange roster features 14 players from last year's team and 11 new faces, including 10 freshmen and senior transfer Ashley Cockell. The Fort Assiniboine, Alberta native recently joined the Orange after spending the last three seasons at Mercyhurst. Four SU skaters have been named team captains, including Marty and fellow senior Julie Rising, junior Taylor Metcalfe and Menard.
"I like what I've seen so far, we're young, we have 10 freshmen and one transfer, so 11 new players gives us a new flavor," Flanagan said.
2010-11 Schedule at a Glance
Syracuse will compete against five tough opponents at home to start the season. Two of those teams are ranked in the top 10 of the USCHO.com Division I poll, including No. 9 Boston College and No. 10 New Hampshire. Cornell (No. 2), Mercyhurst (No. 3), Clarkson (No. 7) and Providence (No. 10) are among the other top 10 teams that appear on Syracuse's schedule.
Coverage of the Orange
The season opener against Northeastern will be streamed live on Orange All Access (OAA), SU's multimedia package. The October 8 matchup against New Hampshire will also be webcast live on OAA.
Click here to subscribe to Orange All-Access.
You can also follow the Orange on the go via Suathletics.com/wicemobile.
