Thursday, Oct. 2

Syracuse 2, Colgate 1

Eleanor Haines and Julie Knerr gave the Orange just enough offense to survive a late Breanne Wilson-Bennett goal and give Syracuse an opening win over Taylor Craig (Jim’s daughter) and the Raiders. Jenn Gilligan made 20 saves to give SU a positive early answer to their goaltending question. | Box Score | Cuse.com Recap

Friday, Oct. 3

Maine 3, Robert Morris 2 (OT)

The Colonials’ disastrous start continued, as they dropped to 0-3-0 overall on Victoria Hummel’s winner early in overtime. Perhaps just as alarming, it wasn’t a case of bad luck and a hot goalie against a team that went 7-20-5 last year, as the Black Bears won 31-20 on the shot board. | Box Score | RMUColonials.com Recap

Mercyhurst 3, Providence 0

Mercyhurst became the only one of the three leading CHA contenders to get off to a completely spotless start, blanking the Friars behind Amanda Makela’s 15 saves. The game was actually scoreless headed into the third period, before Jenna Dingeldein and Brooke Hartwick broke through during a three-minute span. Emily Janiga added an empty netter. | Box Score | HurstAthletics.com Recap

RIT 2, Union 1

Tigers head coach Scott McDonald’s displeasure with RIT’s exhibition loss last weekend paid off, as his team put in a more-dominating-than-the-score effort in officially inaugurating the Gene Polisseni Center with a win and a robust crowd of 1021. Lindsey Stenason scored the winner midway through the third period of a tied game, while Ali Binnington stopped 19 of 20. | Box Score | RITAthletics.com Recap

Minnesota 8, Penn State 0

Essentially, the expected result between (arguably, in both cases) the best and worst programs in the country over the last couple seasons. The Nittany Lions hung in tough early – actually holding the top-ranked Gophers without a shot for the first six minutes of the game – but eventually collapsed, thanks largely to a four-of-six effort by the Minnesota power play. Dani Cameranesi and Milica McMillen each tallied a pair in the contest. | Box Score | GoPSUSports.com Recap

Saturday, Oct. 4

Robert Morris 1, Maine 0

RMU finally got in the win column by salvaging a split with the Black Bears, although an offense – anticipated to remain potent – that has scored six times in four games has to be a concern. Fortunately for the Colonials, Rikki Meilleur’s third-period goal was all that was needed this time, thanks to Courtney Vinet’s 18-save clean sheet. | Box Score | RMUColonials.com Recap

Boston College 10, Syracuse 2

Revenge-minded and third-ranked BC (remember, Cuse stunned the Eagles 4-1 early last season) juiced the Orange early and often, running away with the game after a Melissa Piacentini power play goal tied the game at 1 midway through the opening period. It doesn’t get much easier for Syracuse, as they host another angry Hockey East team this weekend in Northeastern. | Box Score | Cuse.com Recap

RIT 2, Union 0

The Tigers completed an arena-opening sweep behind Binnington who – trope alert – turned aside all 32 shots she faced and Celeste Brown, who broke a scoreless tie 3:27 into the third period. Carly Payerl assisted on the Brown goal, then added an empty-net goal to seal the result. | Box Score | RITAthletics.com Recap

Mercyhurst 2, Providence 0

In other goaltending news, Makela completed a weekend double-shutout of PC with 22 saves in the back half of the series. Paige Horton (29 seconds in, on the power play) and J’nai Mahadeo (with one second left) bookended the middle period in style for the Lakers | Box Score | HurstAthletics.com Recap

Penn State 3, St. Cloud State 2

There are no “meh” wins for PSU at this point, so toppling a WCHA program, even a weaker one, is an impressive first. Shannon Yoxheimer scored the final two goals of the game, including the winner 6:27 into the third period, to flip a brief 2-1 deficit into a win. The Nittany Lions have actually began each of their three varsity seasons with a 1-1 record involving a solid win, splitting with Vermont to open both 2012-13 and 2013-14. | Box Score | GoPSUSports.com Recap