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  • Roundtable: 2025 MAAC women’s basketball tournament preview

    Roundtable: 2025 MAAC women’s basketball tournament preview

    By: Zach Carter, Connor Coar, Toni Wetmore and Ben Yeargin

    The college basketball regular season is coming to an end across the country. Conference tournaments are around the corner in what is expected to be another exciting month of March. The women’s side of the MAAC tournament begins on March 11 at noon, with the championship game slated for Saturday afternoon on March 15 at 1:30 p.m. For the first time in the conference history, not every team will head to the conference tournament with the addition of Merrimack and Sacred Heart this season. 

    QU Sports Page’s Connor Coar, Toni Wetmore, Ben Yeargin and Zach Carter sat down to discuss who will be crowned MAAC Women’s Basketball Champions next Saturday. They also talked about a potential dark horse to make a run in Atlantic City, game-breaking players that fans should be on the lookout for and major awards that will be handed out on Monday at the conference award ceremony before the tournament begins. 

  • Creating Quinnipiac baseball’s ideal starting lineup ahead of MAAC play

    Creating Quinnipiac baseball’s ideal starting lineup ahead of MAAC play

    By Ethan Hurwitz and Mike King

    The first couple of games of Quinnipiac baseball’s 2025 season were as wonky as could be. The team was in competitive games against nationally-ranked Georgia before winning a series against Radford. Tack on a week-long stretch where the Bobcats allowed 39 runs to Morehead State and a home tie against UMass, and the team currently sits at 4-6-1 heading into MAAC play this weekend.

    After a 10-14 conference record last season, the Bobcats are looking to right their wrongs and prove that they can compete with the best the MAAC has to offer. After missing the conference tournament in 2024, the Bobcats are hoping to get back into postseason play. But overall, it’s been a shaky start for the entire conference, as just four teams currently sit over .500 (Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Mount St. Mary’s and Rider).

    QU Sports Page’s Ethan Hurwitz and Mike King create the ideal lineup after the Bobcats’ first 11 out-of-conference games, including a look toward their first weekend of MAAC play.

    1. Sean McCulloch | Left Field | Graduate Student

    Stats: 10 games, .349 batting average, one double, one triple, 10 RBIs, 14 runs, six steals, 10 walks

    Through the first 11 games of the young season, the Bobcats have had few bright spots. McCulloch has been one of those so far. With 15 hits in 10 games (the second-most on the roster), McCulloch has provided a spark at the plate, as well as on the basepaths. McCulloch leads the team with six stolen bases on seven attempts.

    Head coach John Delaney assigned graduate infielder Johnny Knox to leadoff for the first three games, but McCulloch has had the leadoff job for every game since. In his final season at Division III Susquehanna last year, he led his team in batting average, walks and stolen bases. McCulloch is picking up right where he left off last spring and looks to continue to bring the Bobcats some energy in the early part of the batting order, as well as the field, where he’s yet to commit an error. 

    2. Kyle Garbowski | First Base | Sophomore

    Stats: 11 games, .255 batting average, two doubles, 10 RBIs, 13 runs, one steal, four walks

    Garbowski’s role in his second season in Hamden has been similar to his freshman year, as one of the team’s daily players from the get-go. Typically slotted into the Bobcats’ two-hole, he’s been a consistent hitter and is leading the roster with 51 at-bats to start the year.

    In this spot, Garbowski provides a young spark to the top half of the Bobcats’ order, giving them the energy they need to carry out longer, uglier innings for the opposition’s pitching.

    3. Sebastian Mueller | Third Base | Graduate Student

    Stats: 11 games, .413 batting average, three doubles, four home runs, 18 RBIs, 15 runs, nine walks

    After suffering a labrum injury his senior year, Mueller has returned to the middle of the Bobcats’ lineup, firing on all cylinders. 

    “I feel good,” Mueller told The Quinnipiac Chronicle before the season. “Arm feels good. I think about arm injuries that a lot of times like the rehab you probably overlook parts of arm care. I feel better now than I was before I got hurt.”

    If this is the case, expect Mueller to tear up the opposition this season, making up for last season, where he only appeared in 11 games. Mueller already leads the team through the first 11 games this year with four home runs, proving that his power will be of useful service in the three spot.

    4. Alex Irizarry | Shortstop | Junior

    Stats: 11 games, .286 batting average, four doubles, two home runs, four RBIs, seven runs, one steal, four walks

    Irizarry joined the Bobcats ahead of this season, and parlayed a really strong summer with the Norwich Sea Unicorns of The Futures Collegiate Baseball League into a solid start to his junior year. The team’s starting shortstop has bounced around the middle of the lineup this season, but sticking him at cleanup can give this team some bat control and power — ideally with some runners on.

    Second on the team thus far with six extra base hits, Irizarry is an all-around package deal out of the cleanup spot and will rely on his patience and approach to help the team score much-needed runs.

    5. Christian Smith | Catcher | Junior

    Stats: 11 games, .405 batting average, two doubles, three home runs, 19 RBIs, nine runs, two steals, 12 walks

    The junior catcher had a lot of success at the plate last season, slashing .275, ten home runs, and 37 RBI. Out of the five spots, Smith provides valuable experience with both poise and pop.

    As a catcher, Smith knows game situations intricately, and this attention to detail will likely lead to success for the offense when he steps up to the plate. It appears that Smith will stay in the lineup as designated hitter when redshirt transfer Cole Constable gets the call to do the catching, proving that Smith’s bat is too valuable to leave out of the order.

    6. CJ Willis | Right Field | Senior

    Stats: Nine games, .111 batting average, two RBIs, three runs, five steals, five walks

    The start to 2025 hasn’t been the strongest for Willis, but it’s hard to ignore the pop he has coming out of the batter’s box. Chosen as a Preseason All-MAAC selection, he played in 49 games for the Bobcats a year ago and is hard to leave out of th lineup. Willis — who drove in 42 runs and smashed eight home runs – will look to find this offensive efficiency heading into conference play

    Quinnipiac has also gone with James Marino and Luke Zeisloft in the outfield this season, but Willis’ experience and offensive potential makes him hard to sit for those guys, even when Willis has struggled this month.

    7. Johnny Knox | Second Base | Graduate Student

    Stats: 11 games, .233 batting average, three doubles, one triple, two RBIs, seven runs, five steals, seven walks

    A graduate transfer from Nichols College, Knox bumped his way down the lineup after starting the first three games of the year at leadoff. As a vocal leader for this team, Knox provides an invaluable component to Quinnipiac, and his speed in the basepaths also are deserving of a starting role.

    Knox has proven to be a pest for opposing teams so far, stealing five bases and getting on base by any means necessary. However, with a team leading 13 strikeouts, Knox needs to cut down on the swing-and-misses if he wants to move back up the lineup, where his high motor can be of use.

