Game Notes: Women's Hockey Travels to No. 4 Clarkson (Oct. 23-24)

Friday, October 23

Potsdam, N.Y.

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

Clarkson University

Game Notes: Women's Hockey Travels to No. 4 Clarkson (Oct. 23-24)

10/22/2015 9:26:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey

UNH Wildcats (0-5-0, 0-3-0 WHEA) at No. 4 Clarkson Golden Knights (7-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC)
Friday, October 23 (3 p.m.) – Cheel Arena – Potsdam, N.Y.
Saturday, October 24 (3 p.m.) – Cheel Arena – Potsdam, N.Y.

THE GAMES
The University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team travels to northern New York to play a two-game series against fourth-ranked Clarkson University on Oct. 23-24. Both games at Cheel Arena begin at 3 p.m.

THE MATCHUP
UNH has a 6-2-0 lifetime record, which includes 2-2-0 on the road, against Clarkson University since the Wildcats were 11-0 victors in the first meeting on Feb. 9, 1979. These programs have not faced off since Oct. 22, 2011, when the Golden Knights skated to a 2-1 victory at Cheel Arena. The Wildcats' most recent win in the series was Oct. 22, 2010 (2-1 at the Whittemore Center).

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
UNH has a 0-5-0 overall record with and 0-2-0 record both on the road and against non-conference teams; the weekend series at Clarkson will be the Wildcats' first non-conference road games of the season.
UNH recorded the shot advantage each of the first four games of the season, including 35-12 at Merrimack College (Oct. 17) and 38-22 vs. Lindenwood (Oct. 9). Boston College was the first team to outshoot the Wildcats with a 30-26 edge, but UNH did tally a 14-9 advantage in the second period.
New Hampshire is averaging 29.0 shots per game in comparison to the opponents' 20.0. The 'Cats have the edge all three periods – 48-36 in the first, 49-39 in the second and 48-25 in the third.
On special teams, UNH is 2-for-17 (11.8%)on the power play and 11 of 15 (73.3%) on the penalty kill. Last weekend, the 'Cats were 0-for-7 on the power play and 4 of 5 on the penalty kill.
The Wildcats have been outscored 19-5 overall with a breakdown of 6-1 each of the first two periods as well as 7-3 in the third period.
New Hampshire has been shut out 10 times the past 41 games, including twice this season.
The 'Cats have fallen behind 1-0 in 31 of the last 41 games, including 4 of 5 this season.

'CAT NIPS
Five UNH skaters enter this weekend's action with multiple points. Three of them are defensemen Amy Schlagel (1g, 3a), Julia Fedeski (1g, 1a) and Sara Carlson (2a). The others are forwards Jonna Curtis (2g, 1a) and Taylor Wenczkowski (2a).
Schlagel, a sophomore, recorded an assist three consecutive games – vs. Lindenwood (Oct. 9), Syracuse (Oct. 10) and Merrimack (Oct. 17). She also scored a goal vs. Syracuse to mark her first career multiple-point game.
Schlagel is the UNH leader in both assists (three) and points (four).
Curtis is the only Wildcat with multiple goals this season. She scored New Hampshire's only goal in two games last weekend with a tally at Merrimack College on Oct. 17. Curtis tallied a goal and an assist vs. Lindenwood.
Fedeski, another sophomore, matched her career high of two points with a goal and assist vs. Lindenwood.
Wenczkowski recorded her first career point with an assist against Lindenwood and tallied an assist on Curtis' goal at Merrimack.
Carlson, a senior captain, matched her personal bests in both assists (two) and points (two) against Syracuse.
Sophomore defenseman Kaylee Forster made her season debut last weekend when she skated at Merrimack College; she also played one day later against Boston College.

