Athlete of the Week

Katie Hirte, SM '02 Women's hockey goalie Hometown: Cottage Grove, Minn. Major: Political science Favorite Movie: Top Gun Favorite dining hall mean: Omelettes at lunchtime Favorite place at Yale: Ingalls Rink Favorite class taken at Yale: Formation of Modern American Culture Shutouts: Three

On Fri., Mar. 3, Hirte and her teammates will get their final chance to deliver a few pucks back into Brown's net. "You're really playing against yourself. You have to learn what you can control and what you can't, and not let what you can't control affect your confidence." These are the simple, inspirational words that Hirte thinks of as she stands on the ice behind the rest of her team, opponents charging toward her. The same control that allows her to deflect flying pucks also helps her to focus on the work she does off the ice in her goal of continuing on to law school. She hopes to become a lawyer because, "I have a family friend who is a lawyer and I really admire him."

Hirte started playing hockey when she was 11 years old."We had rinks all over the place," she explained. Tending the net seems to run in the family—her younger sister is also a goalie.

It's fitting that her sports hero is New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter, "because he has a great work ethic," she said. Both understand the challenges of playing in the net, which she described as "staying focused and knowing you are the last line of defense." She presents quite a formidable barrier—with a save percentage of 0.862 per game, her stats sit nicely next to Richter's, whose career save percentage is 0.905.

When asked about Hirte's position on the team, forward Michelle McGoey, CC '03, said, "Katie is the backbone. Every good game we have stems from a great performance by her." Forward Lisa Meyers, SY '01, added, "She's just back there working hard. It's pretty unspoken, but everyone relies on her. She fills her role in a really quiet, unassuming way."

Staying competitive will be crucial in the team's upcoming matches this weekend. Saturday's game against Harvard will be the last of the women's hockey team's long and often frustrating campaign this season. When asked what she will do after spring break with all her newfound free time, Hirte answered, "Play for the Yale softball team."

But for a little while longer, it is all about hockey for Hirte. Before the final game, she will listen to the Dave Matthews Band to relax, as she has in all 28 other games this season. Then she'll glide onto the ice, wearing her 40 pounds of equipment, and make playing the ultimate defense seem effortless.

Photo by Julia Tiernan.

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