    8. Cole Constable | Catcher | Redshirt Freshman

    Stats: Seven games, .320 batting average, one double, one triple, six RBIs, six runs, five steals, three walks

    After spending his first season with the Maryland Terrapins, Constable transferred to Quinnipiac with four years of eligibility. He started the season platooning with Christian Smith behind the plate, and now the redshirt freshman has carved out his role as the team’s primary backstop.

    At the plate, Constable has been a solid player in his first season in Hamden. Despite striking out in every game he’s played in but one, Constable adds power and bat speed to the lineup. Tack on his solid glove skills — he’s yet to make an error and has made 61 putouts — and he’s set for a strong future behind the dish for the Bobcats.

    9. Gabe Wright | Center Field | Junior

    Stats: Eight games, .192 batting average, two doubles, five runs, four steals, five walks

    Wright is the prototypical double leadoff hitter in today’s baseball. His fielding ability, including a diving grab that made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays, keeps him as a useful player for the Bobcats. His speed in the basepaths is what has kept him in the lineup. 

    His four steals already surpass his season total from last year (one), and his knack of getting on base in any way possible (five walks, two hit by pitches) is the perfect style of play to turn the Bobcats’ lineup over every game. Wright may not be the strongest bat in the dugout, but he’s a sparkplug player who should get written into the lineup card.

    Starting Pitcher: Mike Poncini | Junior

    Stats: Three starts, 1-0 W/L, 3.37 earned run average, 14 strikeouts, eight walks, four earned runs

    Through the Bobcats’ out-of-conference schedule, Poncini — one of two Quinnipiac starters with three starts under his belt — has been the best starting pitcher on the team so far.. He leads all starters with a 3.37 earned run average, and is tied for the team lead with 10.2 innings pitched. 

    Poncici and junior Matt Alduino are the only two pitchers to surpass that 10 innings mark, and Alduino struggled in a March 2 game at Morehead State. On the other hand, Poncini is coming off of two-straight starts with at least five strikeouts. 

    “From a pitching standpoint, we lost a lot of arms, just to the transfer portal and then along with graduation,” Alduino told The Quinnipiac Chronicle before the year. “We kind of rebuilt over the summer, and just kind of changed our perspective on how we want to go about the season as a full team. … We’re building up around eight guys that could be potential starters.”

    Whether our recommended lineup is used in Friday’s MAAC opener against Iona or not, the Bobcats will continue to find their best starting nine in hopes of returning to the conference tournament for the first time in two seasons.

  • The MAAC regular season title is a three-team race. Here’s how each team can clinch a share.

    The MAAC regular season title is a three-team race. Here’s how each team can clinch a share.

    By: Ethan Hurwitz and Connor Wilson

    With two games remaining in the MAAC regular season, there are three schools still vying for one of the conference’s top seeds.

    Right now, No. 1 Quinnipiac and No. 2 Marist are both in the driver’s seat to claiming the trophy, though Merrimack still has a chance to capture a share in its first season as a MAAC program. Here’s a look at how the Bobcats, Red Foxes and Warriors could all end the season claiming at least a share of the regular season crown.

    How Quinnipiac could win: As of today, the Bobcats (14-4 entering Thursday) currently control their own destiny. Their magic number is two. Two wins (with games against 11-7 Mount St. Mary’s and 7-11 Fairfield on the docket) gives Quinnipiac its second-straight regular season title. One win, along with one loss from Marist, and the crown will remain in Hamden for a second consecutive year.

    A 10-point loss to Merrimack on Sunday almost sunk the Bobcats’ chances to reclaim the conference’s top spot, but with Marist getting upset by Saint Peter’s just moments later, the loss became evened out.

    They would clinch a share of the title with a single win, but if the Red Foxes were to win out, the MAAC’s top seed would make its way to Poughkeepsie, New York instead of Connecticut. But if you ask the Bobcats directly, they’ll tell you they aren’t scoreboard watching.

    “We’re focused on us right now, whether we’re first, second, whatever you want to call it,” junior forward Amarri Monroe said. “One game winning streaks, whoever we got next on our schedule, that’s the game we’re worried about.”

    How Marist could win: Even being just one game behind the Bobcats with two to play, the Red Foxes (13-5 entering Thursday) are in a much better position than you might think. Having won the lone matchup between the two teams on Jan. 5, Marist owns the tiebreaker over Quinnipiac in the event that the two teams end up tied on Saturday night.

    The Red Foxes had a chance to even the gap on Sunday, but surprisingly fell at home to a Saint Peter’s squad near the bottom of the standings, fighting to even qualify for the MAAC Tournament

    Having missed that opportunity, there’s still a clear path for some hardware this weekend. As long as Marist finishes one game better than the Bobcats — either 2-0 vs. 1-1 or 1-1 vs. 0-2 — the Red Foxes would have both a share of the regular season title, as well as the No. 1 seed in Atlantic City next week.

    If Marist wins out and Quinnipiac subsequently loses out, the same result occurs except the Red Foxes would be alone as outright champions of the MAAC regular season title.

    With a home game against Merrimack and road clash with Mount St. Mary’s remaining, the Red Foxes will definitely have to earn any share or outright title over the next three days taking on the other two teams ranked in the top four in the league.

    “We’re looking to win a championship, so we take it one game at a time,” Marist sophomore guard Jadin Collins-Roberts said. “We have more work to do.”

    How Merrimack could win: The Warriors (13-6 entering Thursday) don’t have a physical path for the No. 1 seed in Atlantic City, but can still clinch a share of the regular season title this weekend. A solid win over the Bobcats last Sunday helped pull the Warriors closer to the top of the standings after a streaky stretch of games. 

    “We needed that in the worst way,” Merrimack head coach Joe Gallo said after the win over Quinnipiac. “We’ve had a tough stretch with a couple of close losses. I wasn’t particularly happy with our effort against Rider. The score was close, but that wasn’t a Merrimack team that I know. Sometimes it’s good to have a little reset when you get down the stretch with the conference tournament coming up.”

    For starters, Merrimack has to win its final game on Thursday on the road against Marist, the first time these two teams will play since the Warriors one-point loss on Feb 16. A win would clinch at least the No. 2 seed for the tournament.

    In one scenario, the Warriors would need Quinnipiac to lose both of its remaining games and have Marist go at most 1-1. With the Red Foxes hosting the Warriors, that one loss almost becomes a moot point. If that were to happen, there would be a three-way tie between the top three teams, all of whom would be 14-6 and collect a share of the regular season title.

    The other way that Merrimack can clinch a share once again involves the Warriors defeating Marist and the Bobcats losing out. In this scenario, Marist would lose its final game against Mount St. Mary’s, which as a result, would mean 14-6 Quinnipiac and 14-6 Merrimack would be the only two schools to have a share of the regular season title, not Marist — who would finish out the year at 13-7.

    While the Warriors can’t clinch the No. 1 seed and need a lot to happen out of their control to even have a share of first, the team’s impressive first season after jumping from the NEC to the MAAC should leave fans happy heading into the postseason.

    The MAAC Tournament will run from March 11 to 15 in Atlantic City, New Jersey ahead of Selection Sunday and the ensuing national tournament.

