Feb. 27, 2004
Princeton, N.J. -
The Princeton women's hockey team will close out the home portion of its regular season schedule with a pair of games against Mercyhurst this weekend at Baker Rink. The games will be the final home contests for Princeton's five seniors, Gretchen Anderson, Angela Gooldy, Susan Hobson, Lisa Rasmussen and Megan Van Beusekom.
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It's Gameday... The Princeton women's hockey team completes its seven-game homestand with a pair of non-conference games this weekend against Mercyhurst.
Last Time Out... The Tigers played three times in the last week and posted a 2-1 record. Princeton earned a pair of league wins over Vermont and Dartmouth to help lift them into second-place in the ECAC standings. Freshman Liz Keady had a goal and two assists to spark the Tigers to a 3-1 win over Vermont Friday night, while senior Gretchen Anderson had two goals and two assists in Saturday's 5-2 triumph over Dartmouth. Wednesday night, Anderson scored Princeton's lone goal in a 3-1 loss at home to Yale.
Princeton vs. Mercyhurst... Mercyhurst is 22-4-4 overall and 10-0-0 in College Hockey America. The Lakers have been ranked nationally right around Princeton all season, ranging from No. 7 to No. 9 in the polls. The Lakers enter the weekend on a seven-game win streak and are 10-1-4 against common opponents to Princeton's 9-5-0.
The Series with the Lakers... Princeton is 4-1-1 all-time in its brief history of facing Mercyhurst. The Tigers hold a 1-1 record in games played at Baker Rink, splitting the games played here during the 2001-02 season. Last season the Tigers and Lakers met twice in Erie, Pa., and both games went to overtime. In the opener, senior Lisa Rasmussen scored the OT game-winner to lift Princeton to a 2-1 win, while in the second game, seniors Angela Gooldy and Gretchen Anderson scored in a 2-2 tie.
A Look at the Standings... Princeton is currently in a tie with St. Lawrence for second in the ECAC standings, two points behind first-place Harvard, and one ahead of Brown and Dartmouth in fourth. All four teams have two games in-hand on the Tigers that will be made up this weekend. Harvard and Brown are at Dartmouth and Vermont, while St. Lawrence hosts Colgate for two games.
Looking Ahead... The Tigers complete the regular season on the road next weekend at Brown and Harvard.
Princeton Women's Hockey
Class of 2004
Welcome everyone to Baker Rink...before I begin I would like to send along a special thank you to you all for being here today and supporting our team all season. Today is a special day, a day to pay tribute to the class of 2004 - five seniors who have tremendous character and unlimited potential. They have given their heart and soul to both the hockey program and to the Princeton community and for that the PWIH family will always be appreciative and grateful.
A psychology major from Natick, Mass., Gretchen Anderson has been "that light up in the sky" and the offensive catalyst of Princeton Hockey for the last four years. She is an explosive skater, an extraordinary stickhandler, and a very determined scorer. She has dazzled the Baker Rink fans with many virtuoso, memorable, and game-winning goals. Her playing resume is decorated with awards, most notably being nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which honors college hockey's top female player. Whether it is practice or a game, Gretchen leads by example by always giving her best effort, and because of her relentless determination, Gretchen will go down as one of the greatest scorers in Princeton history.
A sociology major from New Hartford, N.Y., Angela Gooldy has developed into a dominant defenseman. Her powerful stride, thundering shot, and excellent mobility, have made her a commanding presence on the ice. Whether it is running the power play, setting the tone of the game physically when we need it, making a big defensive stop, or the completing the first breakout pass, Ang has been our mainstay. Ang is the edge to our team persona, the straw that stirs our drink. She has a vibrant personality, the kind that puts those in contact with her at ease, and is always encouraging and positive in practice. Ang is probably our best recruiter as well as easily being one of the best defensemen to wear the orange and black.
A sociology major from Mississauga, Ontario, Susan Hobson has as much courage as anyone I have ever met in my life. During her stellar four-year career, Susan has suffered through illness, the death of her father, and most recently an ankle injury that has shortened her senior year. Through everything, Susan has remained consistent in her passion to eat and breathe hockey. She is a tough, crafty forward with sweet hands, excellent vision, and clever play-making ability. Over the years, Susan has scored many clutch goals for this program. Her goal celebrations captured her enthusiasm for the sport. More importantly, Susan constantly stuck up for her teammates on the ice. Susan has not only made her dad proud, but she has been an inspiration to us all.
A political economy major from Washington, D.C., Lisa Rasmussen commands respect with the single wave of her hand. Her calming influence, coolness under pressure, and genuine concern for others are qualities that endear her to her teammates. On the ice, as a center, Lisa does it all for us. She is our most fit athlete - a durable and tireless worker all over the rink. She is a force in the defensive zone, runs the show on the breakout, is unstoppable through the middle of the rink, and is a threat in the offensive zone. Her competitive nature is what makes her tick. Overall, Lisa has had a great influence on us all and has proven time and time again what a solid presence she is both in hockey and in life.
An ecology and evolutionary biology major from Loretto, Minn., Megan Van Beusekom, the jack-of-all trades, has been the foundation for the program's success. Her outstanding ability to play goal, the most difficult position on the ice, has catapulted our program into a national contender. She is a bastion of defense, an impregnable fortress, and human brick wall. Megan has won many big games for us with solid, steady play sprinkled in with some brilliant authoritative saves, like the one where she left her net in '02 to meet her opponent by the face-off circle, only to send that opponent flying into the corner simultaneously breaking that player's stick in half...awesome. Because Megan possesses that laid-back yet confidant mentality, you get the feeling that all is right in the Princeton Hockey world when Mego is protecting her territory.
I consider myself blessed to have coached such fine student-athletes. They have all had a significant and positive influence on my life. I am proud of their collective accomplishments, but I am more proud to consider them family.
~Jeff Kampersal
