Friday, November 23
Burlington, VT
7 PM
Syracuse University
at
Vermont
Orange Travel to Vermont for Windjammer Classic
11/22/2018 5:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange will spend their Thanksgiving weekend in Vermont. Syracuse women's hockey heads to the Windjammer Classic, hosted by Vermont, this weekend to play two games inside Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vt.
Syracuse first plays host institution Vermont at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23 before playing either No. 8 St. Lawrence or No. 2 Minnesota at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT
This year's field includes two of women's collegiate hockey's top teams: No. 2 Minnesota and No. 8 St. Lawrence. Host Vermont and Syracuse round out the slate of competitors.Â
The tournament begins Friday, with nationally-ranked Minnesota and St. Lawrence kicking things off at 4 p.m. Vermont and the Orange then clash at 7 p.m.
The winners will play in the championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday, while the losers will play in the consolation game at 4 p.m.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
VERMONT
Host Vermont enters the weekend with a 2-7-4 overall record, including a 2-6-2 mark in Hockey East play. The Catamounts have lost three of their last four games, most recently tying Boston University, 3-3.
Forward Ève-Audrey Picard is the team's leading scorer this season, with four goals (seven points) through 12 games. Goaltender Melissa Black has started 10 games this year and owns a .912 save percentage.
ST. LAWRENCE
St. Lawrence, ranked eighth in the country, is 8-5-1 overall and a perfect 4-0-0 in ECACÂ play.
Defenseman Skylar Podvey has a team-high five goals in 14 games. Forward Justine Reyes sits behind her with four goals and leads the team in assists (8) and points (12).
Goaltenders Grace Harrison and Sonjia Shelly have split the duties in net this season. Each has started seven games and owns save percentages north of .920.
MINNESOTA
Second-ranked Minnesota is a national title contender. The Gophers are 11-2-1 overall and 9-2-1 in WCHAÂ play entering the tournament.
The Gophers offense averages 3.71 goals per game, which is third in the nation. Forward Grace Zumwinkle has a team-high eight goals (15 points) in 14 games, while teammate Nicole Schammel leads the team in assists and points with 12 and 16, respectively.
Goaltender Alex Gulstene has started nine games and owns a save percentage of .922, allowing an average of 1.66 goals per game.
WHAT'S NEW WITH THE ORANGE
Syracuse enters the weekend with a 4-8-1 overall record, including a 4-3-0 mark in CHA play. The Orange suffered a 6-4 setback against conference opponent RIT in their last outing.
Sophomore forward Emma Polaski had a career day in the loss, tallying a natural hat trick and an assist. She leads the team with eight goals and shares the team high in points (11) with senior defenseman Allie Munroe.
Polaski earned CHA Player of the Week honors for her four-point performance against RIT. She is the second Orange skater to earn Player of the Week honors from the conference this year, as junior forward Anonda Hoppner received the honor in October after a four-point weekend.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Another showdown against one of the best teams in the nation is on deck for the Orange.
Syracuse next travels to Madison, Wisc., to face current-No. 1 Wisconsin in a two-game series. The puck drops at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 and at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.
For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).
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