Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Women's Hockey Season Preview
October 21, 2008 | Women's Ice Hockey
The Princeton women's hockey team enters the 2008-09 season looking to climb back into the top four in the final ECAC standings after finishing fifth in the league standings a season ago. The 2007-08 season marked Princeton's eighth straight winning season and the Tigers finished in the top half of the league standings for the seventh year in a row.
Princeton won 14 games last season, the seventh year in a row the Tigers have won 14 or more games. With 122 wins over that span, the Tigers have averaged better than 17 wins a season since the 2001-02 season.
Success for Princeton in that stretch has been centered around strong team defense, timely scoring and exceptional goaltending, and that will once again be the recipe as the Tigers enter the 2008-09 season. However, as familiar faces graduate and new faces join the team, there are always adjustments to be made and areas to address.
To keep the successful run going, head coach Jeff Kampersal and his staff will have to overcome the loss of five graduating players whose influence on the Princeton hockey program will be felt for years to come. The group consisted of forwards Lizzie Keady, Micol Martinelli, Sonja Novak, Marykate Oakley and Brittany Salmon.
“The class of 2008 gave everything they had to give to our program,” says Kampersal. “They played hard, they played hurt, and they played with heart. They took care of business in the classroom. Collectively, they were great student-athletes. We miss them.”
Filling the void left by the quintet will not be easy as the group included the likes of Keady, a two-time team leading scorer and member of the U.S. National team, Oakley, an All-Ivy and All-ECAC player as a junior, and Salmon, who contributed significantly throughout her collegiate career.
Princeton will rely heavily on its senior class to pick up where those who graduated left off. The group includes former Ivy League and ECAC Rookie of the Year Annie Greenwood, reigning ECAC Defensive Defenseman of the Year Katherine Dineen, honorable mention All-Ivy goaltender Kristen Young, Christine Foster, Monica Brennan and Megan Murray.”
“This year's seniors class has a strong leadership qualities.,” says Kampersal. “They are good communicators and they work hard.”
Brennan will serve as team captain, while Foster and junior Stephanie Denino will serve as the assistant captains.
“Our captains will have many responsibilities,” adds Kampersal. “They are all special, lead in different ways, and are good listeners. That said, for our team to be successful, we will need 21 leaders and 21 followers.”
Kampersal and the Tiger coaching staff will look to its upperclassmen to welcome the seven members of the freshman class.
“We look forward to having them as a part of our program,” says Kampersal. “They are hungry to be Tigers. They are excited about playing top-notch college hockey while receiving the best education in the world.”
FORWARDS (Returning - 7, Lost - 5, Newcomers - 5)
Princeton will look to find scoring from its seven returning players and five newcomers as four of Princeton's top nine scorers from last season graduated. The group accounted for 38 of Princeton's 80 goals scored last season. Princeton will look to its returning group of forwards to pick up the slack and contribute more offensively.
“Our forwards are good two-way players,” says Kampersal. “They will pressure the puck and be aggressive offensively while being aware of their defensive responsbilties. They have speed and grit.”
Senior Annie Greenwood is Princeton's leading returning scorer. She has 44 goals, 23 assists and 67 points in three seasons and led the team with goals a season ago. The 2006 ECAC and Ivy League Rookie of the Year rebounded with a 23-point season last year after managing 10 points as a sophomore. She had 34 points her freshman season.
Classmate Christine Foster has 30 career points and has had a knack for scoring big goals. Last season three of her six goals were game winners. Foster has contributed 10 points in each of her three seasons. Senior Monica Brennan will serve as team captain this season. She has appeared in 87 career games and has two goals to her credit.
Junior Melanie Wallace had a strong freshman campaign for the Tigers with 17 points. Last season she contributed eight points and has 25 for her career. Classmate Julie Flynn added four points last season, including the first two goals of her collegiate career.
Sophomores Caroline Park and Jenna Hauca each contributed as freshmen last season. Park had a goal and four assists, while Hauca posted a goal and two helpers.
Princeton's roster will be bolstered with the addition of five freshman forwards this season. The group includes Danielle DiCesare, Julie Johnson, Heather Landry, Paula Romanchuk and Charissa Stadnyk.
DEFENSE (Returning - 5, Lost - 0, Newcomers - 1)
Last season, Princeton entered the season with some unknowns as three of its top defensemen graduated. Those questions are gone entering the 2008-09 season as the Tigers return five accomplished defenders and will add one to the group.
“Our defensemen are very solid all-around players, says Kampersal. “They are strong, tough, and rangy. They can all break the puck out on their own. Overall, they are an experienced and poised group.”
The six defensemen on the Princeton roster are comprised of one senior, three juniors, two sophomores and one freshmen. Leading the group will be senior Katherine Dineen, who was named the ECAC Defensive Defenseman of the Year a season ago, while also contributing 20 points offensively. Dineen was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team as a freshman.
Junior Stephanie Denino contributed four points last season and was a logged key minutes throughout the season. She was named the team's Rookie of the Year as a freshman and will serve as an assistant captain this season. Classmate Maddie Endicott emerged as a key defensive contributor last season. She contributed 11 points and won the team award as the Most Improved Player.
Sophomores Sasha Sherry and Laura Martindale both were important contributors as freshmen last season. Both received year-end honors by being named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team. Sherry ranked fourth on the team in scoring with 21 points and was a second-team All-ECAC selection, while Martindale added five points.
Forwards Monica Brennan and Julie Flynn can also play back on the blue line should the need arise.
GOALTENDING (Returning - 2, Lost - 0, Newcomers - 1)
Senior Kristen Young was a workhorse last season as she started all 32 games. Young has an exceptional season as she tied the Princeton record for shutouts in a season with seven and posted top-five program marks in goals-against average (2.06) and save percentage (.920).
“Kristen had a monster season for us,” says Kampersal. “She played every minute, had a nice shutout streak in the middle of the year, and overall was our team's most valuable player. She's passionate, she brings it every day, and she is always motivated to help the team by playing at a high level.”
Young is joined by classmate Megan Murray and freshman Rachel Weber. Murray joined the team prior to last season and served as the team's backup, while Weber comes to the Tigers from the Minnesota Thoroughbreds.
“Our goalies work hard to push one another to get better, says Kampersal. “Murray joined our team last season and contributed in all phases of the program. She is motivator and a leader. Rachel was a successful goalie on her club team and in the USA Hockey Development Camps. She has poise and presence in net.”
SCHEDULE & OPPONENTS
The Princeton schedule looks slightly different for the 2008-09 season than it has in past years. The Tigers will travel to National Champion Minnesota-Duluth for two games in mid-December, marking just the third trip to the state of Minnesota for the program. The Bulldogs will take the place on Mercyhurst on the schedule as Princeton and Mercyhurst will not meet following seven straight seasons of playing each other.
The Tigers open the year by hosting two games with Connecticut before jumping into league play the following weekend at home against Dartmouth and Harvard.
Princeton's first four games will be at home as the Tigers look to start the season strong. The schedule features four NCAA tournament teams from last season, including National Champion Minnesota-Duluth, Harvard, Dartmouth and St. Lawrence.
“We try and seek out the best competition out-of-league,” says Kampersal. “This year we play a strong non-league schedule. In addition, our ultra-competitive ECAC Hockey games present a major test each and every night.”
In addition to its 22 league games, the Tigers also faces out-of-league tests against Boston University, Boston College and Vermont.