Entering the season ranked second in the Ivy League and 10th nationally in the USA Today/Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey poll, the Dartmouth women's hockey team is confident about its chances for success this season. The Big Green lost only three seniors from a team that won 22 games last year before losing to second-seeded Cornell University in the NCAA Tournament.
Dartmouth has spent substantial time over the past several weeks participating in relentless offseason work and training to prep itself for upcoming regular-season play.
The Big Green trained in a five-days-a-week workout program consisting of fitness, strength and agility tests with the team's strength coach. It also went through a two-day military-style training program in which professionals put players through physical exercises and team bonding drills.
Co-captain Kelly Foley '12 said the program was very helpful, especially because the Big Green has less time to prepare than other most teams because of Dartmouth's D-Plan.
Sasha Nanji '13 a key contributor last year, tallying 14 goals and 16 assists for the Big Green said Dartmouth is "really trying to get in the best shape possible" for the upcoming season.
"We've been working out everyday, lifting, running and conditioning," Nanji said.
Longtime head coach Mark Hudak said the team has been working especially hard to maintain its fitness because the NCAA season begins three weeks before League play starts.
"I'm very proud of the team," Hudak said. "They came in this year in very good condition, so hopefully that helps us get off to a good start."
Co-captain Reagan Fischer '12 said she believes team building exercises have been the team's biggest boost coming into the season.
"I think the things we have done during preseason all of the running, working out and team bonding are going to carry into the season," she said.
After finishing third in the Eastern College Athletic Association and second in the League last season, players said they have high expectations.
"I think we can really accomplish a lot this season," Nanji said. "Our incoming freshmen are very good, and I think they're really going to mesh well with the team. Hopefully we can have an even better season than the last."
Foley and Camille Dumais '13, who combined for 35 total goals last season, will likely be key for the Big Green again this season. Fischer added, however, that the team must work well together in order to perform at its highest level.
"We have a really good team this year," Fischer said. "There is a lot of depth to us. Even though we may not have huge superstars, if we play together and support each other, I think we can have a lot of success."
Co-captain Jenna Hobeika '12 echoed Fischer, calling the team's depth one of its strengths.
"I don't think just one person has to play extraordinarily well this year," Hobeika said. "That's the great thing about our team. If everyone does what they're supposed to do and plays in the system that our coach sets up for us, we have the chance to be a very successful team."
Hudak said that while many commentators said Dartmouth overachieved last season, the team has a chance to be successful if it concentrates on fundamentals.
"I think if we play well as a team, with good leadership, we can do well this season," he said. "Our goal, obviously every year, is to win the Ivy, but this year we also want to compete in the ECAC in order to qualify for the NCAA tournament again."
Hudak said the team's biggest challenge in the League and the ECAC will be the preseason-favorite Cornell, which won 30 games last season. An improving Harvard University team will also pose a big threat, according to Hudak.
Hobeika stressed the importance of Dartmouth's defense when confronting strong competitors such as Cornell and Harvard.
"There are always going to be people who score goals for us," she said. "But if we play team defense really well this year, not giving other teams a lot of scoring opportunities by holding them to one or two goals a game, we'll give ourselves a chance to win many hockey games."
Hudak said the team's leadership will be "crucial" in securing wins.
"Our three captains will be very important to our team," he said. "We're going to need our goalie [Lindsay Holdcroft '14], to do well, too. She played very well in the second half last season and we need her to keep that up."
The Big Green plays an exhibition game against McGill University on Friday at 5 p.m., before beginning its regular season at sixth-ranked Boston College on Sunday afternoon.
Dumais said the team is looking forward to this upcoming weekend.
"Everybody is excited to start games," Dumais said. "Practices are fun, but nothing is better than playing games. Freshmen are excited to finally play their first game and everyone else is pumped to get the season started."