GOALTENDING CAROUSEL
UNH opened the season by starting four goaltenders in as many games. Freshman Hilary Cashin received the starting nod in the season opener vs. Maine (Oct. 2), followed by Vilma Vaattovaara against Lindenwood (Oct. 9), Kyra Smith vs. Syracuse (Oct. 10) and Ashley Wilkes at Merrimack (Oct. 17).
Vaattovaara became the first goalie to get a second start when she was between the pipes for the opening faceoff at second-ranked Boston College on Oct. 18. She also became the first goalie to give way to another goalie, as Cashin played the third period vs. the Eagles.

FACING OFF
Amy Boucher leads New Hampshire in faceoffs won (53), taken (85) and win percentage (.558). Nicoline Jensen is next in all three stats with 30 wins, 58 total and a .517 win percentage.
In the most recent game, the Wildcats did not fare well in the faceoff circle against second-ranked Boston College. The Eagles won 35 of 48 faceoffs (72.9%).
UNH recorded the faceoff advantage in 1 of 5 games, and that was a 28-17 edge at Merrimack College on Oct. 17. Boucher was an impressive 12 of 17 (70.6%) against the Warriors.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED
UNH returned to Hockey East league action last weekend with road games against Merrimack College and Boston College. The Wildcats recorded a 35-12 shot advantage, including 15-3 in the first period, but their third-period rally fell short in a 2-1 loss at Merrimack on Oct. 17. Ashley Wilkes, in her season debut, made five of her 10 saves in the third period. MC counterpart Samantha Ridgewell stopped 34 shots, including 15 in the first period. Jonna Curtis, with the assistance of Taylor Wenczkowski and Amy Schlagel, pulled the 'Cats within 2-1 with 7:58 remaining in regulation.
One day later at Boston College, the Eagles netted two goals all three periods to record a 6-0 victory at Conte Forum. UNH went 0-for-5 on the power play, but recorded 12 of its 26 shots during the skater advantage; in comparison, BC was 1 of 4 on the power play with a total of three shots. Vilma Vaattovaara stopped 19 of 24 shots in two periods of play, then Hilary Cashin made five saves with two goals allowed in third period. BC goalie Katie Burt made 26 saves, including 14 in the second period, to record the shutout.

WHAT'S NEXT
New Hampshire begins a streak of six consecutive Hockey East league games and ends the month of October – as well as its five-game road stretch – at the University of Vermont on Oct. 30 (7 p.m.). The Wildcats then return home Nov. 1 to face off against 10th-ranked Boston University on Nov. 1 (2 p.m.).

'CAT CAPTAIN
Senior forward Sara Carlson reprises her role as team captain in the 2015-16 season. Last year, Carlson split time between forward and defenseman. With the Wildcats short on the blue line, she skated three consecutive games (Oct. 24-26-30) as a defenseman and returned to patrol the blue line all three games of the Hockey East quarterfinal series at Northeastern.
Carlson opened the 2015-16 season on the blue line paired with sophomore defenseman Amy Schlagel and has been there all five games. She tied her career highs in both assists (two) and points (two) vs. Syracuse on Oct. 10. Carlson is second on the squad in blocked shots with nine.
In 109 career games, Carlson has compiled 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points.

THE ALTERNATES
Senior forward Heather Kashman and junior forward Cassandra Vilgrain are designated as team leaders by their distinction as alternate captains. Kashman was also an alternate captain last year.
Kashman skated in 33 of 36 games a year ago, when she recorded three goals and two assist for five points; that included 2-0-2 in 18 Hockey East league games. Kashman was one of UNH's top centers in the faceoff circle, where she ranked second in faceoffs won (190 and total faceoffs (395), and she had a .481 win percentage.
Vilgrain skated in 34 of 36 games with five goals and six assists for 11 points, which included 3-5-8 in 20 Hockey East games. Vilgrain was one of UNH's primary centers early in the 2014-15 season and ended with a team-best .555 win percentage (71 of 128).
Vilgrain has skated in all five games this season on the left wing of the second line. Kashman has been sidelined by injury in the 2015-16 season.

