RPI Women's Hockey

[hab]

I didn't get to the game, but I understand that Aho, Temple and Daniel all played regular shifts on the first three lines. As previously noted by one of the other fans here, Aho played on a line with Welte and Langille; Temple played left wing with Woodward and Dougherty; and Daniel centered the third line with Durham and Jankowski. Haven't heard about where or how much the other frosh played. The team is still carrying a very large roster but I'm not sure who dressed and who didn't for this first game. Next up....Sacred Heart ....another opportunity for the Engineers to record that elusive first victory over a Division 1 team, and I think they have to be solid favorites going into the game. What's up with Sacred Heart anyway? They move to Division 1 independent, and then they prepare for the season by playing only club teams up till now?????

[Ralph Baer]

Originally posted by hab
I didn't get to the game, but I understand that Aho, Temple and Daniel all played regular shifts on the first three lines. As previously noted by one of the other fans here, Aho played on a line with Welte and Langille; Temple played left wing with Woodward and Dougherty; and Daniel centered the third line with Durham and Jankowski. Haven't heard about where or how much the other frosh played. The team is still carrying a very large roster but I'm not sure who dressed and who didn't for this first game. The ECAC box score has the list of who dressed: http://www.collegehockeystats.com/0304/boxes/wrenuni1.o25 . I think that some players are still playing fall sports.

[uvmcats]

I don't know if it is the responsibility of the home team to input box scores to collegehockey stats but the box score of the NEC/Union game did not include all the names of who dressed and played. 2 NEC players were not listed but played. So I wouldn't rely on the box score as the source document.

[leeb]

So what are everyone's predictions for RPI's game against Sacred Heart? I have it in my head that Sacred Heart is not as good a quasi-D1 team as Union. With RPI being at home for the first time, I say it's RPI 4 - SH 2.

[hab]

I think you have it about right, Leeb. I'm going to go a little further out on the limb and say that RPI will win by four or five goals. I like what I am hearing so far about RPI - they look stronger than last year...and on the other hand Sacred Heart graduated most of their top scorers and have looked very unimpressive against club teams. Apart from the mystique of being a so-called "Division 1" team I just can't see any reason why they should beat the Engineers.

[starsparents]

Saw Sacred Heart, (I live in Conn) -- my opinion, again, my opinion, is that they are very weak, and in a little disaray. RPI, my only opinion is that they may lack goal scorers, they will win their fair share, but might be hard pressed to blow teams out that they should due to lack of goal scorers/snipers. They may even be involved in tight scores games, even though they may be better than their opponent.
RPI 4 Scared Heart 0
never in question

[rpi_fan03]

And the Engineers step it up a notch from last weekend and take the 3-0 win in the Fieldhouse....congrats girls, keep the train rolling!:D

[DrDemento]

All around good day for RPI hockey and football

[broomball52]

Solid play last night. Props to Allyn Cooper on the blueline. I think she played a really nice game. Katie Woodward had a nice top shelf goal on an SH turnover and an assist on Katie Temple's first career RPI goal on a 5x3 PP.

The 1st and 2nd lines definitely dominated play in the SH end.
The 3rd and 4th lines really impressed and worked hard and by the end were controlling the play as well.

SH had only one decent chance. I don't know who was counting the shots in teh first and second period, but I cannot believe that SH outshot RPI in the first period.

As far as the comment regarding goal scorers, I think the first two lines (Aho, Langille, Welte and Woodward, Doughrety, Temple) are all very capable scores, it just may be a matter of the chemistry to finish a play. Woodward and Doughrety did play together last year. Yes, they do look better than last year, so RPI should not have a problem with their league schedule other than the perennial power Manhattenville. As far as the remaining out of league games Clarkson (first year D-I independent) at 4-1-1 will pose a great challenge as they beat last years D-III national champion and currnet D-III #1 team twice this weekend. The other tough game could come in the last regular season game against Williams, who last year went to the NCAA tournement.

[nothingbutnet]

broomball.........you think Clarkson will be their only out of league tough game? Are you forgetting Vermont and Quinnipiac? Quinnipiac beat Union 6-0 (a team you tied 4-4) and Vermont handled Sacred Heart 6-0 with a 58-6 shot advantage (better than RPI's effort). Vermont tied Clarkson 1-1 and lost 1-0 and then came back and beat Boston College 3-1. I appreciate your confidence but I wouldn't count those upcoming games as shoe-ins.

[leeb]

I'm really not sure what to think about RPI's win over SH. I checked SH's roster and they only brought in 4 or 5 incoming players. For the most part, it was the same crappy D-3 team that RPI saw last year. In summary :

- RPI dominated, no question about that. I thought the shot totals were actually even more skewed than what the box score shows.

- RPI's top two lines are very good and should continue improving. The chemistry will improve with time.

- Julie Aho is definitely the best skater on the team, by far. She will at least equal Julie Welte's freshman numbers. Honestly, she easily looks like she could play on any lower-level D-1 team.

- Meredith Langille is stepping up her game in a big way. She's definitely RPI's fastest skater. Great forechecker.

- Sarah Daniel and Katie Temple look to be decent additions.

- Rosina Schiff looked good even though she didn't have to make many saves.

- RPI seems to fall asleep on defense at times. It lead to SH having a few very good scoring chances. Top D-3 teams like Manhattanville will take advantage of these lapses if not corrected.

