After a slow start to the 2024-2025 season, women’s hockey had an incredible run, going undefeated in Cornell’s final 15 games before ultimately losing in the Frozen Four. The Red returns sophomore forward Lindzi Avar, the reigning ECAC Rookie of the Year, and ECAC Goaltender of the Year Annelies Bergmann, among others. The Red look to continue its recent success, and are expected to compete for both an ECAC and national title. This season, the goal is clear: add to a trophy case that is still missing the ultimate prize.
At Colgate, Nov. 14th
Colgate finished the 2024-2025 season second in the ECAC regular season standings and fell to Cornell in the conference championship game, 5-1. overall. The Raiders were one of four ECAC teams to make the NCAA tournament last season, eventually losing to the University of Minnesota in the second round.
Last season, Colgate split the regular-season home-and-home series with the Red. In the offseason, the Raiders lost the team's top forward and starting goaltender to the PWHL draft.
However, Colgate looks poised to make another deep ECAC and NCAA run as the No. 5-ranked team in the USCHO preseason poll. The Raiders return their leading point scorer, Elyssa Bierdeman, who brings a playmaking touch to Colgate. Additionally, Emma Pais looks to continue an impressive collegiate career. Pais, the 2023 ECAC Rookie of the Year, shows an impressive goalscoring touch with a high level of IQ and playmaking ability.
The Raiders, heading into the season, have some big shoes to fill, but look ready to rise to the challenge. For the Red, every game matters, and this ECAC matchup will definitely be important come playoff time.
Vs. Pennsylvania State University, Jan. 20th
All eyes in the hockey world will be on Happy Valley. Both Penn State’s men’s and women’s teams will be playing an outdoor game this winter at Beaver Stadium. Going to Division I in the 2012-2013 season and never looking back, the Nittany Lions are a team on the rise. In the past three seasons, they have swept the regular and postseason CHA titles. Penn State has also been eliminated three seasons in a row by ECAC competition.
The Nittany Lions are notably returning Tessa Janecke, who led the team a season ago with 53 points in 38 games. Janecke also represented the United States at the IIHF Women’s World Championships, scoring the golden goal.
The Team USA veteran will likely miss time this season (possibly including the matchup with Cornell) playing with the national team in the Olympics. Guarding the blue paint, Katie DeSa has been a great backstop for the Nittany Lions. DeSa recorded a .932 save percentage in 33 games last season. This late-season out-of-conference matchup will be a good test for the Red in what could be a postseason or even championship matchup.
Vs. Union, Feb. 7th
Last spring, Union did not make the NCAA tournament thanks in large part to Cornell’s sweep of the Garnett Chargers in the ECAC quarterfinals. However, Union was responsible for one of Cornell’s two ECAC losses last season, upsetting the Red in the first weekend of conference play to claim the Garnet Chargers' first-ever win at Lynah Rink.
In Cornell’s 3-2 win over Union in game two of the ECAC quarterfinals, the Red were whistled for a season-high seven penalties. The Garnet Chargers were guided by a young duo last season in Karianne Engelbert and Maddie Leaney, who led the way for the Chargers in points.
Joining them again this season is senior captain Stephanie Bourque, a strong offensive blueliner who last season set the program record for goals in a single season by a defender. Monja Wagner will hold down the fort between the pipes for the Chargers. In a limited six games last season, Wagner posted a .929 save percentage.
While Cornell was able to survive an upset to Union a season ago, this season’s ECAC title race will likely be too tight to allow for the same mistake to be made again.
