Women's Ice Hockey

October 30, 2008

Women's Ice Hockey Picked Ninth In ECAC East Poll; Open Season On Saturday

COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team, led by ninth-year head coach Chris Donovan, is picked to finish ninth in the ECAC Women's East Poll, released on Thursday.

Saint Michael's earned 62 points in the poll, finishing eight points behind eighth-place University of Southern Maine, and 14 points ahead of ninth-place Castleton State College in the 13-team league. For the complete poll, visit http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/wice/2008-09/news/Women-s_East_Coaches_Poll.pdf.

The Purple Knights will open the 2008-09 season on Saturday at 6 p.m., as Saint Michael's takes on Oswego in the opening round of the Rutland Herald Invitational, hosted by Castleton. Castleton and Potsdam open the tournament on Saturday at 3 p.m. with the consolation and championship games set for Sunday at 12 and 3 p.m., respectively.

Saint Michael's is coming off of an 8-16-1 season in 2007-08, setting a program record for victories in a season. The Purple Knights went 8-10-1 in ECAC East play last year.

The Purple Knights return nine of their top-10 scorers from last season, including juniors Meghan Sweezey (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) and Desiree Biron (Bow, N.H./Univ. of Vermont), who combined for 19 goals and 25 assists last year. Senior Jess Tourville (Baltimore, Vt./Springfield), the team's captain this season, added 14 points last season, while in goal, senior Melanie Cullen (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) started all but two games last season and posted a .908 save percentage.

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Saint Michael's College

Athletics

Women's Ice Hockey

October 30, 2008

Women's Ice Hockey Picked Ninth In ECAC East Poll; Open Season On Saturday