Women’s’ Hockey Drops Puck on Fourth Season with Plymouth State, Visits UMass Boston

SUFFOLK vs. PLYMOUTH STATE - PROGRAM
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, Oct. 29 6:00 PM Porrazzo Rink East Boston, Mass. Suffolk Playsight GoSuffolkRams.com Suffolk Leads, 3-1-0 Feb. 15, 2020, W, 5-1 Same W2

SUFFOLK at UMASS BOSTON
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Saturday, Oct. 30 1:00 PM Edward T. Barry Ice Rink Boston, Mass. LittleEastTv.com/UMassB BeaconsAthletics.com Tied, 2-2-1 Jan. 25, 2020, L, 5-2 Nov. 16, 2019, W, 2-1 L1

BOSTON – Suffolk women's hockey has an action packed opening week as the Rams entertain Plymouth State at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m., before traveling across town the next day Saturday, Oct. 30 for a 1 p.m. showdown at UMass Boston. .

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

SUFFOLK ATHLETICS 2021-22 FAN POLICY
Suffolk University Athletics, following guidance from the University's health and safety protocols, Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, plans to allow fans to attend home athletic contests during the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.

Fans, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, can attend games. They must be masked the entire time they are on campus, pursuant to institutional policy, and complete a health screening form at the security desk of each building upon arrival. This policy applies to home contests played on campus at the Ridgeway Building's Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, as well as the Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink and the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

For outdoor outings, specifically at East Boston Memorial Park, fans are asked to respect COVID safety protocols. At this time, masks will not be mandated for fans no matter vaccinated status at outdoor venues.

MORE READING: Suffolk Athletics Announces Fan Policy for 2021-22

RAMS REWIND
Suffolk's schedule was limited to eight games due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Rams managed to put together a 2-6 record with a wins over Nichols (5-3) and Anna Maria (6-0). 

Nearly all of the Rams' 22-goal from a year ago has returned with 89.7 percent back on the ice. Leading the pack Maddy Burton (3g, 7a), who was the only player to produce double-digit points, and Shana Cote (4g, 4a) and Julia Volpe (3g, 5a), who had eight points apiece. 

Netminders Julia McLellan (2.90 GAA, .907 save %) and Lily O'Neil (3.41 GAA, .872 save %) will lace 'em up once again for the blue-and-gold.

RAMS ROOKIES
Suffolk women's hockey's head coach Taylor Wayslk recruited seven fresh faces to join the program for the upcoming 2021-22 campaign. The group, which is the largest since the program's inaugural class in 2018-19, features six true freshman, one sophomore and one junior.   

The bulk of the incomers are forwards in Emily Bozzi and Julia Franklin, who played together on the Philadelphia Junior Flyers, as well as Sam Molind, Vanessa Stuart, and Sofia Scilipoti, who was recently named to the Spanish National Team. Hannah Gordon looks to add depth in goal, while Leslie Steiner will chip in at the blue line.  

MORE REAIDNG: Women's Hockey Brings in Seven Newcomers for 2021-22

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's women's hockey team has one of the most unique geographical footprints in the department with a dozen states covered as well as three Canadian Provinces and on Native American tribe, the Oneida Nation.

No more than four student-athletes are from one area state side or internationally. Michigan has the most residents with a quartet, while a trio of players are Massachusetts natives. A pair comes from Colorado and Pennsylvania with Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin repressed by one Ram each.

When it comes to the United States' neighbor to the north, there are two player who flew in from Ontario with one Suffolk student-athlete trekking to Beantown from British Columbia and Quebec, respectively.

BAY STATE SKATERS
The first-ever Suffolk women's hockey was absent of a single Bay State skater. Now junior Cassidy Gruning was one of the first Massachusetts products to don the blue-and-gold. Last year Lily O'Neil became the fourth-ever Mass. local to put on a Suffolk sweater and this season freshman Sam Molind joins the short list as the fifth player from Massachusetts to compete for the Rams.

CLASS RANKS
The bulk of the Rams' 24-player roster is comprised of Taylor Wasylk's first-ever recruiting class, which has reached their senior season with 10 members from Suffolk's Class of 2022. Four juniors and one grad student round out the upperclassmen with the underclassmen nearly evenly divided between a quartet of sophomores and five true freshmen.

PUCK POSITIONS
The 24 Rams are broken down into 14 forwards, seven skaters on the blue line and a three-headed contingent in net.

RAMS RINGLEADERS
In its fourth varsity season, Suffolk women's hockey has a five-member leadership unit as head coach Taylor Wasylk announced Shana Cote and Madison Duff will return to their post as co-captains, while Payton Dockus and Julia Volpe are back as assistants along with Maddy Burton.  

MORE READING: Five to Wear Letter for Women's Hockey as Captains

WASYLK WHISTLE
Taylor Wasylk, the first and only head coach of Suffolk women's hockey, returns to lead the Rams for their fourth campaign. Bridget O'Brien is back for her third season as an assistant coach and Dana Trivigno, Wasylk's Boston College teammate, is due to stay on staff as a graduate assistant.

WATCH AND SEE

OPENING ACT

• Suffolk will open its campaign on its home ice for the second straight season.
• The Rams won their first-ever season debut a year ago in the form of a 5-3 victory over Nichols.
• The blue-and-gold is 1-0-0 when lifting the lid on its season on its own ice.
• Suffolk is 1-2-0 all-time in its first game of the year.
• The blue-and-gold's goal record in game one is five, which the Rams achieved a last season in the 5-3 win against Nichols.
• There has been only one shutout in Suffolk's opener history. The Rams were kept off the scoreboard when they lifted the lid on the 2019-20 season at Nazareth, 3-0.
• The Rams will take on Plymouth State in its first outing of the year for the first time.

