Women's Ice Hockey: Bulldogs build confidence as challenges loom

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Lindsay Batson, SY '00, and the rest of the Bulldogs face three difficult matchups this weekend.

Improved chemistry has caused quite a reaction for the women's ice hockey team. Coming off a two-game winning streak in which the squad routed both Williams and Bowdoin 8-0, the Bulldogs (3-3, 0-0 Ivy) are off to a better start than last year's winless Ivy season. "Our schedule has been a little more forgiving," head coach John Marchetti explained.

The Bulldogs graduated only a few seniors last year. Defender Lauren Gulka, BK '01, said the return of familiar faces should have a very positive effect on the team's performance. "We've gelled fairly well as a team," she said. Defender Susan Vanderhill, CC '01, also pointed out that the increased maturity of returning players has added a lot of depth to the team.

Gulka hopes the team's depth will be augmented by a substantial number of freshmen additions to next year's team, following the increase in recruits this year. "Extra players would mean more players to share ice time, rather than some people out on the ice all the time," she said. Currently, the team's 20 players get few breaks during a game. According to Gulka, the physical demands of continual game play "outweighs and outmuscles" players.

The hockey team will face three formidable opponents in Brown, Providence, and Princeton next week. "All three teams are very good," Marchetti said. "We're fighting to gain some respect from those teams." Vanderhill said that Brown would be the toughest to beat because of the Bears' "tough, unforgiving attitude." Marchetti said the upcoming challenges would provide a very valuable learning experience for his team. "We have to learn to play together better as a team and learn how to compete against others in the league," the head coach said.

--Sangeetha Ramaswamy

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