It was another solid weekend for the ECAC. Quinnipiac, Cornell and Clarkson each swept their opponents, while Rensselaer beat No. 13 New Hampshire at home. The ECAC has a 26-11-4 interconference record, by far the best of any league in the country.
Ivies in action: The remaining six teams yet to play in Division I finally got underway this weekend, including defending national champion Yale. The Bulldogs lost 4-1 to Brown Friday in the opening game of the Liberty Invitational at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. Defending champs or not, the Bears’ style of play has given Yale trouble over the last few seasons. Brown finished the weekend with a 5-3 win over Dartmouth, while Yale beat Princeton 3-2.
The Bears’ top line of Nick Lappin, Matt Lorito, and Mark Naclerio combined for 15 points in the two games. That looks to be a group to keep an eye on.
Ivies, part II: Cornell had an impressive sweep at Nebraska-Omaha this weekend, scoring four power-play goals Saturday for the first time in nearly four years. Cole Bardreau, back in action for the first time since fracturing his neck last January, had two goals and an assist in the sweep. Meanwhile, Harvard got 43 saves from Raphael Girard in a 3-0 home win over Bentley Saturday.
Quinnipiac, Clarkson keep rolling: Picked to finish last in both the coaches and media preseason polls, the Golden Knights are off to a rolling 6-1-1 start. Clarkson swept Colorado College at home after entering the weekend with an 0-11-3 all-time record against the Tigers. The Golden Knights didn’t get their sixth win of last year until Feb. 2.
Meanwhile, Quinnipiac has now won six in a row since dropping their season opener to Alaska. Freshman Sam Anas leads the Bobcats with six goals. QU will head to Colgate and Cornell to open conference play this weekend.
