With outstanding success in recent years, the Clarkson University Women's Hockey program is firmly established as one of the premier teams in the country. Entering its 14th season at the Division I level, the Golden Knights will again be striving to challenge for NCAA and ECAC Hockey supremacy in 2016-17. Over the past four years, Clarkson has won two ECAC Hockey regular season titles (2014, 2015), competed four times in the NCAA Tournament, made two Frozen Four appearances (2014, 2016) and won it all in 2014 claiming the NCAA National Championship.

"Going into this season we want to make sure that we take what we learned from our success last year and build upon it," stated ninth-year head Coach Matt Desrosiers. "Even though it's a new season with new goals and challenges, you can always take a look back at some of the things that made a positive impact on your previous success to help construct what your process may look like moving forward. Each year we continue to focus on what has made our players, team, and program successful while also looking for new ways to push each other to ensure we are getting better each day. I think if we are able to continue to create an environment where this is possible, the outlook for this season looks bright."

Guided by Desrosiers and assistants Britni Smith and Tony Maci, Clarkson returns a solid core of 17 letterwinners from last year's squad that skated to a 30-5-5 overall record, including a 14-3-5 ECAC Hockey mark, and advanced to the Frozen Four for the second time in the past three years. Although the Green and Gold graduated four all-star veterans this past May, the coaching staff has brought in five standout freshmen to help bolster the lineup.

"Combining a talented incoming freshman class with the experience and confidence our returnees have gained over the last few years should once again make us a very competitive team," said Desrosiers.

Clarkson picked for second-place showing in ECAC Hockey Coaches Preseason Poll

Knights 5th in Preseason USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll

Led by captains, senior Cayley Mercer and junior Savannah Harmon, and assistants captains, senior Genevieve Bannon and junior Lauren Lefler, the Knights will face a 34-game slate, featuring the 22-game ECAC Hockey schedule. The Green and Gold, who have posted five straight campaigns of 20-or-more wins, will get an early jump to the season with an exhibition contest against Canadian college foe Concordia University on Friday, September 23 at Cheel Arena before officially beginning the 2016-17 campaign. Clarkson begins the Division I schedule hosting Penn State in back-to-back non-conference games on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1 in the first of 17 regular-season games in Potsdam.

FORWARD

Clarkson's top two scorers from last season, Mercer and Bannon provide the Green and Gold a dynamic presence up front. Sophomores Loren Gabel, Rhyen McGill and Kelly Mariani are coming off impressive rookie campaigns and should make a big impact.

One of the top players in the country last year, Mercer was a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award nominee and was voted Clarkson's MVP. She tallied 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 2015-16 and has averaged nearly a point per game while at Clarkson with 52 goals and 64 assists in 116 career games. Also a first-team ECAC Hockey All-Star, Mercer is a top center on faceoffs, winning 66.5% of her draws last season along with posting a +35 plus/minus rating.

An underrated forward who has the ability to break a game open, Bannon has quietly put up some impressive numbers through her first three seasons and is closing in on the century mark with 97 career points (34-63). She tallied 11 goals and 27 assists in 2015-16.

Clarkson's Rookie of the Year last winter, Gabel was the Knights' second-leading goal scorer with 18 tallies and added nine assists for 27 points. McGill followed right behind with 25 points on 14 goals and 11 assists. Mariani recorded 18 points (9-9) and tied for the team lead in game-winners with five.

Lefler and classmate Amanda Titus have steadily progressed through their first two seasons and will be counted upon to be key contributors this winter after recording 15 (5-10) and 12 (4-8) points, respectively last season. Sophomore Cassidy Vinkle (3-7) rounds out Clarkson's double-digit point producers from last season.

Senior Jessica Gillham along with juniors Brielle Bellerive and Katelyn Fournier are solid core players who will provide a veteran presence up front.

Freshmen Katherine Beaumier and Michaela Pejzlova enjoyed strong junior careers and possess the potential to make an immediate impact this season for a Clarkson squad that graduated forwards Olivia Howe and Shannon MacAulay, two of the most prolific scorers in the program's history.

DEFENSE

Two of the premier defenders in college hockey, Erin Ambrose and Renata Fast, completed their Clarkson careers last year and are now slated to play professionally in the Canadian Women's Hockey League, leaving two significant holes on the Knights' blueline.

Harmon and sophomore Josiane Pozzebon are the Green and Gold's top two returning scorers on the backend. A skilled offensive-defenseman, Harmon tallied 22 points including 18 assists last season along with posting a +30 rating. Pozzebon, who had a strong showing at Canada's National Women's Development Team camp this August, emerged as a legitimate Division 1 blueliner in her rookie campaign, recording 14 points (3-11) and a +35.

The lone senior on the blueline, Corie Jacobson is a steady shutdown defender who can be counted upon in key situations. Sophomore Emma Keenan was a steady contributor skating in all 40 games as a rookie and will be looked upon to take on an increased role.

Freshmen Ella Shelton and Taylor Turnquist will be called upon right away to contribute and help make up for the loss of Ambrose and Fast.

GOAL

Clarkson has been very fortunate throughout the history of its program to have had standout performers in the goal crease. Junior Shea Tiley has continued that strong tradition between the pipes through her first two years and should be at her best in her junior campaign. Named ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year in her first collegiate season, Tiley has started 74 games for the Knights

Over the past two years, posting a 51-16-8 career record, including 18 shutouts. She started 37 of 40 games last winter, posting a .930 save percentage and a 1.37 goals against average en route to a 27-5-5 record with nine shutouts. Tiley also enjoyed a strong showing at this past August's Canada's National Women's Development Team camp.

Although overshadowed by the play of Tiley, senior McKenzie Johnson is capable of leading the Knights in the crease. She was very strong in her six appearances, including three starts, last year going 3-0-0 with one shutout behind a .924 save percentage and a 1.11 GAA.

Freshman Jenna Brenneman, the Minnesota Senior Goalie of the Year last season, rounds out a solid trio of netminders for the Knights.