Come back each week for a preview of interesting NCAA games coming up and some thoughts on what happened in the previous week's action. Check out Thursday's How to Watch for links to all the weekend's games.
(11) Clarkson at (7) Quinnipiac
Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern
The Golden Knights have had an up and down start to the season. They graduated some very talented seniors and have not seemed to find their equilibrium yet. They're scoring at a decent clip, but giving up more goals than they'd like. Last season the were able to control the puck a bit more. That's something they'll need to focus on with Quinnipiac, who have been absolutely blazing to start the year.
Generally a defense-first squad, Kahlen Lamarche has made the Bobcats an offensive powerhouse. Her 17 goals are already a career high. The thing that has to be most concerning for opposing teams is her ability to score in bunches. At this point she's not surprising anyone and yet she just seems to be able to move around the ice at will. Quinnipiac has also gotten very good goaltending from Felicia Frank to start the season. They just a strong and well-rounded team that are in a position to win the conference and make an NCAA Tournament run, but they have to play smart, protect the puck and take as many points as they can, when they can.
(8) Connecticut vs. Boston College (home and home)
Friday at 6:00 PM and Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern
Hockey East standings are already chaotic and while it feels really early to be talking about points and positions, this conference was decided on the very last day last season by a single point. Quite simply, any team with designs on a confernece title has to be fighting for every point from every game they play.
Boston College has played several more conference games than UConn and everyone else in Hockey East aside from Providence. They've had a strong start, but this will be a big test for them. They Eagles are coming off a loss and tie against Vermont last weekend. Freshman Ava Thomas has been spectacular and she leads the team in points and goals.
UConn are 2-0 in conference play after a pair of one-goal wins against Holy Cross last weekend. Kyla Josifovic had six goals all of last season and has already lit the lamp five times in the team's first ten games.
BC owns the series against the Huskies 48-27-12 but the teams are an even 4-4-2 over the past ten meetings.
Stonehill vs. Assumption (home and home)
Friday at 7:00 PM and Saturday at 2:50 PM Eastern
These two teams currently sit second and third in NEWHA standings. Stonehill is four points back of Saint Anselm and Assumption is just one point back from them.
While the Skyhawks were picked to be a top-three team this season, Assumption is outperforming expectations. They'll be looking for a minimum of a sweep this weekend to keep pace and solidy their strong start to the season. They split a series with Franklin Pierce last weekend, eking out a third straight overtime win on Friday before losing on Saturday. Stonehill had a tie and win against LIU last weekend and are on a five-game unbeaten streak.
Stonehill owns the alltime record against Assumption, having gone 6-3-1 against the Greyhounds since their inception. But recent history has been more kind to Assumption, who were 2-1-1 against the Skyhawks last season.
(Photo: Quinnipiac women's hockey/X)