  • Stock up, stock down: A look at six men’s hockey players before ECAC postseason begins

    Stock up, stock down: A look at six men’s hockey players before ECAC postseason begins

    By: Toni Wetmore, Brandon Murdock

    With the men’s ECAC postseason tournament beginning Friday, top-seeded Quinnipiac has a first-round bye as it looks for its first Whitelaw Cup since 2016. 

    It’s been an up and down season for the Bobcats, and likewise for their players. So as the postseason begins, we’re taking a look at which players’ stocks have gone up and which have gone down since the start of the new year before they hit the ice for the quarterfinals March 14.

    Stock up:

    Jeremy Wilmer – Junior Forward

    13 goals – 25 assists – 38 points 

    Wilmer has recorded at least one point in each his last six games, with three goals and nine assists for 12 points total.

    “He’s a high-end player for sure,” said head coach Rand Pecknold earlier this season. “He’s got great offensive instincts.”

    His recent surge has pushed him to the top of the team leaderboard in points, surpassing Travis Treloar and Mason Marcellus, who had led all season. Wilmer also jumped to second in the ECAC in total points this season with 38.

    Jack Ricketts – Senior Forward

    20 goals – 6 assists – 26 points 

    Next is Ricketts, a senior transfer from Holy Cross. Ricketts was a bit snakebitten in the scoring department at the beginning of his Bobcat career, only scoring two goals in the first month of the season. However, he is tied for the most goals in the country since December with 15 in his last 18 games played.

    “Just buying into the system, playing hard and fast, something we preach is always keeping your feet moving,” said Ricketts after the Oct. 25 game against New Hampshire.

    He was shutout in the last game of the regular season, but entering the finale, had a streak of five-straight games with a goal. The surge brought him to second in the ECAC in goals, goals per game and plus/minus. 

    Travis Treloar – Graduate student Forward 

    16 goals – 18 assists – 34 points 

    Treloar, a graduate student, has made an impact for the Bobcats from the jump and never wavered. Treloar is first in power play goals in the ECAC and fourth in the conference in goals. He’s been on a six-game point streak since  Feb. 8 against Clarkson. Quinnipiac will need to lean on Treloar’s leadership as it moves into the playoffs. 

    Stock down: 

    Dylan Silverstein – Freshman Goaltender

    12-8-2 record – 2.22 GAA

    Silverstein was more than solid to begin his collegiate career. With big games against UMaine, holding a high-powered Black Bear offense to just two goals with 27 saves, then the following week against New Hampshire, in which he totaled 58 saves on the weekend. He won the starting job over sophomore Matej Marinov, but over the last month, has struggled keeping the puck out of the net, allowing three goals or more three times in the last 11 games. 

    Silverstein has also scuffled in the big games this year, specifically against Cornell and the two games against No. 2 Clarkson. The freshman gave up five goals over the course of the last two games played against Cornell and in the last game against Clarkson on the road, gave up four goals on just 12 shots. He played well Feb. 22 against Brown, recording a shutout, but leading up to that game, had not given up less than two goals in a game since Jan. 17, coming in relief in a 6-3 win over Colgate. 

    Chris Pelosi – Freshman Forward

    11 goals – 11 assists – 22 points

    The forward found a groove in early February, scoring a goal in four-straight games. Now, Pelosi has been in a scoring drought since Feb. 15.  While he has been a playmaker in that span, recording three assists, he has been unable to score. He’ll have to find a way to get the puck in the net if the Bobcats approach do-or-die territory in the playoffs. Pelosi faces high expectations, as he was a third-round draft pick by the Boston Bruins this summer.

    Elliot Groenewold – Freshman Defenseman

    4 goals – 5 assists – 9 points

    The first-year defenseman was a ‘24 fourth-round pick of the Boston Bruins and came in with big expectations as the blue line had been depleted from the previous season. Quinnipiac lost players such as Jayden Lee, Iivari Räsänen and Charles-Alexis Legault either to graduation or the NHL ahead of the season . 

    Groenewold has been very disciplined over the course of the year, especially for a young player, only taking seven penalties on the season. However, since his defensive partner Aaron Bohlinger went down on Feb. 21 with a season-ending knee injury, Groenewold has struggled. Giving the puck away and being out of position at times has either cost the Bobcats goals or nearly have. In the last weekend of the season against  Clarkson, and with a chance to clinch the Cleary Cup, he was a -2 in the game. Also, he has not had as much of an impact on the offensive side of the ice over the past month, only recording three points since Jan. 10.

  • One lesson from each loss in Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse’s 0-5 start

    One lesson from each loss in Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse’s 0-5 start

    By: Kaitlyn Grady, Cameron Levasseur

    Few NCAA men’s lacrosse teams started the 2024 season as dominant as Quinnipiac. The Bobcats rattled off a 7-0 start to the year, becoming the final undefeated team in the nation and earning a spot on the Inside Lacrosse Top-20 for the first time since 2013. 

    The campaign ended in disappointment, a MAAC quarterfinal loss to Manhattan capping off an underwhelming 10-game conference slate. But there’s no doubt Quinnipiac expected to replicate its early-season success in 2025.

    “We have a healthy squad, a few more veterans as well,” head coach Mason Poli said to The Quinnipiac Chronicle prior to the start of the season. “I think from an offensive and defensive standpoint, even in the middle of the field, I think we have the ability to push from transition this year. We’re really confident in what we can bring to the table.”

    The first month of this season has been nothing if not confidence shaking for the Bobcats. They’ve lost all of their nonconference  games, leaving a late-February road trip to Colorado with an 0-5 record and the seventh-worst RPI in the country. 

    So what gives? Why has Quinnipiac failed to live up to its preseason expectations and how can it turn its game around entering MAAC play?

    QU Sports Page’s Kaitlyn Grady and Cameron Levasseur analyzed the Bobcats’ struggles and offer a lesson from each loss:

    Feb. 14 at UMass | Final: UMass 19 | Quinnipiac 5

    In the Bobcats’ first game of the 2025 campaign they took on UMass. The Bobcats hung around for the start of the game, entering the second quarter tied at three. UMass then scored nine unanswered goals, giving the Minutemen a 12-3 advantage they never gave up. 

    Lesson: They need to play the full 60 minutes

    Quinnipiac hung with UMass well into the second quarter, proving they can play with a good opponent, but they struggled to keep pace through all four quarters.  If the Bobcats can put a full game together and score consistently in all four quarters, they will be more successful in conference play.  There have been seven quarters this season where the Bobcats have scored one or fewer goals, and they have been outscored in 15 out of 20 quarters overall. Scoring consistently in all quarters will help the Bobcats play with the opponent for 60 minutes. 

    Feb. 18 at St. Johns | Final: St. Johns 15 | Quinnipiac 9

    In Quinnipiac’s second game against St. John’s, the Bobcats played tough and hung around for most of the game. Although they did not come out of the contest with the win, there were a few standout individual performances that can be built off of going forward. Senior goaltender Mason Oak, who was named preseason MAAC Player of the Year had 16 saves (33 across the first two games). Cole Marsala stood out for the Bobcats’ attack, tallying three points on the day.

