RYE, N.Y. - After falling in the first round of the ECAC East playoffs during the 2013-14 season, the Manhattanville women's ice hockey program returns to Playland Ice Casino as they look to get back to the playoffs and make a run at their first ECAC Championship since 2011.
 
Under fourth-year head coach David Turco, who has led the Valiants to a 41-32-9 record in his three seasons at the helm; Manhattanville will look towards a strong returning senior class to help lead them back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2010-2011 campaign.
This season the Valiants were selected to finish fifth amongst all ECAC East Teams, and third amongst those teams that are postseason eligible. Manhattanville received 130 points; 65 behind unanimous No. 1 Norwich, while two conference newcomers, University of New England and Franklin Pierce, rank ninth and eleventh place respectively.
1.       Norwich (13) – 195 pts.
2.       St. Anselm (1) – 172 pts.
3.       Holy Cross – 151 pts.
4.       Castleton– 149 pts.
5.       Manhattanville – 130 pts.
6.       UMass Boston – 129 pts.
7.       Salve Regina – 127 pts.
8.       Southern Maine – 91 pts.
9.       University of New England – 76 pts.
10.   Plymouth State – 71 pts.
11.   Franklin Pierce – 69 pts.
12.   New England College – 46 pts.
13.   Nichols – 33 pts.
14.   Saint Michael's – 31 pts.
Leading the 2014-15 group will be their three-top goal scorers from a season ago led by senior captain Sydney Asselstine (Hartington, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats (PWHL)), who finished last season in the top-25 goals scored amongst all Division III players. Joining Asselstine amongst the offensive threats is senior forward Alla Traun (Edina, Minn./Minnesota Thoroughbreds (JWHL)), who has a breakout year last season, more than doubling her goal total from her sophomore season. Traun, who finished 59th in the nation in points per game, picked up 11 goals and 17 assists in 26 games last season.  The third-leading goal scorer will also be back as senior assistant captain Michele Meggiolaro (Whippany, N.J./New Jersey Colonials (MAWHA)). Meggiolaro, who led the team in assists last season with 16, will complete what is arguably one of the top offensive lines in all of Division III hockey.
 
Forwards
 
In addition to their top-three goal scorers from a season ago the Valiants offense will continue to improve with the development of last year's freshman, as well as a strong recruiting class brought in by coaches Dave Turco and second-year assistant coach Sam Pulley.

Alongside Asselstine, Traun and Meggiolaro in 2014-15 will be fellow senior Aubrey Bachand (Harwichport, Mass./Vermont Academy). Last season Bachand who finished last season with three goals, including the game winner against Saint Michael's. Bachand, who showed flashes of brilliance last year, will look to an increased role, both on the ice and as a veteran leader, to help the Valiants not only make the playoffs this season, but set the teams up for future success by helping to develop the underclassmen.

Junior Kyra Herbert (Plainfield, N.H./Lebanon) returns for her second season with the Valiants as the lone junior forward on the team. She will look to improve on her point total from last season which saw her net one goal against Southern Maine while picking up two assists throughout the remainder of the season.
 
Much of the Valiants success this season will hinge on the returning sophomore class. Ten sophomores will all look to take the next step forward in their second season with the Valiants. Michaela Murdock (Chestnut Ridge, N.Y./Mid-Fairfield Connecticut Stars) led all freshmen last season, finishing the year with six points on two goals and four helpers. Jerin Dinkins (Grants Pass, Ore./National Sports Academy) was second amongst all freshmen with three total points on two goals and an assist.

Former teammates Lindsay Diot (Bethel, Conn./Boston Shamrocks) and Kayley Romano (Viera, Fla./Boston Shamrocks) will continue to develop alongside one another as they look to further develop the chemistry which has gotten them both this far.

Scotia Bellavance (Campbell River, B.C./Pacific Steelers) proved to be quite the pest to other teams as her fervent fore-checking caused constant turnovers and rushed passes that helped to generate offensive pressure for Manhattanville. Fellow sophomore Alexandra Pedatella (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Brewster Bulldogs) will add plenty of depth to the Valiant line-up and should continue to cause problems for other teams, especially with a year under their belt.           
 
The freshman class will feature four new players up front including Melissa Stys (Pequannock, N.J./Kent School), as well as Cassandra Kent (Lake Placid, NY/Northwood).  Also added to the forward mix is newcomer Sarah Sinning (Southold, NY/National Sports Academy), who brings her talents from the always strong National Sports Academy squad. Rounding out the class of freshman forwards is Jennifer Machin (Brunswick, ME/North Yarmouth Academy), who will be joining the team after a four-year stint with North Yarmouth Academy and the Portland Jr. Pirates.
 
Defense
 
The defense will also see a bit of a makeover after the departures of Caitlyn Beauvais (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) '14 and Trennah Stauffer, both longtime staples on the Valiant blue line. Fortunately for the Valiants, senior captain Rachael Morrison (Ridgefield, Conn./Sound Shore Warriors (MAWHL)) will be back for her final year anchoring the Valiants blue line.
 
Joining Morrison this year is a group of returning defenseman as well as several newcomers. The returners are junior Melissa Hauptman (Smithtown, N.Y./Sound Shore Warriors (MAWHL)), sophomores Nicole Dudjak (Flemington, N.J./New Jersey Rockets), Sydney Kinder (New York, N.Y./Brewster Bulldogs) and Taryn Harris (Morrison, Colo./Colorado Selects). Harris, who led freshman in goals, assists and points last season, has matured nicely and should play a major role on the Valiants defense this season.
 
The four newcomers bring a lot of skill and size. Freshman Monika Molnar (Budapest, Hungary/Vasas HC) hails from Budapest, Hungary and standing at 5'8", she will add needed size to the Valiants defense. Karly Kapur (Sparta, N.J./Sparta High School) is another 5'8" defender looking to break into the starting lineup, as she joins the Valiants from the Colonials in the Mid-Atlantic League. Maeve O'Brien (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) also joins the squad after spending four years playing hockey for Loyola Academy out of Illinois.

Goaltending
The goaltending situation should be interesting this season as the squad returns two goalies and has brought in a very talented freshman to compete for playing time. Senior Kirsten Shaughnessy (Le Center, Minn./LeSueur-Henderson St. Peter) returns for her fourth season with the Valiants, returning after a solid junior season which saw her post a 2.51 Goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
 
Returning alongside Shaughnessy is sophomore goaltender Olivia Drew (York, Maine/Portland Jr. Pirates). While only appearing in two games last season, Drew was perfect, stopping all 12 shots she faced during both outings. Freshman goaltender Ekaterina Nikonova (Lybertcy, Russia/King's Edgehill School) brings a fluid style of goaltending that should transition well at the Division III level. During her time at King's Edgehill, Nikonova led the Monarchs to back-to-back Regional and Provincial Championships in 2013 and 2014.

The Valiants have a great combination of veteran leadership, developing underclassmen and a talented group of rookies. If this team can come together they will have a good chance of competing for the ninth ECAC East Championship in program history.