Here’s a look at this weekend’s games:
Friday, Nov. 13
Brown at Union
The Bears will look for their first win of the season against a reeling Union squad that will be desperate to right the ship. The Dutchmen snapped a four-game losing streak to Clarkson last weekend and come into Friday’s meeting with a 3-4-3 record. Brown is 0-3 but has shown signs of life offensively as nine different players have contributed.
Prediction: Brown 3, Union 2
No. 10 Yale at Rensselaer
Rensselaer is off to its best start since the 1994-95 season, posting a 3-0-1 record in ECAC play through its first four games, including victories over Clarkson and St. Lawrence last weekend. Riley Bourbonnais leads the Engineers with five goals and nine points so far. But RPI will begin the weekend with a big test against No. 10 Yale, 3-0-1 overall. Last year’s leading goal-scorer for the Bulldogs, Mike Doherty, is off to another good start with four points in four games.
Prediction: Yale 5, RPI 3
Colgate at Cornell (two games)
The Big Red look to continue their impressive start with a two-game series against Colgate this weekend. Cornell freshman Anthony Angello is the Big Red’s first rookie to have points in his first four collegiate games since Ryan Moynihan in 1996, while leading the country in points per game by a freshman. Colgate snapped a three-game losing streak against Princeton last weekend, facing tough opponents Quinnipiac and Providence. Against the teams they’re supposed to beat, the Raiders have done well.
Prediction: Cornell 4, Colgate 2
No. 7 Harvard at No. 4 Quinnipiac
Game of the week in ECAC play. Quinnipiac’s offense has been almost impossible to stop, putting up 35 goals in the Bobcats’ first eight games. Quinnipiac is undefeated at 8-0 so far and leads the nation in power-play goals (12) and power-play goals per game (1.50). Harvard, however, has the ultimate X-factor in Jimmy Vesey and the Crimson’s offense is seemingly just as powerful. This is going to be a high-scoring shootout from start to finish.
Prediction: Quinnipiac 7, Harvard 6
No. 19 Clarkson at No. 15 St. Lawrence
The Golden Knights have unceremoniously maintained their present course through their first eight games, posting a 5-2-1 record. With a 4-1 loss to reeling Union last Saturday following a 2-2 tie to RPI, however, Clarkson will look to get back on track against St. Lawrence. Saints defensemen Gavin Bayreuther and Eric Sweetman have combined for 17 goals so far this season, and their penalty kill is one of the best in the nation. Look for a low-scoring, defensive game here.
Prediction: St. Lawrence 2, Clarkson 1
Dartmouth at Princeton
The Big Green didn’t exactly have it easy to start the season: two big losses to Harvard and a 4-2 loss to Yale last weekend. Dartmouth’s one win came 7-3 against Brown. For a team that has seen both sides of the spectrum, low-ranked Princeton should look mighty appetizing for a team trying to figure itself out.
Prediction: Dartmouth 4, Princeton 2
Saturday, Nov. 14
Yale at Union
If the Dutchmen can find a way around Brown on Friday, then at least they’ll have some confidence coming into Saturday’s tough matchup against the Bulldogs. Yale is firing on all cylinders and Union just isn’t. Not yet, anyway. Bad timing to come up against a team like that for the Dutchmen.
Prediction: Yale 5, Union 1
Brown at Rensselaer
Rensselaer’s fast start this season should be no match for Brown. Despite the Bears’ scoring depth, Saturday’s matchup should be a good test for a team looking to find its place.
Prediction: RPI 4, Brown 2
Harvard at Princeton
Vesey and the Crimson should find a much easier time running away with Saturday’s matchup against Princeton. After what should be a fireworks display against the Bobcats on Friday, this game almost feels like a gimme.
Prediction: Harvard 3, Princeton 0
Dartmouth at Quinnipiac
If Dartmouth’s big losses to Yale and Harvard were any indication, the Big Green’s game against Quinnipiac should be just as lopsided. Chalk this up for a huge win for the Bobcats, as they roll to yet another undefeated weekend.
Prediction: Quinnipiac 6, Dartmouth 0