    Lesson: Lean on your assets 

    The Bobcats will have a few advantages against most of the teams that they play. A major one is in net. Oak is a standout and they will be able to lean on his number of saves in conference play. Oak is currently 12th in the country in total number of saves at 68. They need to make plays and get shots to their best shooters, and prioritize taking quality shots. The Bobcats shot on goal percentage is 57% , compared to their opponents’ 65%. The Bobcats need to take care of the ball and complete quick passes to get better shots and take advantage of their possessions. 

    Feb. 22 vs. Bryant | Final: Bryant 18 | Quinnipiac 10

    In Quinnipiac’s third game against the Bryant Bulldogs, the Bobcats started slow again and struggled to score early. This was the first game of the season that the Bobcats scored double digits, and once again had to play from behind from the jump. Quinnipiac fell behind early, down 6-2 in the first quarter. 

    Lesson: Attack early and often

    The Bobcats need to start the game by scoring early and avoid digging themselves a hole that they cannot overcome offensively. 

    Feb. 28 at Air Force | Final: Air Force 21 | Quinnipiac 8

    In Quinnipiac’s fourth game they traveled out west to Colorado to play Air Force. The Bobcats started better, getting out to the early 2-0 lead. However, Air Force outmatched Quinnipiac on both sides of the ball. Between the start of the second quarter and the end of the third, Air Force went on a 14-3 run over the Bobcats. The Falcons outshot Quinnipiac 50-32, controlling the pace of the game. Air Force also had the advantage in ground balls won (36 to 19) and turnovers forced (17 to 10). The Bobcats were able to win more faceoffs and match Air Force in saves as well. 

    Lesson: Limit shots on net

    Quinnipiac has been outshot in every game this season, allowing more than 48 shots per game, while only shooting 29 shots per game. Although on paper they do have the advantage at goalie, with Mason Oak who was named a preseason All American being out shot by 20 is too much to overcome. This time last year the Bobcats were allowing nearly 47 shots per game. The difference is in how many get to the goal. Through the first five games of 2024, Quinnipiac allowed an average of 52% of shots on net. This season, that figure has jumped to 65%. It doesn’t matter if you have an All-American goaltender, if you allow more shots to reach him, he will allow more goals. 

    March 2 at Denver | Final: Denver 14 | Quinnipiac 7 

    The Bobcats played their second game in Colorado against No. 15 Denver. The Bobcats had a strong start in this game, taking an early 3-2 lead and ending the first quarter tied. The Pioneers then went on an 8-1 scoring run, leaving the Bobcats down by six, a margin that they could not overcome. But the 14 goals the Bobcats gave up was their lowest total of the season. Denver is likely the best team Quinnipiac will face all season, and its defensive effort Sunday suggests there is no reason the Bobcats should not be able to shut down opponents in conference play. 

    Lesson: Possession is key

    The Bobcats had many high points in the seven-goal loss, one being in the face-of circle. Sophomore midfielder Frank Mousa, who was just named MAAC faceoff specialist of the week, won 8-14 faceoffs, and overall Quinnipiac won 11 faceoffs to Denver’s 13. Which is a big improvement from the season opener where they only won nine faceoffs compared with UMass’s 18.The Bobcats also turned the ball over 16 times, compared with Denver’s 14. Turning the ball over and possession goes hand in hand, by winning faceoffs and limiting turnovers, Quinnipiac keeps the ball in its own hands and likewise limits chances against. 

    Looking ahead

    Now the Bobcats look to turn their season around as they head into conference play. They face Mount St. Mary’s (2-4) on the road on Saturday. This will be their second back to back road trip following the trip to Colorado. Quinnipiac beat the Mountaineers 15-10 in their only meeting in 2024. 

  • Quinnipiac eyes back-to-back titles as St. Peter’s fights for survival

    Quinnipiac eyes back-to-back titles as St. Peter’s fights for survival

    By Carlos Calo and Connor Wilson

    The Quinnipiac Bobcats (17-10, 13-3 MAAC), last year’s MAAC regular season champions, and the team that punched their ticket to March Madness last season, the St. Peter’s Peacocks (10-14, 5-11 MAAC) are set for a nationally televised matchup on ESPNU.

    Quinnipiac head coach Tom Pecora’s team has won four of the last five games against the Peacocks but lost the most important one — last year’s conference semifinal. The Bobcats started this year with a rematch and won 59-46 in Jersey City on Jan. 3. They meet again, now at Lender Court, where the Bobcats are 10-2 at home and tied for first place in the conference. On the other hand, the Peacocks are battling to just be among the ten teams that make it to the conference tournament. 

    There are four games left for both teams. Winning three out of the four final contests for the Bobcats will enhance their chances to clinch another MAAC regular season championship. 

    In their final four games, the Peacocks will play against the top two teams in the conference – Quinnipiac and Marist – and then the bottom two -Niagara and Canisius. Winning is the only way they will have a chance to go to Atlantic City, but they also depend on how teams in the middle of the standings do on the last stretch of the regular season. 

    Here are some of the key storylines that should give you a reason to tune in tonight:

    Back to back?

    After winning the first MAAC regular season title in program history a year ago, the Bobcats are fighting for another with just two weekends left in the regular season. Heading into the day, Quinnipiac is tied with Marist for first place in the conference with the Red Foxes holding the tiebreaker thanks to their victory in the teams’ lone matchup back in January.

    “You have to focus on one-game winning streaks,” junior forward Amarri Monroe said after a Jan. 17 win over Merrimack. “Prepare for every week like it’s the last game of the season, follow the game plan and don’t worry about who’s next, worry about the team who’s coming up and not who’s after that.”

    Quinnipiac hasn’t been a consistent team during games this season. It has been either a great first half team and spends the second half hanging on to an early lead or the complete opposite. Last game against Manhattan on Feb. 23 the Bobcats came back from a 17-point deficit to win the contest 74-71 with five points from sophomore guard Khaden Bennett in the last 40 seconds of play.

    “We have these peaks and valleys,” Pecora said after the contest against the Jaspers on Feb. 23. “And they’re gonna bite us in the tail come tournament time.”

    Winning a MAAC regular season title would also likely mean the Bobcats would win their most conference games in a single season since joining the Division I level in 1998. Last year’s squad won 15 games in league play, and if they were to clinch another championship they’d likely need at least 16.

    Player of the year chase

    Speaking of Monroe, the junior is very much in position to be the second-consecutive Bobcat to take home MAAC Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of guard Matt Balanc. Overall, Monroe is averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, but in conference play those numbers rise to 20.6 and 10.2, both of which lead the league.

    As of late, Monroe has been on a tear. So far in February, he’s averaged 23.8 points per game and 12.3 rebounds and has recorded five straight double-doubles. There have been games in which Monroe has single-handedly given the Bobcats the boost they needed to win, such as his program-record eight steal performance in December against Sacred Heart.