TOP OF THE LIST
Last year as a sophomore, Jonna Curtis led New Hampshire in six statistics – goals (13), assists (nine), points (22), game-winning goals (two), shorthanded goals (three) and shots (133); she also ranked second in shooting percentage (.098).
Curtis was also one of the Wildcats' primary centers in the faceoff circle. She ranked fourth on the team in faceoff wins (159) and faceoffs (350); she had a .454 win percentage.
In the Oct. 2 season opener vs. Maine, Curtis recorded a game-high seven shots and won 4 of 9 faceoffs. She tallied a goal and an assist with a game-high eight shots in the Oct. 9 4-2 loss to Lindenwood.
Through five games, Curtis leads the team in both goals (two) and shots (23); she is second in points (three) as well as shooting percentage (.087).

SENIOR CLASS
The senior class includes the aforementioned captain, Sara Carlson, and alternate captain Heather Kashman as well as forwards Haley Breedlove, Nicoline Jensen and Margo Lund as well as goaltender Vilma Vaattovaara.
Breedlove played in 35 of 36 games and recorded four points (1g, 3a) last season. She enters this weekend as one of six Wildcats who has recorded an assist this season; she tallied that helper Oct. 10 vs. Syracuse. Breedlove did not take any faceoffs in the season opener, but she enters this weekend third on the team in faceoffs won (18) and taken (41) with a .439 win percentage.
Jensen was a first-year Wildcat in the 2014-15 season; she lettered at Castleton State as a freshman and sophomore. Jensen, who skated in all 36 games, tied for the team lead in assists (nine), tied for third in goals (six) and was third in both points (15) and shooting percentage (.085). She was the top 'Cat in the faceoff circle with team highs in both faceoff wins (231) and faceoffs (489); her .472 win percentage ranked third among the four primary faceoff centers.
Jensen centered the top line the first three games this season and was shifted to the second line with wingers Cassandra Vilgrain and Devan Taylor in last weekend's road games against Merrimack and BC. Jensen is yet to record a point but has been one of the top centers in the faceoff circle at 30 of 58 (.517 win percentage); she won 9 of 14 each of the first two games.
Lund was another first-year Wildcat in 2014-15; she was a two-year letterwinner at St. Lawrence. She skated in all 36 games last year and scored two goals for two points; Lund netted a goal in the season opener and another in the regular-season finale.
Lund has skated as the right wing on UNH's third line all five games this season.
Vaattovaara was New Hampshire's top goaltender last year. She started all 27 games in which she played and had a 2.82 GAA with a .904 save percentage, three shutouts and an 8-16-3 record.
Vaattovaara is the only UNH goalie with multiple starts (two) through five games; she has played 97 minutes, 46 seconds and is 0-2 with a 4.91 GAA and .822 save percentage.

D-D-D, D-FENSE
New Hampshire has a young defensive unit comprised of one senior (who entered the season with six games played on the blue line), four sophomores and two freshmen. Amy Schlagel is strong in the defensive zone – she was the team leader with 54 blocks – and is also a playmaker in the offensive zone. Schlagel led all UNH defensemen in goals (three), assists (seven) and points (10) and was the top 'Cat overall in power-play goals (three) and power-play points (six).
Schlagel has assumed an even bigger role on UNH's offense this season. She leads all 'Cats in assists (three) and points (points), and she ranks second on the squad in shots with 17. She recorded her first career multiple-point game with a goal and an assist Oct. 10 Syracuse.
Kate Haslett, who redshirted the 2013-14 season after incurring an injury two games into the season, returned to the lineup a year ago and skated in 34 of 36 games. She tallied a goal and two assists for three points. Haslett has skated in all five games this season.
Julia Fedeski skated in 25 of 36 games and contributed five points (1g, 4a) last year, while Kaylee Forster played in 23 games, including 12 Hockey East tilts; she did not record a point.
Fedeski is one of five 'Cats – three of whom are defensemen – with multiple points this season. She has a goal and an assist for two points.
Marie-Jo Pelletier has already made an immediate impact as a freshman. Pelletier was a NAPHA league All-Star at Rothesay Netherwood School and was also named an All-Star multiple times at the World Sport School Challenge; she has competed at the Canadian Nationals U18 tourney as a member of Team Atlantic for multiple years.
Pelletier enters the weekend with a team-high 13 blocked shots – and she stands in at 4-foot-11.
Jenna Rheault helped lead St. Paul's School to the NEPSAC Division 1 title as a senior and was a two-time All-ISL honoree. Rheault has also skated in all five games and is third in blocked shots with six.

