ITHACA, N.Y. – The No. 6/8 Big Red will look to score its first victory of the season when it returns to home ice for a two-game set on home opening weekend. Cornell will welcome Princeton for a 3 p.m. opening faceoff on Friday, Oct. 31, while No. 5 Quinnipiac comes to Lynah Rink on Saturday, Nov. 1, with opening faceoff again set for 3 p.m. Both matchups will be the opening game of a double-header in conjunction with the No. 18 Cornell men's squad, who will take-on Nebraska-Omaha at 7 p.m. both nights.
 
No. 6/8 Cornell Big Red (0-2-0; 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey) vs. Princeton Tigers (1-1-0; 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey)
Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 | 3:00 PM | Ithaca, N.Y. – Lynah Rink
Live Stats | Live Video (ILDN) | Live Audio (ILDN)
 
No. 6/8 Cornell Big Red (0-2-0; 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats (5-0-1; 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey)
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 | 3:00 PM | Ithaca, N.Y. – Lynah Rink
Live Stats | Live Video (ILDN) | Live Audio (ILDN)
 
Big Red Headlines
Cornell will make its long awaited home debut this weekend with a pair of games against ECAC Hockey opponents in Princeton and Quinnipiac. The Big Red will look to rebound from a tough season opening series last weekend at No. 3 Boston College, where the team allowed 12 total goals in a pair of lopsided losses. Cornell hung tight with the Eagles through the opening two periods of each contest, even holding a 2-1 lead late in the second period of the opener. The third period doomed the Big Red in each contest as Boston College posted a 6-1 advantage in third period goals. Cornell will look to bounce back this weekend in the friendly confines of Lynah Rink where the squad has lost only nine times over the last four seasons combined.
 
About Head Coach Doug Derraugh '91
Derraugh enters his 10^th season at the helm of the Cornell women's ice hockey program. Returning to his alma mater before the 2005-06 season, he quickly transformed a program that posted only four wins in the season prior to his appointment into a consistent presence in ECAC Hockey and on the national stage. The Cornell program continues to grow under the guidance of the veteran coach. In 2013-14, he led the program to its fourth ECAC Hockey Tournament title over the last five seasons. All five of the Big Red's NCAA Tournament appearances have come under his leadership. Derraugh has twice been named ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year, most recently during the 2012-13 regular-season and tournament championship season. He is the winningest coach in the history of the program with a 170-101-21 record at Cornell. He returns both excellent assistant coaches Danielle Bilodeau '01 (ninth season) and Edith Racine (sixth season) in 2014-15.
 
Tiger Headlines
Princeton enters the weekend coming off a split in its season opening two-game trip to Happy Valley. The Tigers dropped a hard fought 2-1 contest on Sunday, as the Nittany Lions were able to make an early two-goal lead in the first period stand up. The Orange and Black got revenge in the second game on Monday, Oct. 27, dispatching the Lions 4-1. Junior Cristin Shanahan - who scored the lone goal for the Tigers in the opener – tallied the game-winning goal with just 48-seconds left in the second period. Sophomores Molly Contini and Cassidy Tuckey added goals in the third period to stretch out the lead to the final 4-1 margin. Sophomore Kelsey Koelzer lead the way for the Tigers with 0-3 – 3 points and a +4 on the weekend, while Shanahan (2-0 – 2)  and Tucker (1-1 – 2) both added a pair of points. Junior Kimberly Newell got the nod in net for both contests, allowing three goals on 35 shots.  
 
The Series Against Princeton…
The Big Red and the Tigers have played a very competitive series since the squad's first meeting in 1974-75. Princeton holds the slight edge in the all-time series as Cornell has a 38-42-4 record against its Ivy League counterpart. Despite the evenness of the series overall, the Big Red has dominated the series over recent seasons. Over last five seasons dating back to 2009-10, Cornell has gone 11-1-0 against the Orange and Black, including a 6-1-0 mark at Lynah Rink. Overall, the Big Red is 20-18-1 all-time against the Tigers at Lynah.  
 