    Monroe is joined in the player of the year race by Merrimack’s Budd Clark and Marist’s Josh Pascarelli. Clark is averaging 19.8 points and 6.2 assists per game in conference play while Pascarelli is putting up 16.1 points per game and shooting an efficient 42% from three.

    Do-or-die time for St. Peter’s

    The Peacocks are in danger of missing the MAAC Tournament all together after cutting down the nets in Atlantic City last March. When Merrimack and Sacred Heart joined the league and expanded the conference to 13, the MAAC decided to drop the number of teams that make the tournament from 11 down to 10, leaving three schools without the chance to play for the auto-bid into the NCAA Tournament.

    St. Peter’s comes into the day with a 5-11 conference record, good for 11th in the MAAC, half a game behind Rider for the final tournament spot and one game behind Fairfield for ninth. The Peacocks are also tied with Niagara, which puts four teams just a game apart in the hunt for two spots. With time running out, every game feels like a must win for a team vying to just get the chance to make it to its third March Madness tournament in the past four seasons.

    All eyes on U

    The MAAC has had the spotlight on national television for the past seven weeks, having a weekly Friday night game featured on ESPNU. Quinnipiac’s 99-90  Valentine’s Day win over Sacred Heart in Fairfield was the first time the Bobcats were featured on a nationally-televised game since their Nov. 9 game against St. John’s was aired on FS1. 

    The past two seasons, Quinnipiac has hosted ESPNU games against Fairfield, going 1-1 in those two contests. With the Bobcats competing for a MAAC championship, having more eyes on the game than you would on a normal night may add some pressure. 

  • Why each team will or won’t win the women’s ECAC Hockey Tournament

    Why each team will or won’t win the women’s ECAC Hockey Tournament

    By Tyler Platz and Jake Baskin

    The ECAC women’s hockey quarterfinals kick off on Feb. 28, with eight teams playing in a best-of-three series for a spot in the championship round next weekend. The matchups are as follows:

    No. 1 Cornell vs. No. 9 Union

    No. 2 Colgate vs. No. 7 Princeton

    No. 3 St. Lawrence vs. No. 6 Yale

    No. 4 Clarkson vs. No. 5 Quinnipiac

    Every team in the tournament has advantages as well as challenges. Here’s why each quarterfinalist can win and what might prevent them:

    No. 1 Cornell

    Why Cornell will win: Special teams can be a difference-maker, but most of the game is played at even strength—and no team dictates play better in those situations than Cornell. The Big Red recorded a 72.6% goals-for percentage at five-on-five, a key factor in securing the ECAC’s top seed. Facing ninth-seeded Union in the quarterfinals could be a favorable matchup for Cornell, as Union allowed 67 even-strength goals this season, the second-most in the conference.

    Why Cornell will lose: Only one team can win. Colgate has won four consecutive ECAC Tournament championships, while the Big Red haven’t won it since 2014, having lost in the semifinals to Colgate last year. In a postseason that comes down to single-elimination games, anything can happen, but Cornell does not have the recent playoff track record that the Raiders do, and none of the current players have played in an ECAC championship game.

    No. 2 Colgate

    Why Colgate will win: The ability to put pucks in the net and shut down opponents is a sign of a well-rounded team, and Colgate may be one of the more complete teams in the tournament. The combination of its high-powered offense — which led the conference with 126 goals —  and the steady goaltending of senior Hannah Murphy — who ranked second in the ECAC with a .941 save percentage —  makes the Raiders a handful for any opponent in the playoffs.

    Why Colgate will lose: Playoff hockey is typically more defensive-minded than that of the regular season, and Colgate’s goals against per-game average of 1.82 ranks behind Cornell’s 1.48. The final will also likely be held in Ithaca, and home-ice advantage could be a factor when it comes to one single game. The result of this will likely decide which of Cornell or Colgate will host a regional in the NCAA Tournament.

    No. 3 St. Lawrence

    Why St. Lawrence will win: Junior goaltender Emma-Sofie Nordström gives the Saints a chance in any game. She finished the regular season tied for third in the ECAC with a .939 save percentage and ranked fourth with a 1.62 goals against average. Consistency between the pipes is crucial in the playoffs, and Nordström has proven she can keep St. Lawrence in tight scoring games.

    Why St. Lawrence will lose: St. Lawrence has allowed 795 shots this season, only behind Union and the already-eliminated RPI for the most in the ECAC. As you get into the later rounds and face teams such as Clarkson, who peppers other teams with offensive chances, and Colgate, who converts a high percentage of their shots, the Saints’ defense is going to have to take those teams off of their games in order to take home their first conference title since 2012.

    No. 4 Clarkson 

    Why Clarkson will win: Clarkson boasts the ECAC’s top power-play unit, converting at a 34% rate. Senior Haley Winn and graduate Nicole Gosling, the conference’s top two-scoring defensemen, have been a large part of that formula. Winn is tied for second among ECAC defensemen with four power-play goals, while Gosling has added three. In a best-of-three series, emotions can run high and penalties often follow. Carrying special teams success into the postseason can bode well for the fourth-seeded Golden Knights.

    Why Clarkson will lose: After 2024 National Goalie of the Year Michelle Pasiechnyk graduated, Clarkson has platooned senior Holly Gruber and junior Julia Minotti in the net. Gruber has seemed to secure the starting job with a strong performance in February, but will be playing the first postseason games of her collegiate career this weekend. In a conference with so many talented netminders, including conference save percentage leader Kaley Doyle on the other end in this round, the Golden Knights’ resolve will certainly be tested.

    No. 5 Quinnipiac

    Why Quinnipiac will win: In 76 penalty-kill situations, the Quinnipiac Bobcats allowed just eight goals, good for an 89.5% success rate throughout the regular season. Ideally, the Bobcats avoid taking any trips to the box, but in a tense best-of-three series before the championship round, having a reliable penalty kill could erase the threat of giving up a goal while down a skater. 

    Why Quinnipiac will lose: Despite the second-highest shots per game total in the conference, the Bobcats have shot just 7.2% percent this year, the lowest of the eight teams remaining. Clarkson, as well as Colgate and Cornell, averages over three goals per game, so if Quinnipiac is to win the conference, it will either have to consistently match that offensive output or play near-perfect defense.

    No. 6 Yale

    Why Yale will win: During the regular season, senior goaltender Pia Dukaric had stretches of great play for the Yale Bulldogs. In back-to-back games against Brown on Nov. 16-17, and again against UConn and Quinnipiac on Nov. 29-30, she posted a shutout and allowed just one goal in the other three games, earning ECAC Goaltender of the Week honors both times. Facing St. Lawrence in the quarterfinals — another team with a standout goaltender in Nordström — Dukaric needs to find that groove in what could be a low-scoring series to advance.

