Monday Morning Quarterback: UC Women's Hockey
On this week's edition of Monday Morning Quarterback, we'll take a look at a team that is in the infancy of their season.-->By: Stephen Bond
Updated: November 16, 2011
On this week's edition of Monday Morning Quarterback, we'll take a look at a team that is in the infancy of their season. The women's hockey team at Utica College defines an old sports debate, what's better---- experience or skill? It's a debate that dates back to a time when the NCAA didn't allow freshman to play on the varsity team. But The Pioneers may not have a choice. Head Coach Dave Clasuen said, "I just think with a really young team and again when you graduate ten seniors, you talking about two power play units walking away. And yes we have a few key players back but there's a lot of players doing things they haven't done before." When a team is very young it takes leadership for players that have been there before and Assitant Captain Lindsay Norton knows what it takes. "Yeah it is harder to come in and play as a younger player and everyone comes from a different type of play and different styles, so as captains we try to get everyone to buy into the systems and be a team." Making the transition into the college game from high school for any freshman is tough but when you're a two sport athlete it's even tougher. "I think the hardest part is getting to know both teams, I came in as an ice hockey recruit and walked on the field hockey team and the hardest part in the beginning was getting to know all the field hockey girls but wanting to know to get to know all the ice hockey girls." Coaching milestones don't happen every day and odds are that you won't hear coaches talk about them. But Coach Clausen earned his 150th victory over the weekend against The Lakers. "It's neat because I think it just means I'm getting older. I think right now I'm like sixth amongst active coaches in games coached and I'm 35 years old and I don't feel like I'm that old I guess but I've been doing it a lot longer than most people have." The pioneers are in the midst of six game stretch against the nation's top competition. Next up for Utica is a date with Elmira College a team that is perfect in conference play.
