HAMILTON – The Colgate women's hockey program has announced its 2019-20 slate featuring 36 regular season games, including 18 at home plus an exhibition matchup.
 
2019-20 Schedule
 
With its two tournaments, the Raiders have the opportunity to face seven of eight teams who competed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Six are currently scheduled for the regular season.
 
"The 2019-20 season means it's a fresh start, new group and I know this schedule will bring out the best in the team we have," Colgate women's hockey head coach Greg Fargo said. "There is no doubt that our entire slate of games will push us and I'm excited about the challenge ahead with this group we have."
 
The 2019-20 campaign gets underway at home on Saturday, Sept. 21, as the Raiders host Holy Cross for a single nonconference matchup. An extra opportunity to cheer on the Raiders follows Sept. 22 as Colgate hosts a PWHL team in Kingston for exhibition play at Class of 1965 Arena.
 
Colgate's first road action comes as the Raiders travel west to 2019 National Runner-Up Minnesota for a two-game nonconference matchup Sept. 27-28.
 
Competition continues as the Raiders host Mercyhurst (Oct. 4-5), before home-and-home action against in-state rival Syracuse (Oct. 18-19), a series the Raiders swept last season.
 
In the first of two regular season tournaments, the Raiders travel to Buffalo for the 2019 Icebreaker Tournament, first facing Connecticut (Oct. 25) before taking on Mercyhurst or Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 26).
 
Colgate opens ECAC Hockey action at home Nov. 15-16 as the Raiders welcome Princeton and Quinnipiac to Class of 1965 Arena. Four ECAC games follow before returning to nonconference play as Ohio State travels to Hamilton (Nov. 22-23), and RIT visits for a midweek game Nov. 26.
 
The Raiders round out first-half action at Quinnipiac and Princeton (Dec. 6-7), before picking back up in Pittsburgh after the holidays. Colgate takes on Northeastern (Jan. 4), before facing 2019 National Champion Wisconsin or Robert Morris Jan. 5 to conclude regular season nonconference play.
 
Returning to ECAC action, Colgate travels to RPI and Union (Jan. 10-11) prior to returning to Hamilton for the first time since Nov. 26 to host Harvard and Dartmouth (Jan. 17-18).
 
The highly anticipated Route 13 Rivalry returns the weekend of Jan. 24-25 as Colgate travels on Friday to face 2019 Frozen Four participant and in-state rival Cornell, before bringing the series finale back to Hamilton.
 
After hosting St. Lawrence and 2019 Frozen Four team Clarkson (Jan. 31-Feb. 1), the Raiders hit the road for their four final ECAC matchups. Colgate rounds out the regular season at home by hosting Union and RPI Feb. 21-22.
 
"In ECAC Hockey, each game has a 'playoff' feel. Every game on the schedule matters and that's the beauty of playing in this league – you're challenged to be at your best every night," Coach Fargo added.
 
Postseason play begins with the best-of-three ECAC Quarterfinals Feb. 28-March 1, leading up to ECAC Championship weekend March 6-8. Colgate looks to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since its historic 2018 run with the NCAA Quarterfinals taking place March 14, followed by the 2020 NCAA Women's Frozen Four in Boston March 20-22.
 
Named the nation's top recruiting class, seven freshman players join the 13 returners to the program. Seniors Liz Auby and Caroline Ross lead the four forwards and three defensemen of the freshman class, which includes players from Ontario, New York, California, Texas, Alberta, and Pennsylvania. Also returning to the ice this season is Tanner Gates, who was recognized for her efforts in the 2018-19 campaign by the ECAC. After leading all rookie defensemen in the nation, Gates was named a finalist for ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year with her breakout season of 22 points in 35 games played.
 
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2019-20 Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 21    Holy Cross
Sunday, Sept. 22       Kingston (PWHL) – Exh.
Friday, Sept. 27         at Minnesota
Saturday, Sept. 28     at Minnesota
Friday, Oct. 4            Mercyhurst
Saturday, Oct. 5        Mercyhurst
Friday, Oct. 18         Syracuse
Saturday, Oct. 19       at Syracuse
Friday, Oct. 25           vs. Connecticut ^
Saturday, Oct. 26       vs. Mercyhurst / Minnesota Duluth ^
Friday, Nov. 1           Princeton *
Saturday, Nov. 2       Quinnipiac *
Friday, Nov. 8             at Clarkson *
Saturday, Nov. 9        at St. Lawrence *
Friday, Nov. 15        Brown *
Saturday, Nov. 16    Yale *
Friday, Nov. 22        Ohio State
Saturday, Nov. 23    Ohio State
Tuesday, Nov. 26     RIT
Friday, Dec. 6             at Quinnipiac *
Saturday, Dec. 7        at Princeton *
Saturday, Jan. 4         vs. Northeastern %
Sunday, Jan. 5            vs. Wisconsin / Robert Morris %
Friday, Jan. 10           at RPI *
Saturday, Jan. 11       at Union *
Friday, Jan. 17          Harvard *
Saturday, Jan. 18      Dartmouth *
Friday, Jan. 24           at Cornell *
Saturday, Jan. 25      Cornell *
Friday, Jan. 31          St. Lawrence *
Saturday, Feb. 1       Clarkson *
Friday, Feb. 7             at Dartmouth *
Saturday, Feb. 8        at Harvard *
Friday, Feb. 14           at Yale *
Saturday Feb. 15       at Brown *
Friday, Feb. 21         Union *
Saturday, Feb. 22     RPI *
Friday, Feb. 28            ECAC Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 29        ECAC Quarterfinals
Sunday, March 1         ECAC Quarterfinals (If Necessary)
Friday, March 6          ECAC Semifinals
Saturday, March 7      ECAC Championship
Saturday, March 14    NCAA Quarterfinals
Friday, March 20        NCAA Semifinals
Sunday, March 22       NCAA Championship – Boston, Mass.
 
Bold indicates home game
* indicates ECAC Hockey game
^ Icebreaker Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.
% Battle at the Burgh in Pittsburgh, Pa.