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Around the Leagues

Return of Olympians Alters Landscape

Frosh forward Amanda Reid will lead the front line after spending last season with the Toronto Junior Aeros. Rookie goalie Tania Pinelli will start between the pipes.

Freshman defender Barbara Prall played for the Hull High School boys" team and was the first female over to earn a spot on the All-South Shore League team.

Niagara's roster consists of 19 freshmen and four sophomores.

Boston College

The Eagles (9-22-1) finished in 11th place last year, but only lost two players to graduation.

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Senior forward Erin Magee (21 g, 17 a) is the most experienced Eagle. She is joined in the front line by sophomore Kathleen Savino (17 g, 27 a).

But Boston College's top scorer was sophomore defender Jennifer Buckley (23 g, 24 a), who will be the key player on defense. Junior goalie Christy Nentwig is the Eagles' most experienced netminder.

Yale

The Bulldogs (7-19-2) may be the biggest benefactors of the league's expansion this year, as the ECAC's perennial doormat hopes the new schools will join or perhaps replace them in the league's cellar.

It was bad enough when Yale finished last for the third straight season last year. This year may be worse because the Elis lose goalie Laurie Belliveau, an AWCHA All-American and Kazmaier Award finalist, probably the best goalie in the nation last year.

Without its star netminder, Yale's front line will need to be more productive this season. That means juniors Susie Barnes (10 g, 14 a) and Joni Kletter (11 g, 12 a) and sophomore Lisa Meyers (10 g, 8 a) must score early and often for the Elis to pull themselves out of last place.

In its desperate search for another goalie of Belliveau's caliber, the Elis have recruited three freshman keepers: Katie Hirte, Lauren Kinnee and Sarah MacGregor.

Maine

The Black Bears (12-6-2) enter the Women's Division I League this year after spending three seasons in Division III.

Junior Alison Lorenz (38 g, 22 a) was the ECAC Division III Player or the Year last season and will lead the front line against Maine's new league opponents. She will be joined up front by senior Christine Hedges (16 g, 17 a).

Hedges also plays defense, but the defensive stopper for the Black Bears should be junior Alison Haley. However, Maine only has five players returning from last year's squad, which makes its task of joining Division I even tougher.

Colby

The White Mules (5-15-4) will have a tough season after losing two All-Americans in defender Courtney Kennedy and forward Meaghan Sittler.

That means Colby's most experienced player is senior forward Juliana Bontecon (3 g, 1 a). Junior forward Jenny O'Donnell (1 g, 4 a) joins Bontecon on the front line.

Colby will need sophomore goalie Katie Mangan to improve her 5.94 GAA this season if the White Mules are to stay competitive with their ECAC rivals.

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