No. 4 Clarkson vs. Syracuse: ECAC Game of the Week

Who: SB Nation No. 4 Clarkson (14-3-3 Overall; 9-0-1 in the ECAC) vs. Syracuse (5-7-4 Overall; 4-2-2 in CHA).

When: Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. ET; Saturday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. ET.

Where: Syracuse, NY / Potsdam, NY

How to Watch: Clarkson Athletics TV

The Skinny

The No. 4 Golden Knights are ascendant after last week’s series with St. Lawrence, which saw them tie the Saints in Potsdam and win on the road in Canton. With the victory, Clarkson remains undefeated in conference play and now sits in the driver’s seat in the ECAC.

With few conference games in the ECAC this week, the Golden Knights’ nonconference home-and-home with the Syracuse Orange is the best in a limited slate. The Orange have struggled a bit this year, but sit second in CHA at 4-2-2 in conference play, albeit well behind conference leader Robert Morris. They are coming off a home-and-home with RIT that saw them tie in Syracuse 2-2 and win on the road 3-0.

Orange primary goaltender Abbey Miller (4-6-4 overall; .923 save percentage) is going to have her hands full the Golden Knights. Clarkson sits second in the nation, scoring 3.75 goals per game. Their defense isn’t too shabby either, tied for ninth nationally at 1.75 goals per game.

Clarkson Players to Watch

#18 —  Cayley Mercer, Forward

The Golden Knights senior captain, the ever-dangerous Mercer, sits tied for ninth nationally in total points (26) and averages 1.30 points per game. Third in the ECAC in points and fifth in goals (9), the 2015 Patty Kaz nominee put up six points last week against the Saints.

#9 — Genevieve Bannon, Forward

Top 20 nationally in points scored (22), and averaging over 1.10 points per game, Bannon tallied four points last week against St. Lawrence and 13 in her last nine games. Last season, as a junior, she won 54.5% of her draws.

Syracuse Players to Watch

#8 — Stephanie Grossi, Forward

The junior forward is tied for the team points lead (11) and is second on the team with six goals. As a sophomore, she led the Orange with 36 points, sharing the CHA Scoring Trophy with teammate Jessica Sibley. She was first team All-CHA last year.

#7 — Jessica Sibley, Forward

Sibley shared the CHA Scoring Trophy with Grossi last year as a junior and was also the CHA Best Defensive Forward. A 2015-16 CHA Second Team member, she currently leads the Orange in assists (9).

The Pick: The Golden Knights look like the real deal this year after the weekend series against St. Lawrence. They have the chance to prove that is the case with their second straight home-and-home with an upstate New York rival. Clarkson should sweep the Orange 3-0 and 3-1.

Pick Record for the Season: 3-2-1