    Why Yale will lose: If the Bulldogs were to win, their offense does not give them very much room for error. Only four Yale players have cracked the 20-point threshold this season, with leading scorer Carina DiAntonio tied for twelfth in the conference with 33 points. St. Lawrence in particular has shut Yale down this season, holding them to one combined goal in the two games they have played against each other. The Bulldogs need to find the net against a tough goaltender in Nordström if they are to advance.

    No. 7 Princeton

    Why Princeton will win: The Princeton Tigers’ top forwards — junior Issy Wunder, freshman Mackenzie Alexander and junior Sarah Paul — can generate offense every shift. Wunder leads the ECAC in points with 49, while Alexander isn’t far behind, tied for third with 45. Paul, the Tigers’ top goal-scorer, has found the back of the net 28 times this season. As a team, Princeton’s 3.77 goals per game lead the conference. With proven chemistry and firepower on offense, Princeton is a hard out in a playoff scenario.

    Why Princeton will lose: Princeton has had trouble defending this season, allowing 2.4 goals per game, more than half a goal per game more than anyone left in this tournament, Union excepted. They have also struggled with taking and killing penalties, averaging the second-most penalties per game in the conference and only killing off 79.1% of them, which ranks last among the remaining teams. Against the top four seeds, the Tigers are just 1-6-1 on the year, and they will need to take two of three from Colgate just to make it to championship weekend.

    No. 9 Union

    Why Union will win: After securing the program’s first postseason win with a 2-0 upset over eighth-seeded Brown, the Garnet Chargers head into a quarterfinal matchup against top-seeded Cornell playing with house money. It’s a short tournament; the quarterfinal series wraps up on March 2, with championship weekend set for March 7-8. It may be cliche, but anything can happen. Union has already made history, but it can continue by capitalizing on any opportunities—even the ones that come from being counted out.
    Why Union will lose: At -18, Union is the only team remaining in the ECAC Tournament with a negative goal differential on the season. They also have the toughest theoretical road to a conference title; they have to win two of three from Cornell in Ithaca, then will need to win two more games against higher-ranked opponents to advance to the national tournament. The lowest-seeded team to win the ECAC this century was fourth-seeded Dartmouth in 2009.

  • MAAC Championship takeaways: Quinnipiac shines, but comes up just short in indoor track and field finale

    MAAC Championship takeaways: Quinnipiac shines, but comes up just short in indoor track and field finale

    By: Cameron Levasseur and Zachary Carter

    Quinnipiac women’s track and field rounded out the indoor season with a second place finish at the MAAC Championships at The Armory Track in New York City Sunday, its 135-point performance seven shy of Rider’s 142. 

    Playing second fiddle

    Sunday’s runner-up performance was a familiar scene for the Bobcats. In fact, it was their fifth-consecutive second-place finish at the MAAC Indoor Championships. In four of the last five championships, they’ve come up just short to the now back-to-back-to-back champion Broncs, falling by 26.5 points in 2024, by 14 in 2023 and by 0.5 in 2020. 

    “I really don’t enjoy second place,” head coach Carolyn Martin said. “But I think this year probably opened the eyes of our athletes a little bit more, because we’re very close. And being in the hunt is something that I think is really exciting every year. That’s what makes it fun, that’s what makes it worth competing and makes it a championship.”

    Sprinting ahead

    Senior Rylie Smith continued her run of dominance in MAAC sprints by running an indoor conference record 54.32 in the 400m Sunday to win the event for the third-consecutive season. She beat Rider’s Hailey Palmer, the second-place finisher, by more than two full seconds. 

    “Riley is incredible,” Martin said. “She is kind of that rock that doesn’t really get flustered. She’s a kid that you can pretty much always count on performing very consistently, and she’s always been that way.”

    Smith capped off her weekend with a second MAAC record, serving as the second leg of a 4x400m relay team with juniors Sydney Lavelle and Isabella Anzaldo and senior Alyssa Romagnoli. The group crossed the finish line in 3:45.62, seven seconds ahead of Rider. 

    In the short sprints, junior Nyasia Dailey set a program record Sunday with her first -place finish in the 60m. She ran a personal best 7.51 for the win, lowering the 7.53 mark the set in prelims the previous day. 

    Going the distance

    Quinnipiac’s distance running is a staple of its program, hence three consecutive MAAC cross country titles. That prowess was no less evident over the weekend. 

    Junior Rachel St. Germain, who’s fifth-place finish at the MAAC Cross Country Championships in the fall helped the Bobcats claim victory on grass, took home the 5000m title on Saturday and finished third in the mile, earning 16 points for Quinnipiac. 

    Her classmate Sierra Gray finished the 5000m right on St. Germain’s tail, finishing 16:44, a 14-second personal best and a podium finish. 

    “(Rachel) absolutely just went after it in the 5k,” Martin said. “And having her teammate stick right on her was huge. The two of them executed a really great 5k knowing that the unseeded section that went before them went actually quite fast … They knew they had to really put in a good race effort. And they really executed well.”

    In the 3000m, graduate student Alessandra Zaffina broke away from the field to win her first MAAC title in the event. An NCAA outdoor regional qualifier in the 3000m steeplechase in 2023, Zaffina stamped her mark on the event Sunday — minus the hurdles and water pits.

    Zaffina was also a part of the Bobcats distance medley relay team of senior Weronika Lewna, sophomore Madelyn Durkee and junior Sophia Jones that earned 10 points with a 12:13 effort, four seconds ahead of second place Canisius.

    ‘That’s what makes champions’

    Quinnipiac’s silver medal stings a bit more considering the disqualification of Anzaldo in the women’s 400m. In Anzaldo’s first four races this past weekend, she finished either first or second. She and Smith finished first and second respectively in the 200m prelims Saturday before capturing first and third place in the 200m Sunday for a 16-point addition to the team’s total. In the 400m prelims, they once again finished in the top two and had put themselves in prime position to capture another 18 points to draw closer to the Broncs. 

    “Izzy was on fire. She had a great, great day. We were very excited and proud of her,” Martin said. “She’s working very hard to jump into new levels.”

    Smith did her part, securing first place, 10 points and a sparkly new MAAC record — but Anzaldo was disqualified. If she ran a clean race, repeated her success and finished second, the swing would have bumped the eventual second place finisher, Rider’s Palmer, down to third. Eight additional points would be tacked onto the Bobcats’ total and their hypothetical 143 points would have taken home the MAAC championship. 

    And yet, the possibility of “what if” does not weigh heavily on Martin. It is outweighed by her overwhelming pride for her sprinter’s perseverance.

    “For her to come back after being DQ’d in the 400, (run) the 200 and win the 200, I think that’s what makes champions,” Martin said. “Being able to come back from a huge disappointment like that and come out on top, that’s what we talk about. It’s not always about the success that you have, it’s coming back from the failure.”

    Room for growth

    Martin remains undeterred, confident in her team’s skill, talent and mindset on their collective quest to capture an elusive MAAC championship. As the indoor season gives way for outdoor, there won’t be much alteration to the team’s daily life. If her athletes continue to do what they have been doing — putting each other first, holding each other accountable and embodying physical and mental wellbeing — Martin has no doubts the results will come. 

