Women’s Ice Hockey Tied for Second in MASCAC Preseason Poll

MASCAC PRESEASON POLL

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Rivier women's ice hockey team finished tied second in the inaugural Massachusetts State Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference office announced Friday afternoon.

The Raiders earned 17 points, tying with Anna Maria and Plymouth St.

Rivier saw its best season in the program's history in 2023-24, finishing 12-11-3 with a berth in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Alliance (ECHA) title game in which it narrowly lost to Worcester St. in overtime. The Lancers sit atop the MASCAC poll with 24 points, including four of the six first-place votes.

Worcester St. and Anna Maria are two of three familiar foes coming over to the MASCAC from the ECHA along with Mass. Liberal Arts. Plymouth St. joins from the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) while Framingham St. rounds out the conference for its inaugural season.

The Raiders returned four all-conference award winners from last season's roster in Molly Dukesherer, Paige Anger, Rachel Hinkley, and Tia Picardi. Hinkley earned an NCAA Division III Statistical Championship for her performance between the pipes, boasting a national-best .970 save percentage while notching a 5-1-1 record.

Following two exhibition contests, the Raiders will begin their season in the Empire State with contests at Nazareth and SUNY Potsdam on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively, before returning to Conway Arena on Friday, Nov. 8 for their home and conference opener against Anna Maria at 4:40 p.m.