BOSTON -- The Northeastern women's hockey team continues its four-game road trip this weekend as the Huskies travel to Ithaca, N.Y., to take on the No. 5 Cornell Big Red in a pair of weekend matinees. Puck drop for both games is set for 2 p.m.
Last time out
The Huskies opened their 2013-14 road slate with a pair of 2-1 victories last weekend, rallying from a 1-0 deficit late in the third period to beat Union Friday afternoon before topping off RPI on Saturday evening.
In Friday's matchup with the Dutchwomen, Northeastern got off to a sluggish start, conceding a goal just 1:18 into the first period. The Huskies battled back to tie it, though, as senior
Kelly Wallace knotted the game at one apiece with her first-career shorthanded goal midway through the period. That opened the door for senior
Maggie DiMasi to score the game-winner with just 55 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Huskies a thrilling 2-1 victory. Junior netminder
Chloe Desjardins made 23 stops in the victory, and Union's Shenae Lundberg turned away 28 shots in the losing effort.
The Huskies carried their momentum into Saturday evening's contest with RPI as Wallace gave Northeastern an early 1-0 lead 5:11 after the opening puck drop for her second goal of the weekend and third in as many games. After conceding a goal to the Engineers' Lauren Wash midway through the third period, sophomore
Paige Savage netted her second game-winner of the season with less than 10 minutes remaining to lift the Huskies to their third consecutive victory. Desjardins made a season-high 33 saves to earn the win.
Scouting Cornell
After completing one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2012-13, which saw the Big Red bring home an ECAC title and earn an NCAA tournament berth, No. 5 Cornell will kick off its 2013-14 campaign by hosting Northeastern for a pair of games.
The Big Red dominated their schedule from start to finish last season, going an impressive 26-7-1 and losing consecutive games only once all season. Jessica Campbell's power play goal late in the third period lifted Cornell to a 2-1 victory over Harvard in the ECAC championship game, but the Big Red bowed out to Frozen Four participant Mercyhurst, 4-3 (OT), in the NCAA quarterfinals to cap off a sensational season.
Cornell will look to capture its fourth ECAC title in five years this season as it returns all but three of its skaters from last year's roster, including four of its top five scorers and starting netminder Lauren Slebodnick. Slebodnick was a brick wall between the pipes last season, earning a .927 save percentage and 1.55 goals against average, both fourth in the NCAA, to go along with 24 wins and five shutouts.
Rising senior Brianne Jenner will look to once again pace the Big Red offense after scoring 70 points (35-35-70), the fourth-most in the country, and seven game-winning goals in 2012-13. Cornell also returns rising junior Jillian Saulnier, who finished last year with 10 goals and 33 assists, good for 14th nationally.
Cornell was a consistent force in the team statistics category last season, finishing with 3.85 goals per game and only 1.62 goals per game allowed, both fourth-best in Division I. Its penalty kill proved to be one of the most lethal in the country, killing 148-of-163 power plays, good for a 90.8 percent clip, and adding seven shorthanded goals.
In their only meeting last year, the Huskies fell to Cornell, 4-2, at Matthews Arena on Jan. 12, 2013.
Kendall Coyne and
Rachel Llanes scored for Northeastern, but it wasn't enough to stop a two-goal game from Campbell and Brenner's three-point effort.
Starting off hot
With last weekend's victories, the Huskies have started 3-1-0 or better in each of the last three seasons. (Northeastern started both 2012-13 and 2011-12 4-0-0). Since losing their season-opener to Syracuse on Oct. 4, the Red and Black have rattled off three consecutive wins, making them one of only nine teams nationally with three or more wins thus far. Their current three-game winning streak is tied for the third-longest active streak in the NCAA.
Making themselves at home
The Huskies have proved their comfortable playing away from Matthews Arena, winning each of their opening two road games for the second consecutive season. Northeastern has not lost back-to-back games on the road since Nov. 18 (at Boston College) and Nov. 26 (at Dartmouth), 2011.
Chloe in the clutch
Each of Northeastern's three wins have come by virtue of one-goal games, and junior netminder
Chloe Desjardins has played a huge part in keeping the Huskies in each of those games. She stopped at least 23 shots in each of her three victories, including a season-high 33 shots at RPI on Saturday. As a result, Northeastern has won three consecutive one-goal games for the first time since Feb. 14-20, 2004.
Wallace on a roll
Redshirt-senior
Kelly Wallace scored a goal in each of Northeastern's wins last weekend, giving her a goal in three consecutive games, one game short of the longest streak of her career. With three goals, she is tied for second in Hockey East and 11th nationally in goals per game.
