This Week
Fri./Sat., Oct. 9th / 10th – at New Hampshire/Boston College, 7 p.m./5 p.m.
The Raiders open their 2009-10 season this weekend when they take to the road against the Wildcats of New Hampshire on Friday night, followed by the Eagles of Boston College on Saturday. Both games are non-ECAC match-ups.
Scouting the Opposition
New Hampshire – The Wildcats kicked off their season last weekend as they swept through Quinnipiac and Connecticut, outscoring their opponents 7-1 on the weekend. New Hampshire, who was picked fifth in the preseason national polls, are led by senior forwards Kelly Cahill and Micaela Long, who started off the weekend combining for six points on their opening two contests. Net-minders Kayley Herman and Lindsey Minton each received a complete game victory, as the Wildcats enter the weekend with a 2-0 overall record and a 1-0 mark in Hockey East play.
Boston College – The Eagles will have played three games prior to entertaining Colgate on Saturday night, after they went 0-1-1 last weekend against Clarkson, and will play Syracuse Friday night. Two freshmen have the only two tallies for Boston College, as they were outscored by the Golden Knights last weekend 6-2. Forward Caitlin Walsh and blue-liner Blake Bolden each have one goal early this season.
Last Time vs. New Hampshire/Boston College
The Raiders took down the fifth ranked Wildcats midway through last season for the programs first victory over New Hampshire, 5-4. Evan Minnick (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had two goals in the game, and Jessi Waters (Menlo Park, Calif.) scored the game-winner late in the third period to give Colgate the win. Kimberly Sass (East Amherst, N.Y.) also made 32 saves for the Raiders.
The last time the Raiders met up with Boston College, the Eagles came out victorious by a score of 3-1. Beth Rotenberg (Toronto, Ont.) scored the lone goal for the Raiders, while Waters recorded the assist. The series record between the two schools entering the weekend is 1-1-1.
Preseason Picks
The Raiders were selected to finish eighth in the ECAC Hockey Preseason Poll as chosen by conference coaches. The Raiders received a total of 52 votes, while top-choice St. Lawrence grabbed the No. 1 spot with 107 votes including three first place votes.
Coach Wiley
Head coach Scott Wiley enters his eighth season at the helm of the Raiders. He carries a record of 104-114-25 into this seasons campaign. Wiley led last years team to a school record 19 wins, including an eight-game unbeaten streak in January. The 2003-04 ECAC Coach of the Year has high hopes for this years team and will look to make this eighth straight ECAC playoff appearance.
Coming Back
Colgate returns four of its top six point getters from last years team, along with the starting rotation of net-minders in Sass and Lisa Plenderleith (Ajax, Ont.). Rotenberg, Minnick, Marissa Dombovy (Webster, N.Y.) and Katie Stewart (Exeter, Ont.) combined for 99 total points last year and will look to keep that chemistry flowing into this season.