THE PUCK STOPS HERE
In addition to senior goaltender Vilma Vaattovaara, junior Ashley Wilkes returns in net for the Wildcats. Wilkes played in 10 games a year ago and was in the starting lineup nine times. She started the last five games of the season – all against Northeastern – and that included the three-game Hockey East quarterfinal series. Wilkes finished with a 2-7-0 record, 3.29 GAA and .895 save percentage. She stopped 93 of 101 shots (.921 save percentage) in the playoff series and that included a 40-save effort in the 2-1 Game 1 win.
Wilkes made her season debut Oct. 17 at Merrimack College. She stopped 10 of 12 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Warriors at Lawler Rink.
Freshmen Hilary Cashin and Kyra Smith will also battle for playing time in goal. Cashin is a graduate of New Hampton School, where her accolades included All-State Team, Lakes Region All-Star and E.G. Watkins Tournament MVP. As a senior in the 2014-15 season, Cashin recorded a 1.58 goals-against-average with a .946 save percentage and three shutouts in 13 games. Smith attended The Pomfret School, where she helped lead the team to the NEPSAC Division 1 title game as a senior. In that 2014-15 season, Smith had a 1.33 GAA and .950 save percentage.
Cashin has seen 78:27 of action in two games this season, and she has a 0-1-0 record with a 3.82 GAA and .815 save percentage. got the starting nod in the season opener Oct. 2 vs. Maine – she is the first freshman to start a season opener in goal since current senior Vaattovaara in the 2012-13 season. Cashin shut out the Black Bears in the second period with 12 saves and she finished with 17 overall in the 4-0 loss; she surrendered three goals (Maine also netted an empty-net goal). Cashin came off the bench at second-ranked Boston College to play the third period; she made five saves and allowed two goals.
Smith made her collegiate debut Oct. 10 at home against Syracuse – a 3-2 loss – and recorded half of her 12 saves in the first period.

NO LONGER NEW
In addition to the quartet of aforementioned sophomore defensemen, there are four sophomore forwards on this year's roster. Amy Boucher was one of UNH's to point producers last season as she ranked second among all Wildcats in goals (10) and assists (17), and was atop the leaderboard in shooting percentage (.102). In addition to her scoring prowess, Boucher was one of the top centers in faceoff draws; she had a team-best .492 win percentage and ranked third in both wins (178) and total faceoffs (358).
Boucher enters Friday's game with one point on a goal vs. Syracuse (Oct. 10). She is the top UNH center in the faceoff circle with 53 wins, 95 faceoffs and a .558 win percentage. Boucher is also tied for third in shots (17).
Carlee Toews has been in the lineup as the left winger on the third line all five games this season. Brooke Avery has been on the fourth line four consecutive games; she opened the year centering the third line. Ali Praus skated in the first three games of the season; she did not dress last weekend against Merrimack and BC.

ONE FOR ME, ONE FOR YOU
A handful of Wildcats have almost even career totals in goals and assists. Cassandra Vilgrain is an equal finisher and distributor with 14 goals and 14 assists in 71 games. Heather Kashman has an almost even split of 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points in 100 games. The career breakdown for Jonna Curtis is 19 goals and 15 assists in 56 games.

