ITHACA, N.Y. — As hockey season rapidly approaches on East Hill, tenth-ranked Cornell women's hockey is primed for another competitive campaign. The Big Red finished last season with a 19-11-3 record and as ECAC Hockey runner-up.
 
Under the direction of 11^th year head coach Doug Derraugh, Cornell will be faced with the challenge of replacing its top line: two-time Ivy League and ECAC Hockey Player of the Year Brianne Jenner, and Patty Kazmaier nominees Emily Fulton and Jill Saulnier. Though undoubtedly a significant loss, the three were Cornell's only seniors last season. The team returns a core group of forwards with substantial playing experience, as well as the entire blue line and a solid starting goaltender. 
 
"We have a really strong senior class this year," said Derraugh. "I think they're going to do a really great job stepping into the roles that we're going to put them in with the losses of our seniors last year. … We also have a group of freshmen from last year too that we're hoping gained valuable experience and are going to step up for us."
 
The Big Red will also look to a talented class of newcomers, five of which have spent time with their respective country's national team programs.
 
"We're really excited about the [incoming] group that we have," said Derraugh. "They've come in really good shape and worked hard over the summer to get themselves prepared for the NCAA. We've got players at every position, which is great for us too and great for our future."
 
Easily one of the most competitive leagues in women's college hockey, ECAC Hockey includes three other nationally ranked teams: Harvard, Clarkson and Quinnipiac. In the league's preseason coaches' poll, Cornell was predicted to finish fourth in the conference.
 
FORWARDS
After losing Jenner, Fulton and Saulnier, who accounted for more than half of the Big Red's scoring last season, the team's biggest challenge entering the season will be replacing that offensive power. The coaching staff is confident, however, that their experienced forwards and dynamic newcomers are up to the task.
 
"I think Hanna Bunton is going to be a key for us up front," said Derraugh, noting that Bunton "is looking to step into some of the roles of the seniors that left."
 
Bunton is primed to be an offensive threat for Cornell in her junior season after spending time with the Canadian Women's National  Development Team this offseason. Named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2014, Bunton followed up with a strong sophomore campaign on the second line. She finished the 2014-15 season with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists. She came through in key moments for the Big Red, with three of her goals coming as game-winners, including the winner in the ECAC Hockey Semifinal against the tournament's top seed, Clarkson.
 
When the team was looking for more collegiate experience on the blue line last season, senior assistant captain Taylor Woods transitioned from forward to defense and ranked second among Big Red defensemen in points and assists on the year with four goals and 15 helpers. Woods, however, will likely rejoin the forwards this season. "She has a tremendous work ethic, is so hard-working and a great leader as well," Derraugh said of Woods.
 
Cornell will also turn to senior Jess Brown to put pucks in the net in her final season on East Hill. Brown had nine goals and 11 assists last season, both career highs, and scored her first career hat trick against then-sixth ranked Clarkson.
 
After anchoring the second line last season and posting six goals and eight assists, junior Kaitlin Doering will continue to be an integral part of the Big Red attack. Junior Brianna Veerman added three goals and six assists and finished the year with a +2. Senior Anna Zorn will look to build on the strong conclusion to her junior season, which included an important goal in Cornell's third period comeback in the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal against St. Lawrence. Sophomore Morgan McKim and junior Caroline DeBruin also return valuable experience to the Big Red front end.
 
The team's incoming class features four forwards, including Pippy Gerace, who Derraugh expects to be a high-power goal-scorer.  Lenka Serdar, who was a USA U18 development camp all-star in 2013 and 2014, will bring energy and "really good vision on the ice," according to Derraugh. A "really dynamic" forward, Christian Higham, a silver medalist for Canada in the 2015 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship, has been noted for her speed. Diana Buckley, referred to by Derraugh as a "real heads up player," rounds out the group of incoming forwards.
 
DEFENSEMEN
On the back end, the Big Red returns its entire blue line from last season and adds a freshman who is certain to bolster an already strong defensive unit.
 
