Here's how every ECAC program is shaping up ahead of the 2018-19 season. Last year, Clarkson and Colgate both made the national title game, which the Golden Knights won, 2-1, in overtime.
Brown
There’s not really anywhere to go but up for Brown this season. Coming off an ECAC-worst 2-27 — averaging 1.6 goals per game while allowing 4.6 — the team could benefit from a more experienced defensive unit led by senior Cara Najjar (Stoneham, Mass.), who had 12 points last season. Junior Calla Isaac (4.01 GAA), who earned the team’s Most Improved Player award last season, turned out to be an upgrade in net and the team will look for her to progress again. Offensively, the team returns one of its top two scorers from last season in senior forward Sena Hanson (15 points).
Clarkson
The defending national champs at Clarkson should have no problem offensively again this season as they return three of the nation’s top scorers — senior forward Loren Gabel (36 goals, 39 assists), sophomore Elizabeth Giguere (27 goals, 44 assists) and junior Michaela Pejzlova (26 goals, 29 assists). Adding T.T. Cianfarano, a grad student and forward, should boost Clarkson’s offense, as she put up 110 points in her 111-game career at Quinnipiac. Although losing goaltender Shea Tiley (1.20 GAA) to graduation is a major hit, Clarkson benefits from returning all but one of its defenders.
Colgate
The runner-up for the national championship, Colgate, should still be on everyone’s radar. Colgate was a dominant team last season, scoring 3.7 goals per game while allowing less than two. The team was hit particularly hard by graduation, losing six players who saw significant ice time (four forwards, two defenders), but the Raiders have key contributors returning. Most notably, both goaltenders — senior Julia Vandyk (1.77 GAA, 31 games) and junior Liz Auby (1.30 GAA, 10 games) — are back. Senior forward Jessie Eldridge (22 goals), who was the team’s leading scorer last season, will help lead the offense alongside senior Shae Labbe (16 goals) and sophomore Malia Schneider (16 goals). Defensively, senior Olivia Zafuto (33 points) should provide the team with some strong two-way hockey as well.
Cornell
After a season in which the Big Red scored more than three goals per game and allowed under two, expectations are high for Cornell. The team has extensive experience on both sides of the puck, starting with go-to scorers from last season — junior Kristin O’Neill and sophomore Madlynne Mills (18 goals). Having senior Marlene Boissonnault (1.76 GAA) should provide the Big Red with a lift between the pipes. Cornell graduated a pair of contributors defensively but returns junior Jaime Bourbonnais (24 points) and sophomore Willow Slobodzian (plus-13 rating).
Dartmouth
Dartmouth has a lot of work to do to be competitive this season. The team averaged just 1.4 goals per game while allowing 3.6. Senior defender Tess Bracken was the only player on last year’s team to score more than five goals, and had she not missed eight games with an injury, she likely would have put up double digits. Junior Christina Rombaut and seniors Kate Landers and Alyssa Baker chipped in double-digit point totals last season for coach Laura Schuler’s team. In net, the team is fortunate to return senior goaltender Christine Honor (3.50 GAA), who set a program mark for saves in a season. The Big Green might still be years away from regaining the program’s rich winning tradition.
Harvard
Harvard is not coming off a down season (13-16-2), but there is reason to be optimistic in Cambridge. The top five goal scorers and all but one player on defense are back. Sophomore Becca Gilmore (Wayland, Mass.; 35 points), junior Kat Hughes (29 points) and sophomore Brooke Jovanovich (25 points) are among those to watch on offense, while senior Kaitlin Tse (16 points), who participated in Hockey Canada’s national development camp this past summer, will lead the defensive unit. Junior Beth Larcom (Middletown, R.I.; 3.01 GAA) and sophomore Becky Dutton (Milford, Conn.; 1.72 GAA) will split the crease duties again.
Princeton
As a team that thrived on young defense and goaltending last season, Princeton looks to be on the rise after a .500 (14-14-4) campaign. The team allowed just two goals per game thanks to strong play in net from goaltender Stephanie Neatby (1.91 GAA), who is now a junior. The defensive unit shapes up exactly the same as it did last season, led by senior Stephanie Sucharda (21 points) and junior Claire Thompson (15 points). Offensively, junior forward Carly Bullock (24 goals) accounted for nearly one-third of her team’s offensive production last season, so her return and progression from a handful of forwards who saw regular ice time as freshman will be key for the team to boost its offensive production (2.5 goals per game last season).
Quinnipiac
With a lot of talent coming back, Quinnipiac could be a competitive squad this season if it can get a lift offensively. Although the Bobcats scored just under two goals per game last season, they return most of the offense, including the leading scorers from last season — senior forward Melissa Samoskevich (Sandy Hook, Conn.; 15 goals) and sophomore forward Brooke Bonsteel (10 goals). Defensively, the team lost a couple of players but is not too inexperienced, and with junior Abbie Ives (1.78 GAA) in net, the Bobcats have plenty of reason to be confident.
Rensselaer
RPI has an opportunity to be competitive this season if the Engineers can get something going offensively. Last season, the team averaged just 1.6 goals per game and did not have any particular standout scorer. RPI returns its leading goal scorer from last season, senior Jaime Grigsby (10 goals) and a few other forwards who saw regular shifts. Defense and goaltending likely will be the strong suit for RPI again, coming off a year where the team allowed 2.2 goals per contest. Senior Lovisa Selander was sharp last season and resumes her duties in net. Senior Josefine Hansen (9 points) and sophomore Madeleine Burnett (8 points) saw big minutes last season, so they will help curb the opposition’s attack.
St. Lawrence
The offense might look a bit different, but the objective remains the same for St. Lawrence. After losing two of their top three scorers to graduation, the Saints will turn to senior forward Justine Reyes (17 goals, 23 assists) to lead what was a respectable offense last season (2.7 goals per game). The Saints return two strong goaltenders in seniors Grace Harrison (1.94 GAA) and Sonjia Shelly (1.88 GAA), who made 19 starts and 16 starts last season, respectively. The defensive unit will be experienced and led by sophomore Skylar Podvey (20 points).
Union
It is fair to say Union is in the middle of a rebuilding phase, coming off a 7-22-5 season in which it was outscored at a near two-to-one clip. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the season, however, is that Union found its goaltender for the next few seasons in sophomore Coco Francis, who allowed 2.92 goals per game in 25 games as a freshman. Offensively, Union averaged less than two goals per season but returns a pair of double-digit goal scorers in junior forwards Katelynn Russ (16 goals) and Haley Shugart (10 goals). The team gained some valuable experience defensively as well with sophomores Megan Ryan (10 points) and Hannah Schultz (eight points) seeing regular shifts last season.
Yale
To climb up the standings, Yale will need to outpace its 1.9 goals per game this season, and the team appears to be in position to do it. Both sophomore Greta Skarzynski (26 points) and senior Emma Vlasic (17 points) are coming off respectable seasons, so with more experience they might be able to be even more productive. Skarzynski led the team with 14 goals, including four game-winners, last season. Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by senior Julia Yetman (17 points), while, sophomore Gianna Meloni (2.06 GAA) proved she could handle the starting goaltending duties as a freshman.