THE NEW 'CATS IN TOWN
The incoming class of Wildcats includes forwards Caitlyn Radatovich, Devan Taylor and Taylor Wenczkowski (in addition to the aforementioned defensemen Marie-Jo Pelletier and Jenna Rheault and goalies Hilary Cashin and Kyra Smith. Radatovich skated for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U19 in the 2014-15 season, when she ranked among the top three in points (37) and led the way in power-play goals (seven); she also skated for Team Pittsburgh U16 in 2012-13 and the Pens Elite U14 in 2010-11.
Taylor is a graduate of Lawrence Academy, where she earned ISL All- League accolades in hockey and also helped lead the Assabet Valley U19 Red Major team to a national championship that year.
Wenczkowski skated on the Boston Shamrocks club team and she was also on the U.S. U18 Select Team in 2013 and 2014. In 27 games last year with the Boston Shamrocks, she recorded 23 goals and 12 assists for 35 points.
All three forwards have skated in all five games this season. Wenczkowski, a winger on the top line every game, has two points with an assist against both Lindenwood and Merrimack. She is the only UNH rookie to record a point.

AT THE TURNSTILES
There were 737 fans in attendance for the Oct. 2 season opener vs. Maine at the Whitt; it marked the highest home attendance since Oct. 5, 2013, when 861 attended a 3-2 win vs. Syracuse. Last year in 17 home games, the Wildcats averaged 252 fans with a high of 343.

WILDCATS ROAR BACK TO DEFEAT OAKVILLE
Junior alternate captain Cassandra Vilgrain and sophomore defenseman Amy Schlagel scored late third-period goals to lead UNH to a 4-3 victory against the Oakville Jr. Hornets IAA in last Saturday's exhibition game at the Whittemore Center.
Oakville potted goals 43 seconds apart late in the first period to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. New Hampshire pulled within 2-1 at 3:44 of the second stanza. The Hornets reestablished a two-goal lead at 13:30 but UNH once again trimmed the deficit to one goal with 4:13 remaining in the second.
Vilgrain tied the score, 3-3, at 13:54 of the third period and Schlagel netted the game winner at 16:35.
Vilgrain led the offense with two goals and sophomore forward Amy Boucher tallied two assists. Sophomore forward Carlee Toews netted the Wildcats' other goal. Sophomore defenseman Julia Fedeski, freshman forward Devan Taylor and freshman defenseman Marie-Jo Pelletier were credited with one assist each.
Junior goaltender Ashley Wilkes got the start and stopped 8 of 10 shots. Senior Vilma Vaattovaara played the second stanza and made three saves with one goal allowed. The freshman duo of Hilary Cashin and Kyra Smith combined to shut out Oakville in the final frame with a total of 12 saves.
UNH went 0-for-2 on the power play and the 'Cats were not whistled for a penalty.

SPANNING THE GLOBE
The 2015-16 Wildcats are a team made up of student-athletes from around the world. In the geographic breakdown, 14 'Cats hail from the United States while eight are from Canada, one calls Finland home and another is from Denmark.
More Wildcats hail from Minnesota than any other state or province with six on the roster. Next on the list is Alberta (four).

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Clarkson University (Potsdam, N.Y.) heads into the weekend with an unblemished record (7-0-0) and ranked No. 4 in the country. Clarkson is 2-0-0 on home ice and has four wins against Hockey East opponents.
Last weekend, the Golden Knights went on the road and swept ninth-ranked Boston University in a two-game series by scores of 4-2 and 4-1. Senior assistant captain Olivia Howe and junior Genevieve Bannon scored two goals apiece in the second game of the series, which saw the visitors record a 41-23 shot advantage. Junior Cayley Mercer recorded a pair of assists in that game to give her a team-high seven assists and 11 points this season. In the first game at BU, Clarkson rallied from a 2-0 deficit with two goals in both the second and third period.
Clarkson has dominated the ice this season with three of its seven games ending in shutouts, including back-to-back games against the University of Vermont.
Sophomore goaltender Shea Tiley has started six of seven games this season. She has a 6-0-0 record with a 1.00 GAA, .958 save percentage and two shutouts. In 44 career games, Tiley has a 30-11-3 record for a .716 win percentage.
The Golden Knights have dominated the third period (11-1 scoring advantage) and excelled on the penalty kill (19-for-20; 95.0%).