Last Season's Series Against The Tigers…
Cornell took three of four matchups against Princeton last season, including a pair of victories in the quarterfinals of the ECAC Hockey Tournament. The Big Red kicked off last season's series with a 5-4 victory over the Tigers – on the strength of five first period goals – in its road opener at Princeton on Nov. 1, 2013. Princeton took the regular season finale at Lynah Rink by a 4-3 margin. Jillian Saulnier marked a three point game with two goals and an assist, but the Tigers prevailed thanks to two third period tallies from Brianna Leahy, stymieing the Big Red's chances for a fifth consecutive Ivy League title and ECAC Hockey regular season title. Cornell got revenge on the season finale loss with a pair of victories in the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals. Jessica Campbell and Jillian Saulnier both scored three goals to power the Big Red past the Tigers and into the ECAC Hockey Semifinal.
 
Bobcat Headlines
Quinnipiac has been hot as wildfire during the first few weeks of the season. The Bobcats have raced out to a 5-0-1 start and are currently ranked fifth in both major polls. The squad is coming off a 4-1 victory at New Hampshire and will enter ECAC Hockey play undefeated for the second time in as many seasons. The team has boasted a smothering defense during the fledgling 2014-15 campaign allowing just two goals total through its first six contests. Senior net minder Chelsea Laden has been a brick wall in net for the Bobcats, entering ECAC Hockey play this weekend with a 5-0-0 record, 0.20 goals against average, and a .982 save percentage. Freshman Taylar Cianfarano has lit the lamp early and often this season, entering the weekend with a 6-1 – 7 (+7) stat line, with all of her points coming at even strength.
 
The Series Against Quinnipiac…
Cornell holds the edge in its all-time series with a 10-5-6 record against the Bobcats. Cornell went 0-1-1 in the first two meetings between the two teams in 2003-04; however, the Big Red has fared well in the matchups in recent seasons. Over the last five years Cornell is 7-2-3 against the Bobcats, which includes a 5-1-1 mark at home. Overall, the Big Red is 6-3-2 against Quinnipiac at Lynah Rink.
 
Last Season's Series Against The Bobcats…
Cornell went 0-1-1 against Quinnipiac last season. In the first of two matchups the team's battled to a 1-1 tie. After trailing 1-0, Emily Fulton equalized the game with less than eight minutes left, beating net minder Chelsea Laden on an unassisted breakaway. The Big Red dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 game at Lynah in the season's final weekend. The Bobcats were buoyed by two third period goals in the comeback, after Jessica Campbell staked Cornell to the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Lynah Advantage
Cornell has thrived in the friendly confines of Lynah Rink. Known as one of the most raucous and intimidating environments in all of collegiate hockey, the "Lynah Faithful" have consistently had a psychological impact both in boosting the Big Red, while throwing the opponent off its game. Over the last five seasons Cornell has defended its home ice with a vengeance. The Big Red is 81-14-3 at Lynah over its last five seasons.
 
Poll Position
The Big Red enters the weekend ranked sixth in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine and eighth in the USCHO.com Division I Women's Ice Hockey polls. Despite the difficult start to the season at Boston College, the Big Red fell only one and three slots respectively in each poll. Cornell will look to bounce back and solidify its position within the top-10 with a strong showing against two traditionally strong programs at home this weekend.
 
Winning-Time
Cornell has been the winningest program in ECAC Hockey over the last five seasons. The Big Red has averaged over 26 wins per season in compiling a 133-29-10 (.802) record since 2009-10. Cornell won the regular-season title four of those five years with the stretch of four straight coming to an end last season. The next closest ECAC Hockey squads in terms of recent wins are Harvard and Clarkson. The Crimson have amassed a 106-42-17 (.694) record, while the Golden Knights check-in with a 118-54-21 (.666) record. Cornell will look to maintain that winning edge with another fantastic season in 2014-15.
 
Streak Snapped
For the first time since the 2009-10 season there is a new team that is reigning atop the Ivy League standings. Harvard edged the Big Red for the top spot in the Ivy, posting a 7-1-2 record to the Big Red's 7-2-1 in 2013-14. Cornell had won three straight Ivy League titles from 2010-11 to 2012-13. While the Big Red has often played the role of the 'hunted' in recent seasons, this year the team will have the chance to play 'hunter' as Harvard was the consensus preseason favorite to win both the ECAC Hockey and Ivy League crowns.
 