    “We really focus on trying to control all the variables that we can control as a team,” Martin said. “Making sure we’re staying focused and fueling properly and sleeping properly, taking care of each other and being good teammates, helping each other out in every way possible. We try to do that stuff all the time, so there’s not too much that we would fix in that…we need to continue to stay positive and continue to go after it.”

    In Martin’s eyes, the recipe for success won’t change. There is team-wide potential, apparent in their ability to always finish near the top of the MAAC, but there is also room for growth. 

    “There’s definitely things that we could do better. I think not having any throwers definitely hurts us,” she said. “As a program, we’ve decided to really focus on the events that we’re really good at and we’re good at coaching, and I think we need to keep doubling down on the events that we’re really good at and that we can really exceed it.”

    This Quinnipiac team has teetered on the precipice of first place countless times now. While it can’t change the past — the disqualifications, the injuries — it can only look ahead to the future.

    “It’s been tough being second the last few years,” Martin said. “But we have a young group right now, and I think they are opening their eyes to realizing it’s right there.”

    Back on the hunt

    Quinnipiac still has a chance at team glory on the track in 2025. The Bobcats kick off their outdoor season at the Raleigh Relays at NC State on March 27, hoping to avenge this weekend’s second place finish by winning their first MAAC Championship on the track in May. 

    The kicker? The Broncs enter the spring back-to-back MAAC champions on the outdoor oval as well. The team who finished second in each of those meets? Quinnipiac, which came up 57 and 18 points shy of a title in 2024 and 2023, respectively. And for the second year in a row, Rider will also host the championship meet. So as the Bobcats aim to make history, all roads lead to Lawrenceville. 

    “I want to always be in the hunt for the win,” Martin said. “We’ll have that same expectation. I expect my athletes to show tremendous sportsmanship, character is really important for our team. So I want our team to not only be the best team out there. I want our team to have the best culture. I want our team to be the best leaders. I want our team to just be the best people.”

    Quinnipiac produced four individual outdoor MAAC champions in 2024, each hoping to double down on their performances this spring.

    Smith, now a three-time indoor 400m champion, is seeking her third-straight outdoor title in the event this spring. She won the 400m in 55.35 in 2024. 

    St. Germain may have won her first MAAC indoor title Saturday’s 5000m performance, but she announced her prowess in the event last spring, topping the field at Rider with a 16:56 mark.

    And Lavelle, who podiumed in the 60m hurdles at The Armory, is the defending outdoor champion in the 400m hurdles, while the lethal 4x400m team of Smith, Anzaldo, Lavelle and Romagnoli will look for another relay crown. 

  • What will it take for Quinnipiac to win the ECAC Tournament? Ask its conference champions.

    What will it take for Quinnipiac to win the ECAC Tournament? Ask its conference champions.

    By Khalise Harris and Cameron Levasseur

    There’s a wall of white banners tucked high into the far left corner of the hockey side of M&T Bank Arena, each signifying a substantial moment in the two-decade plus rise of Quinnipiac women’s hockey. 

    One shows a collection of 100-point scorers, another a smattering of NCAA Tournament appearances, a third listing more Nutmeg Classic titles than you can count. It’s a constant reminder of the standard expected at a preeminent hockey school. 

    And then there’s a banner on the left side reading, “ECAC Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament Champions.” Below it, a single year stands alone – 2015-16. It’s a another kind of reminder: one of coming up just short.

    That was the first season with head coach Cass Turner at the helm. Quinnipiac won four ECAC Tournament games in 10 days to bring home the conference title. It’s won five in the nine years since. 

    To contend for the ECAC crown in 2025, the Bobcats (20-10-4, 13-9-0 ECAC) will have to fight an uphill battle. Entering the tournament as the No. 5 seed, every team above them (Cornell, Colgate, St. Lawrence and Clarkson) is ranked in the top-10 nationally. 

    So what is going to take for Quinnipiac to get back over the hump? Just ask the Bobcats who have already done it. Except when they did it, they were not wearing Quinnipiac’s blue and gold.  

    Junior forward Tessa Holk joined Quinnipiac last fall for her junior season. She already has two ECAC titles to her name as a freshman and sophomore with Colgate. The Raiders followed up the latter win with a Frozen Four appearance.

    “I’ve shared (that) everything we do matters,” Holk said. “Having that championship mentality through each game, knowing that in the back of your mind, that you’ve been there before.”

    Junior forward Tessa Holk has 10 points in 34 games in her first season with Quinnipiac. (Quinnipiac Athletics)

    Graduate forward Kathryn Stockdale made history with UConn in 2024. She helped lead the Huskies to their first Hockey East Championship, scoring the overtime winner in a semifinal bout against Boston College.

    “In the back of your head, you know it’s do or die,” Stockdale said. “It’s good nerves, translating nerves to more energy … Everything is just 110% and dedication is really high.”

    Quinnipiac starts its playoff journey by hosting Harvard in the ECAC Opening Round on Saturday. The Bobcats swept the Crimson (2-24-2, 1-20-1 ECAC) in the regular season, earning 1-0 and 2-1 victories and extending their dominance in the matchup to 9-1 over the last 10 meetings. That includes a 9-0 trouncing in the opening round of last year’s conference tournament.

    However, past success does not guarantee future results. It’s tough to beat a team twice, even tougher to do it three times. That’s why Quinnipiac is focused on a fresh mindset as the playoffs begin.

    “The term ‘new season’ has been thrown around a lot,” Stockdale said. “Just emphasizing this is a new season — it’s playoff season, and that’s an advanced season. It’s not like you can take it lightly or else you’re done.”

    “It’s also acknowledging that exact same thing is happening on the other end, with other teams,” Holk said. “No matter what your record is coming into playoffs, it’s completely wiped … it’s a whole new game.”

    Holk and Stockdale’s championship pedigrees bring a unique advantage to a Quinnipiac team eager to make its mark in the ECAC playoffs. Their experience on title-winning teams have given them a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed when the stakes are at their highest. Now, as leaders in the Bobcats’ locker room, they have the opportunity to instill that championship mindset in their teammates.

    “This is the best time of the year,” Holk said. “Playoffs are the best … (It’s about) embracing that and being present in the moment and enjoying every step because this is why we’re athletes at this level, because we love this pressure, we love this feeling of we can get something that’s huge. We can get a championship.”

    For Quinnipiac, that means embracing the details, staying disciplined in its systems, bringing energy to every shift, and trusting that the preparation put in throughout the season will pay off. 

    It also means ignoring all of that and embracing the moment. 

    “Just taking it step by step, game by game, not getting too far ahead,” Holk said. “It’s right there for us but it’s just about taking every game as it is.”

    Stockdale’s UConn team entered the Hockey East Tournament as the No. 1 seed last winter, Quinnipiac will not have that luxury. But in her eyes, these Bobcats are just as good, if not better. 