Cited by Derraugh as "one of the strongest players we've ever had here, in the weight room and on the ice," senior captain Cassandra Poudrier will undoubtedly be the leader of the defensive core after finishing last season with a +13 rating and 76 blocked shots. Derraugh notes that Poudrier is incredibly well-liked and well-respected by her teammates, making her a natural choice for captain. Poudrier has already been drafted into the newly formed National Women's Hockey League by the Connecticut Whale for next season.
 
After an incredibly impressive freshman season that landed her on the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team and All-ECAC Hockey Second Team, sophomore Erin O'Connor will return as a force to be reckoned with at the point. O'Connor consistently ranked in the top 10 in NCAA Division I for scoring among defenders throughout the season and led Cornell blue-liners with seven goals and 18 assists. She stepped into an important role on the Big Red power play, notching four goals and seven assists with the advantage.
 
Senior Morgan Richardson saw an increased role on the back end in 2014-15. She finished second on the team in blocked shots with 60 and added seven points. Junior Sydney Smith, a natural defenseman, spent time at both defense and forward last season, tallying four goals and three assists. Using her height to her advantage, 6-foot-1 sophomore Sarah Knee made an immediate impact, appearing in all 33 games her freshman season and netting two goals and three assists.
 
Sophomore Sydnee Saracco has battled back from an injury that sidelined her for her entire freshman season and is ready to step into an important defensive role.
 
Cornell also adds newcomer Micah Hart, who is poised to have a strong first season on East Hill. Hart captained the Canadian U18 team to a silver medal at 2015 IIHF Women's World Championships and has been impressive in her time with the Canadian development and senior national teams this offseason. Derraugh does not seem to be worried about Hart's transition into NCAA hockey, calling her "a really solid defenseman all around," and saying she's "going to be a great defenseman in our league."
 
GOALTENDERS
The Cornell roster boasts four goaltenders this season, including a solid returning starter and a promising newcomer.
 
Starting all but two games last season, junior Paula Voorheis emerged as the Big Red's number one a year ago. She gained momentum as the season progressed, allowing just five goals over a five-game span heading into the ECAC Hockey Tournament final. Voorheis posted 30 or more saves on 11 different occasions, including a season-high 41 stops in a shutout of Yale. She closed the year with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 1796:39 minutes played.
 
Sophomore Amelia Boughn and senior captain Stefannie Moak have proven to be quality options as well. Boughn appeared in four games for the Big Red last season, all victories, and posted a 1.71 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. Moak closed out the Big Red's 8-2 victory over Union, not allowing a goal, and started between the pipes in the 3-0 shutout exhibition win over defending Canadian national champion, McGill.
 
A member of the silver medal Canadian team at the 2015 IIHF U18 Women's World Championships, freshman Marlene Boissonault brings a great deal of potential to the Big Red. She was named the team MVP at Rothesay Netherwood School in New Brunswick and earned top goaltender honors at the U18 Canadian National Championship. 
 
SCHEDULE
After an exhibition with Canadian university Western Ontario, the Big Red will be faced with an early challenge when No. 2/2 Boston College visits Lynah Rink for a pair of weekend games.
 
"It's great to have a strong team like [Boston College] coming in right off the bat because it will give us a chance to see where we stand," said Derraugh. "If you do have some weaknesses, they'll expose them on you."
 
In addition to the always-competitive ECAC Hockey conference games, which include three other nationally ranked teams, Cornell will also face off against Syracuse and Mercyhurst, which has received votes in both polls. On Thanksgiving weekend, the Big Red travels to Vermont for the Women's Hockey Classic, where Cornell will face current No. 8/9 Boston University and Vermont.
 
"We think that Harvard, Clarkson Quinnipiac, St. Lawrence, those are going to be the top teams in our league this year so I'd say that those games are going to be pretty exciting games. They have been in the past," said Derraugh. "Those are good teams that we're hopefully competing with in the ECAC playoffs and ECAC Championship."