Women's Hockey | 5/29/2014 12:50:00 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – The defending College Hockey America RIT women's hockey team unveiled its schedule for the 2014-15 season on Friday, May 30. The Tigers, who enter their third season at the Division I level, will play 34 regular season games. RIT will play 16 regular season home games and one exhibition contest in its inaugural season at the 4,200-seat Gene Polisseni Center.
 
"We are ready to open up play in the Polisseni Center, which will be exciting for not only our players, staff, fans but the Rochester Community as well," said ninth-year RIT head coach Scott McDonald.

RIT competes in College Hockey America, alongside Lindenwood, Mercyhurst, Penn State, Robert Morris, and Syracuse. The Tigers will play four games against each opponent, two at home, and two on the road, and is eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I program. Last year, the Tigers enjoyed a magical run, winning their final seven games, including a 2-1 double overtime win over top-seed Mercyhurst to win the CHA Championship. The Tigers were ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to a two-year probationary period from moving from Division III to Division I.
 
"As always, we are excited to play a full CHA schedule," said McDonald, who is 171-53-18 at RIT. "The league is incredibly competitive and we are excited to defend our championship, and now since we are eligible for NCAA's, have a chance to get in."

On Monday, Sept. 29, RIT hosts the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy out of British Columbia in an exhibition contest that opens the Polisseni Center at 7 p.m. RIT opens regular season play at the Polisseni Center with a pair of games against Union on Oct. 3-4 and host New Hampshire on Oct. 10 and Northeastern the following afternoon.

The Tigers travel to Vermont on Oct. 17-18, and go to Brown University for a pair of games the following weekend. In November, RIT heads to New Jersey for two games against Princeton, and close out the month with two contests at Rensselaer. The Tigers close out the 2014 calendar year with two home contests against perennial power North Dakota on Dec. 12-13 at the Polisseni Center.

"Our competitive non-conference schedule will help us prep for league play," said McDonald. "We play at least one team from each of the three other conferences. Playing new opponents every year will continue to grow our program by seeing different venues, and campuses."

RIT plays 20 games against conference foes, including its final 12 regular season contests.  The Tigers open league play with two home games against Lindenwood University on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, then go west to play the Lady Lions in a pair of games on Jan. 30-31. RIT hosts Penn State, also in its third season as a Division I program in a pair of games at the Polisseni Center on Nov. 14-15 before traveling to Pegula Ice Arena for two games on Jan. 16-17. RIT defeated Penn State in the 2013 and 2014 CHA First Round playoff rounds en route to a 10-0-2 mark against them over the last two years.

The Tigers return to Mercyhurst Ice Center, where they won the 2014 CHA Championship for a pair of contests against NCAA Frozen Four participant Mercyhurst University on Nov. 21-22. The Lakers come to the Polisseni Center for two games on Feb. 6-7. The Lakers have made nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances and are 159-12-11 all-time in CHA play.
 
RIT will play four games against rival Robert Morris in a span of five weeks.  The Tigers host Robert Morris to ring in 2015 on Jan. 9-10, and travel to play the Colonials on Feb. 13-14. RIT plays a road contest at on Dec. 5, a home game against the Orange on Jan. 23 and closes out the regular season with a home and home series against the Orange, away on Feb. 20 and home the following afternoon. RIT went 3-1 against Syracuse last season.
 
The 2014 College Hockey America playoffs begin with a best-of-three series for the third through sixth place finishers from Feb. 27-March 1. The top two teams get a first round bye. The CHA Tournament Semifinals and Championship will be held on March 6-7 at the home of the regular season champion. RIT will look for its second straight league title and this time compete in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers return 17 players from last season's squad that finished 20-15-3.

Season and single game ticket information will be released in the upcoming weeks at www.ritathletics.com and www.rithockey.com.