NCAA Women's Hockey: What to Watch, Week 7

(9) Harvard at (10) Clarkson

Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern

Watch: Paid stream available on ESPN+.

I was skeptical of the Crimson headed into this season, but they are off to a strong start, including a 2-0 win Friday night over St. Lawrence. They're in a stretch of some of the hardest ECAC competition early on and so far have a single OT loss to Colgate on their record.

Harvard has been successful at moving the puck around and displaying their depth. Fourteen different skaters have tallied points in their first five games, led by senior Keely Moy, who has four goals and four assists already this season.

Clarkson has played a number of close games this season, but have managed an 8-1-2 record so far. Harvard is looking like they'll be the toughest challenge the Golden Knights have faced at this point in the season.

As expected, Caitrin Lonergan leads Clarkson, having tallied seven goals and 10 assists already. Gabrielle David and Brooke McQuigge each have five goals for the Golden Knights, as well.

Though they've been more recently known for a high-powered offense, their defense has been the star in these early games. The team is allowing just one goal per game and are coming off two straight shutouts. This game is their biggest test, as Harvard has averaged four goals scored per game.

Connecticut at Boston University

Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern

Watch: Free stream via CollegeSportsLive.

Connecticut took a 2-1 win over the Terriers on Friday night. The Huskies are off to a 9-1 start to their season with their only loss coming to Merrimack last weekend. They, too, are showing depth, with most of the players on their roster having tallied at least a point so far this season.

Natalie Snodgrass and Viki Harkness have been the offensive drivers for the team for a few seasons. Senior Danielle Fox is already halfway to her career high in points. Transfer Summer Rae Dobson, who joined UConn after playing four years at Mercyhurst, has added another scoring threat to the Huskies.

A win on Saturday would move Connecticut into a tie with BU for second place in the conference. It's obviously early in the season, but the Huskies have been known in recent years for making waves towards the end of the year and being difficult to beat in the playoffs. It says great things about the trajectory of the program f0r them to be in this position at this point in the season.

It's been difficult to nail down this Boston University team. They're 5-2-3 so far, with wins over Northeastern and Providence, but a loss to RPI and ties with New Hampshire, Merrimack and Vermont.

Freshman Christina Vote has been a spark for them on offense, with two of her three goals serving as game-winner. Senior Courtney Correia leads the team with six goals and 11 points.

(7) Boston College at (9) Harvard

Tuesday at 7:00 PM Eastern

Watch: Paid stream available on ESPN+.

This is apparently a Boston-based preview this week, but the good games are happening out East and have the easiest viewing options. I don't make the rules.

BC had been doing well to start the season, taking a number of close wins before falling twice to Northeastern last weekend. Most telling for the Eagles is they managed just two goals in those two games. Certainly some of that can be attributed to facing Aerin Frankel, but they also just weren't able to move the puck as much and the Huskies held the advantage in possession.

They'll need to reset and try to get back to their game against Harvard on Tuesday. Boston College has the advantage of this being their only game this week, while the Crimson will have played two tough weekend games and traveled back and forth to upstate New York.

BC's margin between goals scored and goals allowed amounts to less than half a goal. They've been winning, but it hasn't been with prolific offense. Something has to give there, as I don't see them being able to sustain this process of eking out close wins week after week. It will be interesting to see how their defense handles Harvard's depth.

Also worth a look:

Connecticut at Boston University – Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern
Bemidji State at (1) Wisconsin – Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM Central
Syracuse at Cornell – Tuesday at 7:00 PM Eastern

Stick Taps and Snark

↑ #CloseTheGapNCAA #TimeFor12Teams2022 – The social media campaign to increase attention to the inequities in women's college hockey seemed to have a big reach on Twitter and should help the cause of the teams and committee that want to see the tournament expanded. A meeting of the NCAA committee that makes that decision is happening Wednesday.

↓ Boston College – The Eagles dropped three spots in the polls after a pair of losses to Northeastern.

↑ HCA National Players of the Month – Wisconsin's Makenna Webster was named Player of the Month and Mercyhurst's Vanessa Upson was given Rookie of the Month honors. Northeastern's Aerin Frankel and Franklin Pierce's Suzette Faucher were named co-Goalie's of the Month.

↑ Minnesota Gophers and Harvard Crimson – They became quickest team to tally 700 program wins with their 3-2 win over Bemidji State on Saturday. Harvard became the second team to do it with a their 2-0 win over St. Lawrence Friday night.