Dynamic Duo
Cornell seniors Brianne Jenner and Jillian Saulnier figure to be quite possibly the best 1-2 punch down the middle in NCAA Division I this season. Saulnier is coming off a fantastic 2013-14 which witnessed her lead the team in points (56), goals (28), and +/- (+28). Her 1.65 points per game average was the top mark in NCAA Division I, while she won 58% of her faceoffs (481-of-829). She was named Ivy League Player of the Year, while she earned First Team All-Ivy, First Team All-ECAC, and First Team All-America honors. Jenner returns to the squad after missing last season in order to play for the Canadian National Team in the Winter Olympics. In 2012-13 Jenner led the squad and ranked tied for fifth in NCAA Division I with 70 points. She tallied 35 goals and 35 assists for the Big Red, while her 2.19 points per game average was second only to United States National Team member Amanda Kessel (2.73 ppg). Jenner had a strong start in Boston, posting a 1-1-2 line, while Saulnier added an assist in the season opening game.
 
All Gold Everything
Brianne Jenner returns to East Hill for her senior season in 2014-15 and she's bring some hardware with her. The Big Red captain won a gold medal as a member of the Canadian National Team that defeated the United States 3-2 in overtime in the gold medal game of the XXII Olympic Winter Games held in Sochi, Russia. Although Jenner was one of the youngest members of Team Canada in the Olympics, she had a monumental impact in winning Canada's fourth straight gold medal. After the United States held a 2-0 lead through 56-minutes, Jenner sparked the furious Canadian comeback in the final 3:30, firing home a shot through heavy traffic in front of the USA net. Canada would go on to score the tying goal in the final minute, before ending it with a power play marker halfway through the first overtime session to complete the comeback. Fellow Cornellians Lauriane Rougeau and Laura Fortino joined Jenner in celebrating the gold medal achievement.
 
Coach Canada
While head coach Doug Derraugh has been a fixture as the bench boss for the Big Red for the last nine seasons, he will also wear another coaching cap in 2014-15. This past summer, Hockey Canada announced that Derraugh will serve as the head coach for the Canada National Women's Team for the first year of the new Olympic cycle following the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, this past year. He brings a wealth of experience to the position and will be quite familiar with team operations after serving as an assistant coach on the Canadian National Team that won the gold medal at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship. Derraugh is expected to miss minimal game action for the Big Red; however, associate head coach Danielle Bilodeau '01 and assistant coach Edith Racine will be more than capable to step in if a conflict does arise.
 
Special Team Specialists
The Big Red made a living of thriving during odd-man situations last season, boasting a dazzling power-play and a stymieing penalty kill. Cornell led the league by a healthy margin in power-play success, converting on 24% of its opportunities with the man-advantage (35-of-146). The team also killed penalties at an 87.6% clip, which was third best in the league. Both units got off to rocky starts at Boston College, as the power-play went 1-of-6 and the penalty-kill went 6-of-9. The Big Red did score a shorthanded goal, but also allowed a shorty of its own.
 
Between the Pipes
While the forward and defense corps look well stocked with experienced talent, the crease remains a small question mark during the early part of this season. With the graduation of net minder Lauren Slebodnick, Cornell will need to sort out its goalie situation. Slebodnick will be tough pads to fill, as she leaves the program ranked first in wins (68), second in shutouts (18), third in goals against average (1.65), and fourth in saves (1668). The odds-on favorite to win the primary responsibilities in net is sophomore Paula Voorheis. She appeared in 14 games a season ago, posting a stellar 1.79 goals against average and .928 save percentage. She went 7-4-1 – including three shutouts – en route to earning a place on the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team. Junior Stefannie Moak and freshman Amelia Boughn will also be in the mix for playing time in the blue paint this season. Moak has appeared in four games during her first two seasons on East Hill, while Boughn posted stellar numbers for her club team – the Mississauga Junior Chiefs – in its run to the Provincial Women's Hockey League silver medal in 2014. Sophomore Paula Voorheis got the nod in net in the team's season opening series at Boston College. While the Eagles were able to best her 12 times in the two games, she remained composed despite facing a steady arsenal of shots, making 69 saves over the two appearances.
 