Game-winning Savage-ry
Sophomore
Paige Savage potted her second game-winner of the season Saturday at RPI, tying her for the most game-clinching goals in the country. She also netted the deciding goal in Northeastern's 5-4 win over RIT on Oct. 5, marking the second consecutive season in which her first goal of the season was a game-winner.
Skating shorthanded no tall order
Redshirt-senior
Kelly Wallace scored a shorthanded goal with 10:25 remaining in Friday's win over Union, marking the second consecutive game in which the Huskies found the back of the net while on the penalty kill. Wallace and junior
Chelsey Goldberg, who scored a pair of shorties against RIT on Oct. 5, are two of only 13 Division I skaters with a shorthanded goal.
First impressions
Two Northeastern rookies tallied their first points of the season last weekend.
Bella Sinsigalli and
Melissa Haganey each assisted on
Paige Savage's game-winning goal Saturday at RPI, making them the second and third Husky freshmen to find the scoresheet this season.
Turning defense into offense
Junior
Colleen Murphy turned in a two-point weekend last weekend, notching an assist against both Union and RPI to give her three total on the season and an assist in three consecutive games, one short of the longest streak of her career. The Cary, N.C., native is now tied for 12th nationally in points per game among defenseman (0.75).
O Captain, My Captain
Northeastern has chosen its leaders for the 2013-14 season. Senior
Maggie Brennolt was named the team's captain for the second straight season, while
Brittany Esposito and
Sonia St. Martin will serve as assistant captains.
"I am excited about our leadership group this season," said head coach
Dave Flint. "Each captain has their own leadership style, which I think will complement each other well."
"It is truly an honor to be named a captain of this team," Brennolt said. "We're looking forward to another great year and I'm excited that my teammates and our coaches are counting on me to provide leadership throughout the season."
"With our work ethic and talent, we are capable of being a great team and I am honored to be recognized as a leader by my coaches and teammates," Esposito said.
"It is such an honor to have the opportunity to lead such a hardworking and talented group of girls," St. Martin said. "There are so many great leaders on this team, on and off the ice, so I'm excited to get the season started."
Striking Gold(berg)
Through the first two weekends of the season, junior forward
Chelsey Goldberg has perched herself near the top of several statistical categories within Hockey East. The Agoura Hills, Calif., native is tied for seventh in points (2-2-4), tied for second in shorthanded goals (2) and points (2) and tied for 10th in plus/minus rating (+3).
Starting short
Junior forward
Chelsey Goldberg scored her first career goal shorthanded against RIT on Oct. 5, making her the first Husky since senior
Claire Santostefano (Oct. 16, 2010, vs. Robert Morris) to notch her first-ever score on the penalty kill.
Exploiting the Empire State
Northeastern has opened its season slate against a pair of New York schools in five of the last six seasons. The Huskies are 8-1-1 in that stretch, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 41-20.
Masters-ful
Freshman forward
Hayley Masters tallied an assist on senior
Maggie Brennolt's goal in Northeastern's 4-1 loss to Syracuse on Oct. 4, marking her first career collegiate point. She added an assist on sophomore
Paige Savage's game-winner Oct. 5, making her the first rookie to notch a helper in each of her first two games since
Kendall Coyne registered three assists in her first two games (Oct. 7-8, 2011).
Taking it outside
Northeastern is going back to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The Huskies will play crosstown rival Harvard on January 2, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.
"We are thrilled to be participating in Citi Frozen Fenway 2014 and returning to Fenway Park," said head coach
Dave Flint. "Our program had a fabulous experience in 2010, and we are very grateful to have another opportunity to compete in one of the nation's most historic venues."
The Huskies' first appearance at Fenway Park came on January 8, 2010 when Northeastern battled New Hampshire in the first-ever outdoor women's college hockey game as part of the Sun Life Frozen Fenway doubleheader.
Huskies add six freshmen to 2013-14 squad
Northeastern added six newcomers to its 2013-14 roster on Apr. 24 with the announcement of the team's 2013 signing class. The Huskies will welcome three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender to a squad that is preparing to defend its 2013 Beanpot championship and build towards its first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament.
"I really like what our incoming class has to offer," said head coach
Dave Flint. "They complement what we have in place already, and will have a positive impact on our program."
Goaltender
Sarah Foss, defensemen
Heather Mottau and
Bella Sinsigalli, and forwards
Melissa Haganey,
Hayley Masters and
Hayley Scamurra will all be expected to step in and push NU's 17 returning letterwinners for playing time throughout the season.
The road ahead
Following this weekend's two-game set at home, the Huskies will head out on the road for its next four games, beginning with a road trip to Union and RPI. NU will faceoff with the Dutchwomen on Oct. 11 at 3:30 p.m. before heading to RPI the next afternoon at 4 p.m.
Northeastern won't return home until Oct. 25 when the Huskies take on Providence at 7 p.m. in NU's conference opener.
