In conference play, Kingsbury shone, leading the squad with 22 points in seven fewer games while tallying a pair of game-winners.

Freshman Chelsea Grills should make an immediate impact in her freshman year on the front line.

Named to the Canadian national under-22 squad in August, Grills is a talented scorer whose potency will, at least initially, be limited only by commitments to her other squad.

“St. Lawrence has been a good opponent since I’ve been here,” McAuliffe says. “It’s always a good game with them.”

Providence

Ranked No. 5 nationally, Providence will provide the earliest test on the young season for the Crimson, with the first matchup coming on Nov. 11.

“We’ve always had trouble with Providence,” says co-captain Angela Ruggiero. “They like to get you in the corner, push you around and get in your head.”

Like Dartmouth, the Friars are guaranteed to bang bodies and will attempt to beat Harvard by turning a game of skill into a dogfight more favorable for Providence.

“I think Providence’s all-around game of maybe not having the most talent but grinding it out with big bodies and physical play is going to win them a lot of games,” Stone says.

And this Friars’ squad is familiar with that style of play. Providence returns all but four of its players from a 24-win season last year and has depth to spare at each position.

At the top, Rush Zimmerman and Darlene Stephenson spearhead last year’s eighth-highest scoring team in the nation.

Zimmerman came into her own on the front line last season, exploding for 40 points—20 goals, 20 assists. She also thrives under pressure—10 of her goals came on the power play and four were game-winners.

Stephenson rippled the net a team second-best 18 times, including three while down a man, a team high.

The defense is anchored by Kelly Halcisak, the team’s strongest player. Halcisak turned in a tremendous offensive effort from the blueline last season, scoring a personal best 45 points—14 goals, 31 assists—en route to being tabbed as a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier trophy, awarded to the nation’s top player, and named second-team All-American.

Halcisak protects sophomore Jana Bugden, who tends the net for Providence.