Clarkson Opens Season Against RIT Tonight at Cheel Arena

Clarkson Women's Hockey opens the 2026–27 regular season tonight when RIT visits Cheel Arena for a 6 p.m. faceoff. The game begins a two-game series that concludes Saturday at 3 p.m. 

The Golden Knights enter the opener after a 7–0 exhibition win over Bishop's University last Saturday. Clarkson put 47 shots on goal, with returning players and newcomers contributing to the scoring. The result offered an early look at the team, though the game and its statistics do not count toward the regular season.   The Golden Knights received balanced scoring from Abby Richardson, Paige Wallace, Sara Manness, Isabelle Goettl, Manon Le Scodan, Kennedy Sisson, and Kate Manness.  All three goalies saw action in the game.  Clarkson finished with an 89-37 edge in shots attempts overall and a 47-19 lead in shots on goal in the contest.

RIT is opening its season as well. The Tigers were picked third in the Atlantic Hockey America preseason coaches' poll after a 16-win campaign in 2025–26. Senior defender Emma Pickering, a preseason All-AHA selection, is among the players Clarkson will face this weekend.

Clarkson has faced the Tigers only two other times, in the 2013-14 season.  In September the Knights won 12-1 at Cheel and then later in December that teams faced off for a snowy outdoor contest at Frontier Field, a 6-2 Knights win.

Last season RIT hit the 16 win mark and lost to Syracuse in double OT in the AHA Quarterfinals. The Tiger's 16 wins ties for the most wins in a season. RIT won three games against ranked opponents, including a 3-2 overtime win against No. 4 Penn State. Emma Pickering was a First Team All-AHA selection.  RIT will also face ECAC competition when they face Colgate and Brown this fall. 

Tonight's game will air on ESPN+, with radio coverage on B99.3 FM.