Bugden set a record for Friar freshmen with more games and minutes logged at the back than any other player in school history. With a 1.69 goals against average, .925 percent save percentage and 20 wins under her belt, she cements the back of n already a solid defense.

UNH

No. 8 New Hampshire enters the season with a very different personnel, having graduated 11 of the 23 members of last year’s team.

At no position will the effects be more crippling than goaltender.

Neither of the Wildcats’ goalies from the 2002-2003 season returns this year, including 2003 first-team All-American Jen Huggon.

Maghan Grahn, a sophomore transfer from Minnesota-Duluth who last played for the 2001-2002 national champions, will skate between the pipes for UNH. With five games experience, she has a slight edge over the pair of incoming freshmen, but the situation will take time to sort itself out.

New Hampshire lost five on the front line as well, but the players retained will more than hold their own.

Junior Stephanie Jones, one of a handful of players invited to a development program for the Canadian national under-22 squad, has made her presence felt in the collegiate arena since she burst onto the scene as a freshman.

In addition to her physical play, Jones has led the Wildcats in scoring during both of her previous seasons on the ice, notching eight game-winners last year. But like the rest of her team, she lacks big-game experience and the confidence that comes with it.

“UNH is a team, I think, with talent that needs to win the big games to gain the confidence to know that they belong, because I think they will,” Stone says. “They’ve made some good steps in the last year.”

Among those positive strides, the Wildcats have brought in two freshmen, forward Nicole Hekle and defenseman Martine Garland, who joins Jones at the Canadian development program. The rookies will have an immediate impact filling the void left by the many off-season departures.

Garland is one of three new additions that will look to shore up the vulnerable back.

Captain Kristen Thomas and senior Allison Edgar lead the defensive corps, creating a one-two punch among the best the Crimson will see this season.

In addition to packing a potent defensive wallop, each can turn the puck back up ice and distribute with ease. The two tied for the team assist lead at the end of the last season with 23.

Minnesota-Duluth