The Gustavus Women’s Hockey team played their first game of the season against the University of Wisconsin-Superior at the Don Roberts Ice Rink on Nov. 4. The Gusties defeated the Yellowjackets 3-1, with two of the team’s goals coming from First-years.
Last year the women’s team was shut out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in ten years after failing to clinch either the MIAC title or the MIAC playoff title. After having graduated five key seniors the year before, last year’s team was filled with promising newcomers who still needed time to adjust to the pace of college hockey.
This year the team is hoping to build upon the successes as well as the disappointment of last year’s season. So far this season, the team has focused on working as a unit and allowing the first-year players to adjust to the pace of Gustavus hockey.
“We’ve been working on getting systems introduced and working new players into the routine of college level sports, taking those early lessons and applying them in game situations,” Head Coach Mike Carroll said.
The women trained throughout the summer, and have been working out together this fall.
“Ever since the second week of school, we’ve been skating, lifting, and doing other TRX, agility, and strength workouts to get ourselves in shape for the season,” Senior Forward and Captain Carolyn Draayer said.
On Nov. 1, the team hosted an Alumni Game in which they scrimmaged against alumnae of the Gustavus hockey program. In addition to the scrimmage, last Tuesday’s game against UW-Superior provided another chance for the Gusties to see where they are at as they prepare to take on conference opponents.
“It wasn’t a conference game but it was a good test of where we’re at as a team. UW-Superior is a talented and strong hockey team,” Draayer said.
“It wasn’t a conference game but it was a good test of where we’re at as a team. UW-Superior is a talented and strong hockey team.”—Carolyn Draayer
According to her teammates, Junior Goaltender Lindsey Hibbard was a huge factor in the win over UW-Superior.
“Lindsey came up with some huge saves for us. Superior had breakaways where they could have scored, but she was there and did an awesome job in the net. She had a great game,” Junior Forward Allison Eder-Zdechlik said.
Eder-Zdechlik said that the team was nervous going into the game against UW-Superior, but was able to settle down in the second period.
“As a team I thought we played really well. We were all a little nervous at first, but as the game went on we settled down and I thought we played really hard. It was a really high intensity, fun game and I think as a team we used our speed to our advantage,” Eder-Zdechlik said.
“We’ve been working on getting systems introduced and working new players into the routine of college level sports, taking those early lessons and applying them in game situations.”—Coach Mike Carroll
Carroll was also pleased with the results and with the hard work of his team.
“We showed flashes of some really good play. But, along with that, we also know we have to do quite a few things better as we grow. It’s encouraging that we feel that we do have the ability to grow,” Carroll said.
This weekend the Gusties will take on Concordia College in a two-game series at home. The first game is on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. and the second game is on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.
-Linnea Moat and Emma Hunt
