By: Andrew Badillo and Sierra Goodwill
1. Melissa Samoskevich Fr. (Quinnipiac) – Sierra
Cayley Mercer Jr. (Clarkson) – Andrew
Sierra:
Talk about a hot start. Samoskevich is having an incredible freshman season so far for the Bobcats. She has recorded 13 points in just nine games, an absurd statistic. The freshman is on track to be a top player in the conference week after week. Her hockey IQ is off the charts, with ten assists she knows where her teammates are at all times and where she needs to give them the puck. With offers from big time schools like Minnesota, I knew Samoskevich was going to play a key role. But, I think her play has gone far beyond anyone’s expectations so far.
Andrew:
Samoskevich is a solid pick at No. 1, but Cayley Mercer is a lock in my opinion. The junior forward has a ridiculous 22 points in 14 games and boasts a +15 plus/minus rating. Mercer had a nine game point streak to open the season, she collected two points or more in six of those games.
2. Shea Tiley So. (Clarkson) – Andrew
Cayley Mercer Jr. (Clarkson) – Sierra
Andrew:
Shea Tiley has been the best goalie in the ECAC early on and one of the best in the country. Tiley has four shutouts on the season, owns a .945 save percentage and has a 1.15 goals against average. In games where Tiley faces 20 or more shots, she has a 6-0-1 record.
Sierra:
I think Clarkson is going to prove to be quite the powerhouse in the ECAC this season with multiple threats. For that reason, it doesn’t surprise me to see Tiley on your list. You mentioned Mercer’s crazy stats, add two hat tricks to her resume. I think it’s safe to say that with the way she has been playing Mercer will be making weekly appearances on our lists.
3. Karly Heffernan So. (Harvard) – Sierra
Melissa Samoskevich Fr. (Quinnipiac) – Andrew
Sierra:
I put Heffernan at number three because of her ability to facilitate goal scoring in the offensive zone. She has five points (all assists) in five games, which speaks volumes to the selflessness of her game. I think she has great puck awareness and is able to anticipate her teammate’s next moves. She has been imperative to this team’s success so far.
Andrew:
I agree that Heffernan is a tremendous player. But at this point, I don’t think she’s worthy of the No.3 ranking. Melissa Samoskevich is my pick. She has been excellent so far for Quinnipiac bringing elite speed, skill and toughness to a team that lost a lot of scoring depth from last season. The freshman forward has gelled with line mates T.T. Cianfarano and Emma Woods as the trio have accounted for more than half of the Bobcats points.
4. Olivia Howe Sr. (Clarkson) – Andrew
Janelle Ferrara Sr. (Yale) – Sierra
Andrew:
Howe is right behind Cayley Mercer on a high-powered Clarkson team. The senior forward has a +15 plus/minus and has 16 points. Howe has points in 12 of the Golden Knights’ 14 games.
Sierra:
Howe has definitely proven to be among the elite forwards. But, I think Janelle Ferrara is deserving of the No. 4 spot this week and I’m quite surprised she doesn’t make an appearance on your list. Ferrara won ECAC player of the week earlier this season and has scored four goals in six games. She has helped keep the Bulldogs in games where their defense has let them down.
5. Kailee Heidersbach Sr. (St. Lawrence) – Sierra
T.T. Cianfarano So. (Quinnipiac) – Andrew
Sierra:
Heidersbach has been finding her stride in time for the start of ECAC play. This is a player who has become St. Lawrence’s go-to in tight situations. Heidersbach has two game winning goals already on the season. She was involved in every scoring play for her team over the weekend. She has also been extremely efficient on the power play. She assisted on the game winner against RPI on Friday and recorded a power play goal in St. Lawrence’s 2-1 victory over Union on Saturday.
Andrew:
In my opinion Cianfarano has been more impactful to her team than Heidersbach has been. Along with Samoskevich, Cianfarano opened up the season on seven game point streak for Quinnipiac. She has a team leading 14 points scoring eight goals and dishing out six assists.
6. Kimberly Newell Sr. (Princeton) – Andrew
Shea Tiley So. (Clarkson) – Sierra
Andrew:
Newell’s numbers don’t put her with the elite goalies such as Shea Tiley. But, she is a big reason why Princeton is No. 10 in the country. In only four games Newell has faced 110 shots and 27.5 shots per game. She is sporting 2.0 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. The senior goaltender is going to be the key for Princeton if it will keep pace with offensive powerhouses Harvard and Clarkson.
Sierra:
Shea Tiley’s numbers speak for themselves. The reason she is not higher on my list is due to the fact that two of her four shutouts were against a Vermont team who averages less than one goal in nine games.
7. T.T. Cianfarano So. (Quinnipiac) – Sierra
Kelly Mariani Fr. (Clarkson) – Andrew
Sierra:
Cianfarano’s 14 points in nine games is at the top of the list for the Bobcats. She knows how to find the back of the net with eight goals on the season already. Only a sophomore, she is a force to be reckoned with and will pose a serious threat to even the best defensive lines in the ECAC.
Andrew:
I’m putting Kelly Mariani at No. 7 in my rankings due to her high plus/minus rating. The freshman is experienced beyond her years as she has played for U-18 Team Ontario at 2015 Canada Winter Games, winning a silver medal. Mariani is a two-way forward capable of scoring and back checking on defense.
8. Kennedy Marchment So. (St. Lawrence) – Andrew
Shae Labbe Fr. (Colgate) – Sierra
Andrew:
Marchment has been an integral part of St. Lawrence’s fast start in conference play. The sophomore forward has a team leading 13 points on the season and has recorded points in three of the Saints four conference games.
Sierra:
With 10 points in 10 games and an impressive six goals, Labbe makes my list due to her hot offensive start especially in ECAC play. The freshman played an integral role in turning around this Colgate squad after a five game losing streak early in the season.
9. Ashlynne Rando Sr. (Colgate) – Sierra
Amanda Boulier Gr. (St. Lawrence) – Andrew
Sierra:
Rando is on my list this week almost entirely because of her performance against Quinnipiac on Friday. She had a 44 save shutout against the Bobcats who have proven that they are a goal-scoring team so far this year. She also has an impressive 197 saves in just eight games this season.
Andrew:
One of the best defenseman in the ECAC. Boulier has been racking up the points this season with 12 to lead ECAC defensemen. She is already more than halfway to her point total from last year and is a big reason for the Saints early success in ECAC play.
10. Karly Heffernan So. (Harvard) – Andrew
Karlie Lund Fr. (Princeton) – Sierra
Andrew:
The lack of games so far is why Karly Heffernan is so low on my list and why other Harvard players didn’t make the cut. Heffernan has shown elite vision this season dishing out five assists, but Harvard’s offense is still yet to come out of its shell. When players such as Miye D’Oench and Sydney Daniels get hot, Heffernan’s point totals will only increase.
Sierra:
While I do think Heffernan deserves to be ranked higher than No. 10, Lund rounds out the bottom of my list for similar reasons. Princeton has only played six games but its impressive 5-1 record, where Lund contributed three goals and four assists, is why they are ranked No. 10 in the country.
