Spring Break
Women's hockey prepares for season
Blugolds look to rebound from last year's late-season collapse
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team's 2008-2009 season ended a little more than eight months ago in a 0-4 loss to Lake Forest College (Ill.). The team had been 13-10-3 before the season-ending loss, but the record alone doesn't accurately represent the team's performance. After the first 15 games, the Blugolds had an impressive 10-3-2 record and ranked as high as No. 9 in the country.
"I would love to have the same start as we did last year; it was our best start in the nine-year history of the program," coach Mike Collins said. "The harder you prepare Monday through Thursday, the better chance you have to win on Friday and Saturday."
Unfortunately, the Blugolds were not able to replicate their phenomenal start in the second half of the season. Injuries and roster changes contributed to a dismal 3-7-1 record in the final 11 games of the season.
"Last year we got a little bit too excited with our success, so in the second half, we ended up not doing so well," sophomore Jackie McKay said. "We can't let the wins get to our head and ... let the losses affect us."
The late-season collapse took away all momentum the Blugolds may have had heading into the playoffs. Against Lake Forest, Eau Claire's opening round playoff opponent, the Blugolds were 1-2 that season. The one win, however, came a mere 20 days earlier and was a 4-1 blowout. losing to a team you know you are capable of beating would probably make the loss tougher to handle, but the players didn't dwell on the loss and instead began working towards the next season.
"As soon as last season ended, all the girls from the last team continued to work out for the rest of the school year," McKay said. "It really is a non-stop season - once the season stops, you immediately begin."
The Blugolds lost two seniors from last year's team and feature five freshmen this season. Collins said, however, that the roster transitions aren't going to be a big problem.
"I think we're doing fine," he said. "The girls we lost were good kids who played four years, but we're not moping around because of it. We're very excited about the future."
One of the players to leave from last year's team was starting goalie Morgan Pieper. Last season, Pieper led the team in saves with 410 and wins with 8. Junior goalie Nicole Lence is returning to the team after not playing for a year which should help fill the void left by Pieper. Defense, however, remains one of Collins' biggest concerns.
"I think being strong in our end and being good defensively will be our challenge," he said. "With any team the defensive zone is the toughest zone to be disciplined in, and if we do that … we should be okay."
McKay said her biggest concern was whether or not the incoming freshmen could adjust to the pace of college hockey. Both McKay and Collins agreed that their top priority this coming season would be to avoid another collapse.
"I would say, because of the way we ended last season, that our biggest goal for the year is to stay committed and not drop off the second half of the season," McKay said. "Our goal is definitely to finish in the top two in our league."
The preparation the players put in the offseason will finally be tested this Friday as the team returns to the rink on Friday to play Hamline University (Minn.) in St. Paul.
"I would love to have the same start as we did last year; it was our best start in the nine-year history of the program," coach Mike Collins said. "The harder you prepare Monday through Thursday, the better chance you have to win on Friday and Saturday."
Unfortunately, the Blugolds were not able to replicate their phenomenal start in the second half of the season. Injuries and roster changes contributed to a dismal 3-7-1 record in the final 11 games of the season.
"Last year we got a little bit too excited with our success, so in the second half, we ended up not doing so well," sophomore Jackie McKay said. "We can't let the wins get to our head and ... let the losses affect us."
The late-season collapse took away all momentum the Blugolds may have had heading into the playoffs. Against Lake Forest, Eau Claire's opening round playoff opponent, the Blugolds were 1-2 that season. The one win, however, came a mere 20 days earlier and was a 4-1 blowout. losing to a team you know you are capable of beating would probably make the loss tougher to handle, but the players didn't dwell on the loss and instead began working towards the next season.
"As soon as last season ended, all the girls from the last team continued to work out for the rest of the school year," McKay said. "It really is a non-stop season - once the season stops, you immediately begin."
The Blugolds lost two seniors from last year's team and feature five freshmen this season. Collins said, however, that the roster transitions aren't going to be a big problem.
"I think we're doing fine," he said. "The girls we lost were good kids who played four years, but we're not moping around because of it. We're very excited about the future."
One of the players to leave from last year's team was starting goalie Morgan Pieper. Last season, Pieper led the team in saves with 410 and wins with 8. Junior goalie Nicole Lence is returning to the team after not playing for a year which should help fill the void left by Pieper. Defense, however, remains one of Collins' biggest concerns.
"I think being strong in our end and being good defensively will be our challenge," he said. "With any team the defensive zone is the toughest zone to be disciplined in, and if we do that … we should be okay."
McKay said her biggest concern was whether or not the incoming freshmen could adjust to the pace of college hockey. Both McKay and Collins agreed that their top priority this coming season would be to avoid another collapse.
"I would say, because of the way we ended last season, that our biggest goal for the year is to stay committed and not drop off the second half of the season," McKay said. "Our goal is definitely to finish in the top two in our league."
The preparation the players put in the offseason will finally be tested this Friday as the team returns to the rink on Friday to play Hamline University (Minn.) in St. Paul.
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