Nicole Goguen

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of New Hampshire women’s ice hockey team garnered 131 points to rank third in the inaugural USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll of the 2007-08 season, which was released Tuesday.

UNH, which advanced to the NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Championships for the second consecutive year in 2007, placed behind University of Wisconsin, which received all 19 first-place votes and 190 points, and Mercyhurst College (165 points).

The Wildcats, selected atop the Women’s Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll, are joined in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll by league rival Boston College; the Eagles received 75 points to place eighth.

New Hampshire opens the season with a two-game road series against fourth-ranked St. Lawrence University on Oct. 5-6. The Wildcats’ home opener is Oct. 14 (1 p.m.) against Colgate University. Tickets for all home games are available online (www.unhwildcats.com) or by calling 1-866-WILDCAT; home games will also be video- streamed online at UNHwildcats.tv.