    “One thing I noticed with my team last year is we didn’t have one all-star that just went and could score and win a game,” Stockdale said. “We had a bunch of people that were dedicated and committed to the process … So looking at my team this year, it’s kind of like a step above that. It’s like everyone does that to a higher degree. Everyone is connected more, everyone is putting in more work. So when I see winning a championship last year and we already did that, it gives me faith and hope and I believe that we can do it this year.”

    As the Bobcats enter the ECAC Tournament, they believe they have the talent, depth, and leadership needed to make a run. And with Holk and Stockdale, they also have something just as valuable — championship experience. Now, it’s up to Quinnipiac to put that to use and chase a title of its own.

  • 15 players to watch in women’s ECAC Hockey Tournament 

    15 players to watch in women’s ECAC Hockey Tournament 

    By Jake Baskin and Carlos Calo Rodríguez

    The stage is set for another thrilling ECAC Hockey women’s tournament, set to begin on Friday.  It’s the second iteration of the tournament since the expansion to a 12-team bracket. Cornell enters the fray as the No. 1 seed, clinching its ninth ECAC regular season championship with a 16-2-4 conference record. The Big Red were No. 3 in the preseason poll in September behind No. 1 Clarkson at the and No. 2 Colgate.

    The first four teams: Cornell (54 points), Colgate (52 points), St. Lawrence (45.5 points) and Clarkson (40.5 points) clinched first round byes and will host quarterfinal series. No. 5 Quinnipiac, which finished just two points behind Clarkson, is among four teams that will host single-elimination opening round games for a spot in the quarterfinals. The Bobcats will face No. 12 Harvard. 

    The ECAC Tournament should be one of the best in the past years, with five teams ranked in the top-10 nationally by USCHO. 

    QU Sports Page’s Jake Baskin and Carlos Calo offer 15 players to watch as the tournament gets underway:

    Mackenzie Alexander | Fr. | F | Princeton

    Alexander, the leading freshman scorer in the country with 42 points, appears to be a lock for the Julie Chu Women’s National Rookie of the Year Award, and if won, she would be the first ECAC player to take home the honor since Sarah Fillier in 2019. The Toronto native will be a player to watch for years to come.

    Annelies Bergmann | So. | G | Cornell

    There are many quality goaltenders in the ECAC, but the 6-foot-1-inch Bergmann stands out as one of the best. Bergmann won the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2024 and was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team. Now, as a sophomore, she reached the 20-win mark for a second time and is tied for the national lead with eight shutouts. 

    Elyssa Biederman | Jr. | F | Colgate

    Biederman, a small but speedy winger, has been a tremendous playmaker during her three years at Colgate. She is a player that gets better every season, she has 45 points in 34 games, five games less than the 2023-2024 season. She has been setting up teammates such as Kristyna Kaltounkova and Emma Pais, along with scoring14 goals of her own this year. Her 31 assists are No. 5 in the country behind four Wisconsin Badgers.

    Anne Cherkowski | Gr. | F | Clarkson

    A graduate student, Cherkowski is a do-everything winger who has scored over 140 points in her NCAA career. She was named to the ECAC Women’s Preseason All-League Team Roster. After helping lead the Golden Knights to the Frozen Four last year, Cherkowski and the experienced Clarkson seniors will try to replicate that performance in 2025. 

    Kendall Cooper | Gr. | D | Quinnipiac

    Quinnipiac is a team that prides itself on defense and goaltending (only Cornell has allowed fewer goals this season among ECAC teams), and Cooper has been the Bobcats’ leader from the blueline all year. Already one of the conference’s best defensemen, she is approaching the 20-assist mark for the third time in her collegiate career.

    Kaley Doyle | Gr. | G | Quinnipiac

    A graduate transfer from Brown, Doyle leads ECAC starters with a .944 save percentage and has seven shutouts. The Bobcats have a recent history of excellent goaltending, including Corinne Schroeder and Logan Angers and Doyle’s one year in Hamden has been no exception.

    Nicole Gosling and Haley Winn | Gr. & Sr. | D | Clarkson

    These two defensive partners are listed together because it’s hard to think of one without the other. Winn is second in scoring among defensemen in the country with 42 points, and Gosling is third with 34. The two are strong on both ends of the ice, and have driven the Golden Knights’ offense this year. A First Team All American and the ECAC Defender of the Year in 2024, Gosling has assisted 10 of Winn’s 12 goals this season. Winn is also the only unanimous selection to make the ECAC Women’s Preseason All-League Team this season. Both are expected to be very high picks in this year’s PWHL Draft.

    Rory Guilday | Sr. | D | Cornell

    Though she’s not the flashiest offensive player, Guilday’s defensive play was essential to the Big Red finishing with the top seed in the ECAC. The senior from Minnesota is a favorite to make next year’s U.S. Olympic team after representing her country in the last three world championships. 

    Abby Hustler | Sr. | F | St. Lawrence

    Hustler finished top-10 in the country in scoring last year and was a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 finalist. This season, she is the driver of the offense for the Saints with 14 goals and 34 points in 34 games. Hustler’s emergence as one of the top forwards in the country coincided with St. Lawrence making the NCAA Tournament last year. If they are to do so again in 2025 she will be the reason why.

    Kristýna Kaltounková | Gr. | F | Colgate

    The Czech international is second in the conference in both goals and points, Kaltounková has been one of the most exciting players in collegiate women’s hockey for her entire five-year run in Hamilton. During this season she became the first player in program history to score 100 goals and reach the 200-point mark. The big center is almost impossible to keep away from the puck or the net and will be in contention for the No. 1 pick in this year’s PWHL Draft.

    Hannah Murphy | Sr. | G | Colgate

    Murphy split time with Kayle Osborne last year, but now has the starting position at Colgate to herself. She ranks among the top 10 in the country in games played (31), wins (23), and save percentage (.941), and her play in net has given her teammates the confidence to take chances offensively. She has been selected to the national Goalie of the Year Watchlist for three straight seasons. 

    Emma-Sofie Nordstrom | Jr. | G | St. Lawrence

    Nordstrom has posted a save percentage above .930 for the second year in a row, backstopping the Saints to the No. 3 seed in the ECAC Tournament. She was an ECAC Goaltender of the Year Finalist last season. Beyond her exploits in college, Nordstrom is also the starter for the Danish national team.

    Vita Poniatovskaia | So. | D | Yale

    The Bulldogs under coach Mark Bolding have been a strong defensive team. Yale has allowed the third-fewest goals in the conference, and Poniatovskaia has been a key component of their defensive strength. If Yale is to win the ECAC Tournament, it is going to need a standout performance from its back end, especially from Poniatovskaia.

    Issy Wunder | Jr. | F | Princeton

    Wunder had a breakout year this season as a junior, elevating her goal total from eight to 24 following Fillier’s graduation. She is the ECAC’s leading scorer with 47 points, and has made the Tigers’ top line one of the scariest in college hockey, one that the higher-ranked teams in the conference will need to contain in order to avoid an upset.