Let's Get It Started
The Big Red is 23-15-2 all-time in home opening games and has won its last four home openers dating back to 2010-11. Mercyhurst was the last team to beat the Big Red in a home opener, stifling the Big Red 4-1 at Lynah Rink to open the 2009-10 season. The Big Red is 5-4-0 in home openers since Derraugh took the helm in 2005-06.
 
Provincial Party
Of the 20 players on the Cornell roster for the 2014-15 season, 15 hail from our neighbor to the north. The Big Red has players from five different provinces, which include: Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. Ontario is the province with the most representatives with ten of the 15. The other five players hail from the United States; two from Illinois and one each from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
 
Fresh Faces
The Big Red will welcome five new members to the squad in 2014-15. The Class of 2018 will be a big boon to the back line as the class is comprised of a goalie, three defenders, and one forward. Two of freshmen hail from Illinois in Erin O'Connor (Evanston, Ill./Chicago Young Americans) and Sydnee Saracco (Countryside, Ill./Chicago Mission). Two others come to East Hill from Toronto, Ontario in goalie Amelia Boughn (Mississauga Junior Chiefs) and Sarah Knee (Toronto Junior Aeros). The lone forward of the group is Morgan McKim (Mars, Pa./Shattuck-St. Mary's).  The common theme amongst the newcomers is size. The new class averages 5-8 and it is expected to bring an added level physicality in front of the net and in puck battles along the wall this season.
 
The Breakdown
The Big Red boasts a nice blend of talented youth and experienced veterans in 2014-15. The roster is comprised of: three seniors, six juniors, six sophomores, and five freshmen. The group is very tight-knit with a number of players also playing together in the club and international level as well. A trio of sophomores (DeBruin, Veerman, and Voorheis) played their club hockey for the Aurora Junior Panthers. A freshman/sophomore combination (Boughn and Doering) played their club hockey for the Mississauga Junior Chiefs, while senior Jillian Saulnier and freshman Sarah Knee both come from the Toronto Aeros club system. Six players were also part of the Canadian Under 18 National Team.
 
All-League Performers
The team has six players returning coming off season's that netted them all-league honors from ECAC Hockey. Senior forward Jillian Saulnier earned First Team All-ECAC, while senior forward Emily Fulton earned Second Team All-ECAC honors. Junior defender Cassandra Poudrier was named Third Team All-ECAC. Sophomores Hanna Bunton and Paula Voorheis both earned All-Rookie honors after fantastic debut seasons. The team also returns 2012-13 First Team All-ECAC performer Brianne Jenner. Two players earned preseason recognition from ECAC Hockey entering this season, as both Jenner and Saulnier were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
Career Numbers Watch
* Brianne Jenner currently sits in sixth place on the all-time list in career points (180), fifth in assists (101), and seventh in goals (79). She needs eight points to tie Rebecca Johnston (2007-11) for fifth all-time. She needs just one assist to pass Catherine White (2008-11) for fourth all-time. She is five goals short of tying Amy Stanzin (1982-86) for sixth all-time.
* Jillian Saulnier currently sits in ninth place on the all-time list in career points (152) and is seventh all-time in assists (92). She needs five points to tie Amy Stanzin (1982-86) for eighth all-time. With her assist at Boston College she passed Rebecca Johnston (2008-11) all alone into seventh place on the all-time list. She currently sits at 60 career goals and needs just six more to tie Catherine White (2008-11) for 10th on the all-time list.
* Emily Fulton currently sits at 86 points – 39 goals and 47 assists – she needs 14 points to reach 100 for her career.
* Paula Voorheis currently is third all-time in save percentage (.912). She trails Katelyn Pippy (2011-13) who posted a .956 percentage and Amanda Mazzotta (2008-11) who marked a .928 save percentage.
 
Up Next
The Big Red will continue its season long five-game home stand after a two week layoff with another two-game weekend set on Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15. The weekend will have big implications in the early ECAC Hockey and Ivy League standings as both Brown and Yale will visit Lynah Rink. Opening faceoff for both games is scheduled for 3 p.m.