Out-of-Conference Results
NEWHA is a young conference, having formed in 2017, but they’ve slowly been gaining more traction in out-of-conference games. This season so far, NEWHA teams hold a 2-26-1 record in against non-conference, including the first-ever non-NEWHA win for Post, back on Sept. 26 when they beat Robert Morris 2-1 in overtime. LIU picked up the conference’s other non-NEWHA win about a month later, with the same result, downing Delaware 2-1 in overtime Oct. 23. Meanwhile, Assumption took Holy Cross to a shootout, officially finishing their contest with a 2-2 score after 65 minutes of play. This was especially notable due to Holy Cross’s recent successes, with the Crusaders having reached the national rankings for the first time in program history last season.
Franklin Pierce Leads the Way
Although Franklin Pierce didn’t land in the win column in their out-of-conference contests, they held their own against ranked opponents in No. 15 UVM and No. 11 Clarkson and remain undefeated in NEWHA matchups with an 8-0 record. The Ravens have some of the most prolific scoring in the conference, with Anna Caumo leading NEWHA in goals with seven and Rookie of the Month Chloe King not far behind with sixth. Caumo is also tied for third in points with Addison Andre with eleven apiece, and King is tied for fifth. That trio accounts for three of seven double-digit scorers so far this season in NEWHA.
National Notables
Although NEWHA teams haven’t made it into the USCHO.com Top 15 just yet, they’re still earning plenty of nationally-acclaimed metrics. For example, Franklin Pierce and St. Anselm are both averaging three goals a game, which puts them tied for twelfth nationally. However, most of the conference’s noteworthiness comes from the goaltending.
LIU’s penalty kill is tied for third nationally, with a .938 through the last weekend in October. This can be largely credited to Victoria Rutnick, whose 1.107 GAA is fourth in the nation and whose .954 save percentage is ranked third. However, she’s not the only NEWHA netminder with top numbers. Saint Anselm’s Kalyssa Bayne is fifth in save percentage with a .950, while Franklin Pierce’s Delaney Lawn stands eighth in save percentage with a .941 and ninth in GAA with a 1.607. It’s important to note that the volume of shots these goaltenders are facing is typically higher than other teams, especially Bayne, whose Hawks squad faces the most shots with about 60 attempts allowed per game. However, Franklin Pierce and Long Island fall more to the middle of the pack in these numbers, with the Ravens allowing 30.6 shots a game and the Sharks 27.8.
Meanwhile, Assumption is taking more shots than anyone else in the country, garnering 45.7 looks per game, which has helped them skate to 24th in the NPI, with a 7-3-1, 7-1-0 NEWHA record.
Underdog of the Month
NEWHA has its own nods to notable players of the month, including King’s accolade, as well as Player of the Month Drew Dyczkowski of LIU, Defensive Player of the Month Sam Mathe of LIU, and Goalie of the Month Taylor Thompson of Assumption. However, I want to take a moment to name my own ‘Underdog of the Month,’ someone who has been making notable contributions to their team even though it may not be recognized on a larger scale.
My October Underdog of the Month is Bavneet Dhaliwal of St. Anselm. The freshman defender is tied for third on the Hawks in scoring with four goals and one assist, and second on the team in blocks with 12. This includes both of the team’s goals in their 3-2 season-opening loss to Assumption, as well as three power-play goals, which is tied for first in the entire NCAA. The rookie is a sharp-shooter from the blue line and certainly one to keep an eye on as the season progresses
What Lies Ahead
Reigning NEWHA champion Franklin Pierce is heading into its toughest stretch of the season, with back-to-back series against Assumption (Nov. 13-14) and LIU (Nov. 20-21). Assumption and LIU were ranked second and third in the NEWHA preseason poll, respectively, and are still nipping at the Ravens’ heels. These next two weeks will have major implications for the NEWHA standings and will play a big part in determining who the conference’s strongest team is.
Additionally, these teams aren’t out of the woods yet when it comes to non-conference matchups, but there are a couple in November that are winnable. Over Thanksgiving weekend, Stonehill will face Delaware (Nov. 27 & 28) and Assumption will head to Brown (Nov. 29). Those are certainly games to keep an eye on if you want to watch NEWHA continue its out-of-conference push.
