RPI Women's Hockey

[starsparents]

Regarding the change in Colgates rep on theseposts, from my end, I do notthink less of Colgate. My thing is that Colgate is a middle to upper Division 1 program. I just think that the gap between those middle to low Division 1 teams, and the upper Division 3 teams is still very close- no slight to Colgate. I do think that RPI is going to be fun to follow, as they do have strong defense, and outstanding goaltending. The fact that they played in two very close games, and did not lose, looks great for them. On Colgates end, they could have suffered from the fact that they may have expected to win, and probably put too much pressure on themselves.

[mr_itty]

Another impressive performance on Sat. For RPI. Didn't have quite as much jump as in the first half of Friday's game and were missing McDonald and Temple, but once again played with a lot of intensity and discipline and got great goaltending. This is going to be an exciting team to watch this year, and last night had the support of the loudest fans that I have seen at a D1 womens game.

It was a great game to watch. Both teams were extremely agressive, and no one let up for the entire 65 minutes. As I noted in the Score Updates thread, I saw more take downs in last night's game than I do in a typical men's game. The guy sitting next to me, more than once, commented, "that's *legal* in women's hockey?".

The crowd attendance was by far the largest I've ever seen at an RPI women's game. Unfortunately, I have to believe that was due largely to this being Family Weekend at RPI. It would be great to see that kind of attendance every week, but I'm doubtful it will continue. Many props to the Pep Band for being there as well. They always manage to add just a little something more to the game.

[hgirl]

Looking at the box scores the 2 game shot totals were 72 to 30 in favor of Colgate. Hats off to the RPI senior goalie.

[Ralph Baer]

Another impressive performance on Sat. For RPI. Didn't have quite as much jump as in the first half of Friday's game and were missing McDonald and Temple, but once again played with a lot of intensity and discipline and got great goaltending. This is going to be an exciting team to watch this year, and last night had the support of the loudest fans that I have seen at a D1 womens game. For the players as well as the fans this weekend was a great start for RPI. Interesting, by the way, to see what they have done to Colgate's reputation overnight. Based on a strong season last year, many very good returning players and some highly regarded recruits Colgate is picked by many to be at least mid-level in the tough ECAC. And yes they did demolish the Jr. Aeros last weekend. Now some of the posts here seem to be implying that this was a mediocre team that RPI played. ;)
What happened to McDonald and Temple? The team doesn't have any extra skaters and can't afford to be shorthanded for any extended period.

[hab]

Minor injury to McDonald, and Temple was ill but I expect both will be in the line-up next weekend in Pittsburgh.

[rpi82]

Robert Morris was just beaten soundly in a two game set by the same Sacred Heart team that RPI trounced the weekend before. It could get ugly next weekend.

[Ralph Baer]

Robert Morris was just beaten soundly in a two game set by the same Sacred Heart team that RPI trounced the weekend before. It could get ugly next weekend. SHU played Robert Morris College, a club team. RPI will play Robert Morris University which lost two games to Maine in its only action.

[rpi82]

That makes sense. The local paper (I live about 5 miles from Sacred Heart) just printed Robert Morris in the box score. SHU outshot them 42-16 on Friday night - and it was hard to believe that the Pioneers could be that much better than any Division I program.

Edit: I just looked up Robert Morris College and it is in Chicago. Since Sacred Heart plays in a small community rink (< 1,000 seats) 15 miles from its campus I'd be shocked if they had 100 people in the stands - even their men's team never fills the place. How can these two schools economically justify a club team travelling 800+ miles for a pair of exhibition games?

[leeb]

I was in attendance at Saturday's game and yes, the crowd was huge. I was sitting there thinking it was around 800 to 900 (reported attendance is 750). Family Weekend or not, it was by far the largest crowd ever at an RPI women's game and everyone involved with the program should be proud.

RPI is a good team. They will lose this season and may at times not look very good doing it. In fact, they may not look too good at times winning games. But they belong in D1 and will only get better. Remember, this is not a team newly put together, consisting of all freshmen. This is a team with 6 Seniors on it, which means a solid recruiting class next year can significantly improve the team.

What was amazing about Satruday's game was that RPI tied Colgate without Nicole McDonald. That's not to say that one player can turn the tide necessarily but she is an excellent player.

[dave1381]

However, those upper, and mid range Division 3 teams, in my opinion, can play, compete, and win at times, against the current lower and some middle level division 1 teams.
And my point is you've given no evidence whatsoever to justify your opinion that a top D-III team could win a game against a mid-level D-I team. I think our disagreement comes about because you think RPI's 3-point weekend against Colgate is evidence, and I think it isn't. RPI was a top D-III team LAST YEAR, not this year.

Here's my evidence against that claim -- here are the results of the top handful of D-III programs against D-I in the last three years. I don't include Sacred Heart, because they have yet to complete a season with a D-I schedule that qualifies them NCAA at-large consideration (it's 20 games or so against D-I opponents).

04-05
Clarkson 6, Elmira 2
Union 4, RPI 1

03-04
Clarkson 6, Utica 2
Clarkson 6, Middlebury 2
Clarkson 11, Colby 1
Clarkson 2, Bowdoin 1
WSU 2, Elmira 1
WSU 2, Elmira 1
Clarkson 2, Elimira 1
Clarkson 3, Elmira 0
Union 5, New England 1
Union 4, RPI 4
Union 4, Holy Cross 1

02-03
Middlebury 2, Cornell 2
WSU 4, Elmira 1
WSU 4, Elmira 2

The D-III teams didn't win any games, most weren't that close, and most of the one-goal games weren't as close as the score indicated. And the only D-I team on the list I'd consider to be mid-level is the 04-05 Clarkson team. And you can't say that this year's D-I RPI team that took 3 of 4 pts from Colgate is the same as last year's D-III RPI team that lost to Union, the worst D-I team there is aside from Sacred Heart.