MORE INFO: Suffolk Women's Hockey Season Openers

PRESEASON POSITION
Suffolk women's hockey has been selected to finish third in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, a compilation of predictions of the league's seven head coaches.

MORE READING: Women's Hockey Projected Third in CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll

PANTHERS POINT
Plymouth State will lift the lid on its 2021-22 campaign on Friday, Oct. 29 as well. A year ago, the Panthers faced New England four times and played a pair of games against North and Castleton to finish the shortened season with a 3-4-1 overall record.

All 18 skaters from last season highlighted by Zoe Killisch (3g, 2), Siri Brett (1g, 4a) and Georgia McLellan (3g, 1a) return to Josh Funk's line-up, as well as the pair of goaltenders in sophomore Amelia Julian (2.22 GAA, .916 save %) and Olivia Petito (2.70 GAA, .888 save %). The returners will be joined by six true freshmen skaters, five forwards and one defenseman.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk is 3-1-0 all-time against Plymouth State.
• The Rams has won the last two outings against the Panthers including a 5-1 victory in the last meeting, Feb. 15, 2020.
• Suffolk is unbeaten, 2-0, when hosting PSU.
• The blue-and-gold has outscored the Panthers, 13-7, in the all-time series.
• The most goals Suffolk has put away against Plymouth State was five in a 5-1 triumph for the Rams Feb. 15, 2020.
• There has never been a shutout in the all-time series.
• A game has never gone past regulation in the all-time series.

MORE INFO: Suffolk vs. Plymouth State – All-Time Series

EYES ON THE GAME

BEACONS BREAKDOWN
UMass Boston has been away from the ice since it fell 2-1 to the University of Southern Maine in the 2020 NEHC Quarterfinal Feb. 22, 2020. The Beacons saw their entire 2020-21 campaign cancelled due to COVID and will be back in action for the first time in 616 days against Suffolk on Saturday, Oct. 30.

UMB will be under the leadership of new head coach Danielle Blanchard, a former D3 athlete who won a pair of National Championships at SUNY Plattsburg, she leads a talent group of veterans and newcomers. Seniors Katie Leffler (12g, 10a) and Kelsey Ryan (10g, 7a) will look to lead the forwards, while defenseman Jane Ann Drill is back on the blue line.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk sits 2-2-1 overall against UMass Boston.
• The Rams fell to the Beacons, 5-2, in the last meeting, Jan. 25, 2020.
• Suffolk is 1-0-1 when playing at UMass Boston.
• The first-ever meeting between the Rams and Beacons Nov. 17, 2018 went into overtime and ended in a 2-2 draw. That is the only OT game between the rivals in the all-time series.
• UMass Boston holds a slim 11-10 edge in goals in the all-time series.
• Neither team has kept the other off the scoreboard in any to date.

MORE INFO: Suffolk vs. UMass Boston – All-Time Series

EYES ON THE GAME

SPANISH SKATER
Sofia Scilipoti of the Suffolk women's hockey team took her talents to Torre Pellice, Italy, Oct. 3-10 to compete on the Spanish National Team in the Olympic Pre-Qualification Round 2 Group G. The incoming Ram registered two goals including a shootout winner that aided the Spaniards to 2-1 record against the four-team field. 

MORE READING: Scilipoti Skates with Spain in Olympic Qualifier Tournament

SUFFOLK SOUNDS


#TheHumanRace
Members of the Suffolk women's hockey team joined #TheHumanRace, a global challenge for climate action in solidarity with people who need it most in honor of World Humanitarian Day Thursday, Aug. 19.

MORE READING: Women's Hockey Joined #TheHumanRace

SHIRSEY SALES FOR SUFFOLK CARES
For the second straight season, Suffolk women's hockey head coach Taylor Wasylk has pledged her portion of the proceeds from her Buffalo Beauts shirseys sale to Suffolk CARES.  

Fans can purchase their Wasylk shirsey, which features the Rams' head coach's signature, in either black or blue for $35 here.

MORE READING: Wasylk's Buffalo Beauts Shirsey's Sale to Benefit Suffolk CARES

RAMS DONATE TO SUFFOLK CARES LEADING UP TO WORLD HUNGER DAY
Suffolk women's hockey looks to not only shutout its opponents on the ice this season, but to oust another tough foe; hunger. Leading up to World Hunger Day, Rams upperclassmen teamed up with the Suffolk CARES Pantry to help give back to members of the University community in need. 

MORE READING: Women's Hockey Donates to Suffolk Cares Leading Up to World Hunger Day

Orange Shirt Day
Suffolk women's hockey recognized Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, yesterday, Thursday, Sept. 30.  

Orange Shirt Day honors indigenous children who were lost at residential and boarding schools. It also honors the legacy of survivors. For over a century thousands of indigenous children were removed from their communities and placed in residential schools where they were shamed and abused for their identities and heritage.  

MORE READING: Women's Hockey Commemorates Orange Shirt Day

WHAT'S NEXT?
A home-and-home series with Worcester State is in store for Suffolk next weekend. The Rams travel to Worcester Friday, Nov. 5 for a 6:10 p.m. outing, before hosting the Lancers the following day, Saturday, Nov. 6 at 4:50 p.m. at Porrazzo Rink.