2. New Hampshire

Although falling to the Crimson four times last season, UNH (20-7-4, 19-4-3 ECAC) played it close in every game. Perhaps the Wildcats' best performance of the season was in the national championship game, when UNH came up with two goals late in the third period to force overtime before surrendering its title to Harvard.

This year, Coach Karen Kay will have to compensate the loss of defenseman Nicki Luongo (16 g , 29 a), a First-Team All-American who was a perennial presence in the defensive zone. Kay will rely on seniors Kerry Maher (3, 16) and Jamie DeGriselles (1, 10) to fill Luongo's skates at the blue line.

The offense should be as strong as ever. UNH lost forward Melissa Heitzman (25, 23), a Second-Team All-ECAC selection. However, the Wildcats have a host of scoring talent to turn to, including seniors Carisa Zaban (29, 38), a Second-Team All-American, Samantha Holmes (30, 25) and Melissa McKenzie (20, 26), who spent the summer with the U.S. Under-22 Team, and junior Michelle Thornton (19, 27).

But the offense will have to make do without the services of senior forward Carrie Jokiel (7, 5), whose career ended Oct. 15 after the Wildcats' captain suffered an injury that revealed a congenital birth defect.

UNH also has a reliable goaltender in senior Alicia Roberts (2.11 GAA), who set a school record with 51 saves in the national championship game. Roberts joined McKenzie on the Under-22 Team.