The Women’s Ice Hockey team is experiencing a strong season with just four games left. Currently ranked third in the league, the Camels are in a great position for the NESCAC tournment. Entering into winter break undefeated, the team has carried the momentum throughout the season.
Their undefeated streak remained strong over winter break with their overtime win against St. Olaf in Michigan and two additional wins over #10 Bowdoin and Colby. Despite later losses, Captain Amelia Dineen ’15 says that, “handing Bowdoin their first NESCAC loss was a great accomplishment.” Kate Kohl ’18 was able to edge the Camels over the Bowdoin Polar Bears with two goals. The 2-1 win was helped in large with 26 saves by Kelsie Fralick’s ’15.
With success and improvement throughout the early season, Dineen has seen the strong senior presence on the team as a key to their success. She explains that it has, “helped set a tone and pace for the team.” She also sees that this tradition can continue, with “five quick and smart first years that have definitely made a difference.” Fralick adds that “over 13 members are sophomores, and have one year of college hockey under their belts and are now used to the pace of college hockey and the systems we use here.” It’s clear that the team views all of its members as vital to its successes this season.
Clearly an integrated and skillful, the team has been able to overcome many obstacles, most recently a large 3-2 overtime win over Wesleyan, despite having many injured and sick players. The biggest obstacle, Fralick explains, is the “injury bug”. With several teammates working their way back from concussions and others out for an extended period of time, the team is working to come together and fill some unexpected gaps. Despite the injuries, the team continue to persevere, but unforunately fell 1-3 to Amherst on Jan. 31. Their persistence continued the following day though as the Camels topped the Lord Jeffs 3-0.
Off the ice the team also continues to achieve. Most recently Fralick has been nominated for the BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award. The award is presented to one of 15 nominated student athletes who contribute not only to their sport, but to the community as a whole. Working with the Special Olympics Speed Skating Team of Southeastern Connecticut, she joins them every Monday morning for practice, and has for the past four years. Leading the team in their work with the Be the Match program while holding a .929 save percentage, her accomplishments are multi-faceted.
With the ultimate goal of making it to the NESCAC tournament finals, the team’s first goal is to host their first ever NESCAC playoff game. The next few weekends against strong NESCAC opponents will prove to be a true challenge for the Camels as they aim to maintain their third place ranking before entering the tournament. The next Women’s Ice Hockey game will take place against Middlebury at Dayton Arena on Feb 6 at 7:00pm. •
