BOSTON— The No. 5 Northeastern women's hockey team is set open its 2023-24 season with a two-game series against the No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions in Historic Matthews Arena beginning on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. Game two of the series is set for Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.
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Both games will stream live on ESPN+. Replica banners to celebrate the team's sixth-straight Hockey East Championship and third-straight Frozen Four appearance will be available for fans on Saturday.
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THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- THE START OF SOMETHING NEW: The Huskies are opening their season against the reigning College Hockey America Champion Nittany Lions. It marks the first time since the 2020-21 season the Huskies will open up against a ranked opponent. Northeastern has not lost a season opener since the 2016-17 season. In the Flint era, Northeastern is 8-2-4 in season-opening games.
- NEW DAWGS ON THE BLOCK: After losing seven graduating seniors from the 2022-23 season, the Huskies welcomed eight newcomers this offseason. Seven freshmen have joined the roster including Mady Cipolla, Ellie Mabardy, Alexandra Lalonde, Peyton Compton, Rylie Jones, Ella Blackmore, and Mattie Robitzer. Also joining the Huskies is a graduate transfer from Yale in Becca Vanstone. Compton and Lalonde both competed for the United States at the 2023 Under-18 Women's World Championship. The duo, alongside assistant coach Lindsay Berman, took home a bronze medal at the event.
- WHAT'S A NITTANY LION: Northeastern and Penn State are set to meet for the first time in program history this season. The Huskies are familiar with the Nittany Lions' home rink after competing at the Frozen Four in Pegula Ice Arena in 2022. Penn State owns a 15-22-12 mark against Hockey East opponents all-time. The Nittany Lions were picked first in the CHA Coaches' Preseason Poll. Tessa Janecke, the reigning CHA and National Rookie of the Year was picked as the CHA's Preseason Player of the Year.
The Huskies will next hit the road to face LIU for a two-game series beginning on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:45 p.m.
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