By Christian Skroce
Boston, MA – After winning the Women’s Hockey East title last season, Northeastern was unanimously chosen to top the standings once again in the preseason HEAW coaches’ poll. The Huskies received nine first place votes (Northeastern voted for Boston University, as coaches cannot vote for their own team), good for 81 points in the poll.
BU finished second (71 points), followed by Boston College (65), Providence (56), New Hampshire (42), UConn (41), Merrimack (30), Maine (29), Vermont (25), and Holy Cross (9).
The team also was ranked fourth in the first regular season national poll. The ranking matches Northeastern’s pre-NCAA Tournament ranking from last year and puts the team in good position to reach the top three. Expectations are high for the Huskies, but they have the talent and coaching to pull off some key wins. The team has thrived using an underdog mentality, but they will be tested as the perceived top dog as they try for their third straight Hockey East championship.
Northeastern has undergone a significant youth movement over the past few years. The team consists of 16 underclassmen, many of whom have already experienced a conference win. Alina Mueller, a Patty Kaizmaier top-10 finalist last year, will look to lead the young Huskies this season. The talented sophomore forward finished with 21 goals and 30 assists last year, becoming the second NU rookie to score over 50 points in a season. Joining Mueller up front is fellow sophomore Chloe Aurard, who finished last season with 31 points of her own.
Backing up the Husky forwards will be the team’s talented defenders, led by the unmatched duo of Skylar Fontaine and Brooke Hobson. The juniors’ unique combination of speed and skill that allows them to defend well and provide extra ammunition for the Husky attack. Behind them is junior goalie Aerin Frankel, who broke out last season with a 1.81 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. Frankel turned in several clutch performances for the team last season, winning Hockey East Goalie of the Year and Hockey East Tournament MVP.
The team will kick off its season on Friday, October 4, when they head to Schenectady, NY for a date with Union College.