[starsparents]

I live in Connecticut, I see Sacred Heart alot, and I agree on that point. I guess we agree to disagree on the others. It looks as though you believe that RPI is much better than they were last year. I thought last years team was pretty strong, even though they did not beat any of the strongest Division 3 teams. They lost Aho, which is a big loss. I guess you feel the current group of incoming freshman, are strong enough to make up for senior losses, and of course, Aho, and even improve over last year. Your research was sound, and I see that part of what you are saying. I think it will all be seen as the season progresses. I like the RPI team alot, and hope they do well. I guess RPI may not be a good example in your eyes. My basic thought is that there are a few Division 1 teams right now, in name only. That there are some Division 3 teams that can compete, and even steal a game from those, and a few others.

[Ralph Baer]

Let me preface this message, like I should all on this thread, by the fact that I have not seen or heard the RPI women play this season.

It seems to me that RPI is significantly improved over last year. Yes, they lost a lot in last year's senior class plus Julie Aho, however this is more than made up for by improvement in the returning players plus the first class of scholarship athletes. So far we only have comparative scores against Sacred Heart to base this on, but going by box scores, RPI dominated much more than last year. (Admittedly, SHU might be worse.)

It is clear that many, if not all, of RPI's returning players are capable of competing at the D-I level. Certainly Schiff and Daniel have shown that to date. (I can't judge the defenders based only on box scores.)

All of this implies to me that one can't judge the ability of a D-III team to compete against a midlevel D-I team based upon RPI's results against Colgate. dave1381's post says more about this. There is overlap between D-I and D-III, but not that much.

[Ralph Baer]

RPI Press release:


SCHIFF EARNS NATIONAL ICE HOCKEY AWARD
Goalie recognized as USCHO.com Division I Defensive Player of the Week

Troy, N.Y. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Rosina Schiff has been selected as the Division I Women's Ice Hockey Defensive Player of the Week by the staff of U.S. College Hockey Online (www.uscho.com). Schiff, a senior goaltender, allowed just three goals on 72 shots to lead the Engineers to a 1-0-1 record.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Schiff backstopped Rensselaer's win and tie against Colgate University despite RPI being outshot 72-30 in the two games. Of the three goals she allowed, only one was even-strength. She finished with a .958 save percentage and a 1.43 goals against average.

On Friday night Schiff posted 34 saves in a 3-2 overtime win that gave the Engineers their first-ever Division I road victory. She made ten saves in the first period, 15 in the second, ten in the third and one in overtime before RPI got the win. The next night in Troy, Schiff had 35 saves in a 1-1 tie with the Raiders. She allowed a power play goal while making 14 saves in the first period, ten in the second, six in the third and six in the overtime session.

In three games thus far this season, Schiff is 2-0-1 with a 0.97 goals against average and a .961 save percentage. She has allowed just three goals on 77 shots in 186:07, including one shutout. She is currently first in the nation among Division I goaltenders in goals against average, second in save percentage and sixth in winning percentage (.833).

In 54 career games, including 51 at the Division III level, Schiff has a 33-15-3 record with 14 shutouts. She has allowed 72 goals while making 1217 saves in 3036:32 for a 1.42 goals against average and a .944 save percentage. She earned numerous Division III honors, including ECAC East Goaltender of the Year in 2004-05, National All-American in 2003-04 and All-ECAC East both seasons.

Prior to attending Rensselaer Schiff was a standout at Jefferson High School in the Minnesota High School League. An All-Conference performer, she once led the team to a fourth place finish in the state tournament. Academically, she was on the Honor Roll, the president of Empowering Young Women and a member of STUCO.

Rensselaer's women's hockey team, which is playing its first season of Division I after ten at Division III, is off to a 3-0-1 start. The Engineers return to action this weekend with a pair of games at Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa.

[Ralph Baer]

For those who have joined USCHO Extra, Jayson Moy has written a nice story about Bill Cahill and the RPI women's team's season to date. I assume that this link won't work if you haven't joined. http://www.uscho.com/news/id,10909/ADreamRealized.html

[hab1]

I'll be at the game at Robert Morris tonight and will try to give a couple of updates via my blackberry, if it works. I will also be trying to follow updates for the men's game, so I might post the women's updates on that thread if it turns out to be too slow bouncing back and forth between threads on the blackberry.

[RPIHFH]

Congrats to the ladies on their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Robert Morris tonight. Also congrats to Ashley Mayr on her first collegiate victory. Lets see the same outcome tomorrow night

[mr_itty]

Congrats to the ladies on their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Robert Morris tonight. Also congrats to Ashley Mayr on her first collegiate victory. Lets see the same outcome tomorrow night

According to the RPI Athletics page, tomorrow's game will be Net'casted by Robert Morris at http://media.yahoo.com/broadband/m/go/col/player?key=/rah/wch/rah/102205rpi

[starsparents]

Congrats to RPI-- nice one--however kudos to RMU, all freshman- 14 skaters- first year team, very impressive, despite being out shot 2 to 1

[Red Cloud]

Congrats to RPI-- nice one--however kudos to RMU, all freshman- 14 skaters- first year team, very impressive, despite being out shot 2 to 1
I suppose this is the most praise we can expect from you.

[hab1]

I was impressed with RMU. A physical team, skated well with the Engineers for most of the game and they have really strong goaltending. The Engineers dominated the third period - RMU has a short bench and it was starting to show by the end of the game. But I expect another close one tomorrow night. Ashley Mayr looked solid in net for RPI but didn't have a lot of work. The word on Schiff is that she should be ready to go by next weekend.