[MagicHound]

Julie Aho and her parents are a "class" act!!! Very nice people and Julie is a coach's dream with her "hard work" attitude. RPI is very fortunate to have her... RPI fans will really enjoy watching her play!!! Good luck Julie and enjoy your season!

Oh.... I won't tell anyone on how good of a goalie you are...lol.. You are the "Real Deal"!!!!

[leeb]

Goalies are something we don't need more of!! Although I have heard that Julie is a heck of a goalie.

Let's get some discussion going about tomorrow's game against Utica. I don't think RPI has ever played them and I honestly don't know much about the program. All I know is they play in the ECAC-West and regularly play against D-3 powers Elmira and Plattsburgh. Any insights into what to expect from Utica? I would expect RPI to handle them fairly easily.

Here's what I'd like to see :

- Improvement in chemistry from the top two lines. They looked good against Sacred Heart but a little "off" at times, plus Sacred Heart is pretty much a joke as a D-1 team.

- Contributions from the 3rd and 4th lines.

- Better defensive play from all players.

[starsparents]

My opinion on this one- I think RPI is better, but like last week against SHU --RPI lacks big goal scorers to distance them from teams they are better than. Utica also has no snipers, but they will probably play 3 lines, they will compete, and play hard. They are well coached, while I think the RPI is better, especially depth-wise, RPI lack of scoring may keep it close, my opinion--RPI 4 Utica 3 with RPI outshooting Utica, and utica with a chance to tie late.

[leeb]

starsprants -

Thanks for the input. I have to disagree with you though about RPI not having goal scorers. I think Welte (proven) and Aho (emerging) are excellent goal scorers. Woodward, Dougherty and Langille are very solid also. Perhaps the real offensive potential of this team hasn't been seen yet, especially with Dougherty not showing on the scoresheet so far.

I can't see the score being as close as 4-3. My feeling is RPI wins 5 or 6 to 1.

[cscvt]

I would say that RPI is 2-3 goals better than Utica but that is based on last years performance and this years potential and we all know that those are not always the best predictors.

[UCBadger]

Originally posted by cscvt
I would say that RPI is 2-3 goals better than Utica but that is based on last years performance and this years potential and we all know that those are not always the best predictors.

RPI has a year on Utica, as this is UC's 3rd year playing hockey. I would expect to see improvement in both programs over last year. Supposedly this year UC has scoring threats in three lines. Article in today's Utica paper:

http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2003/11/06/sports/19384.html

Games against common opponents last year.

Colgate: RPI (L) 1-5; Utica (L) 1-5
UMass-Boston: RPI (W) 8-0; Utica (W) 8-0
New England College: RPI (W) 7-2 & 3-1; Utica (W) 3-1
Union: RPI (W) 6-1 & 8-5; Utica (L) 1-2

This will be Utica's first game this year.

It's great to see the support that the RPI women have here!

[leeb]

Whoa, talk about bad predictions. I must give many kudos to a very good Utica team. They played RPI hard the whole way. Some observations :

- Julie Vallarelli is not a very good goalie and I hope Rosina Schiff starts against the quality opponents. Julie V. let in at least two very soft goals.

- Utica is a very good skating team in general.

- Julie Aho continues to impress. She was all over the ice today.

- Sarah Daniel had a pretty goal. She'll be a decent player, albeit a little slow.

- RPI's defense leaves much to be desired. Maj Nixon especially should never be allowed on the ice. She is by far RPI's slowest defensewoman. She's a big time liability.

Other than that, RPI has a lot to work on and Utica will have an excellent year.

[kcats03]

for this being utica's first game, i was extremely impressed, especially because of how young they are. the total shots on net was definitely misleading of how the game was considering the number of power plays rpi got. looks like everyone underestimated these girls, especially rpi since they just barely pulled off the win with only a few seconds left.

[broomball52]

Originally posted by nothingbutnet
broomball.........you think Clarkson will be their only out of league tough game? Are you forgetting Vermont and Quinnipiac? Quinnipiac beat Union 6-0 (a team you tied 4-4) and Vermont handled Sacred Heart 6-0 with a 58-6 shot advantage (better than RPI's effort). Vermont tied Clarkson 1-1 and lost 1-0 and then came back and beat Boston College 3-1. I appreciate your confidence but I wouldn't count those upcoming games as shoe-ins.


Well, sort of. I saw Q at 1-5 at the time (now 1-7) but didn't really look closely at who they lost to. Also UVM lost and tied a first year D-1 team in Clarkson who beat the #1 D3 team. So I probably dicounted them to much. But in no way did I consider either game a shoe-in for RPI. But you are absolutely right any game against a D-1 program is a tough game.

Someone posted earlier their WAG about the chances of RPI wins against the D-1 opponents, and Q and UVM were by far the lowest percentage.

Last year I think RPI scored only 1 or 2 goals against D-1 opponents, so the win of SH and tie versus the new look Union team were great steps.

But if they play against those team (Q, Clarkson and UVM) the way the did last night, the results will probably not be pretty.

The first line of Welte-Langille-Aho (and Sarah Daniels) were the only bright spot. Uitca dominated the 3rd and 4th lines early. And after UC took a 3-1 lead, the 3rd and 4th lines saw a lot less ice time. UC was a lot quicker and passed very well on the PP, and the RPI defense again did not take care of the front of the net, giving UC a few uncontested chances. RPI was fortunate to get a win. They better step up next Friday against UVM if they want to be in the game.....good luck.