Is UWS for real

[Coach]

I just got the scoop from a friend who attended the games in Lake Forest. This team of a few solid veterens and numerous talented rookies just might be for real after two impressive wins over Lake Forest on the weekend.

Forwards - lead by Captain Amy Kachinske and rookies like Erin Kegley, Vi Theofylatos, Ashley Jenkins and Lindsay Bennett, this team will have four solid lines this season.

Goal - Kristy Faechner was amazing, only giving up 2 goals that resulted from scambles around the net.

Defence - strong two way play from sophomore Nadine Aubin and impressive penalty killing by freshman Susie Crabb.

The team looked a little rusty at times, but will only get better with time, as the players become familiar with each other.

Will they give UWSP & UWRF a run for the title?

[PointerHockey]

I would like to hope that Point is still in a position at the end of the season to be in a battle for first place. But as has been said many times on these boards, it's a long season and lots can (and probably will) happen.

Personally? I think UWS is for real. I was surprised with their team last season. I didn't think that they would fall as far as they did from their season two years ago. But with the transfers that happened it really hurt them on the ice and probably a good bit emotionally also. When you lose the top scorer in the league to Div. I, that hurts big time. Hopefully they've filled the holes that needed to be filled and can compete at the level that a lot of people expect.

I think right now, after conversing with one of the RF fans in another thread, it may very well be a two-horse race in the NCHA again this year: Point and UWS.

If nothing else happens, it should be an entertaining season, to say the least. :)

[AmeriFinn Jääkiekko]

UWS is right across the bridge, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to get much coverage; or maybe I just don't look in the right places. At any rate, who was lost to Div. I, and what team was it?

[PointerHockey]

Before last season, Melanie Salatino left Superior after leading the NCHA in scoring (by a bunch I might add) for MSU-Mankato...She had 8 goals and 10 assists for the Mavericks last season.

[MSUMavsPuckFan]

Originally posted by PointerHockey
Before last season, Melanie Salatino left Superior after leading the NCHA in scoring (by a bunch I might add) for MSU-Mankato...She had 8 goals and 10 assists for the Mavericks last season.
...and 6 goals and 3 assists in 6 games so far this year and playing great.

[PointerHockey]

For me it's cool for players who get the opportunity to move up to Div. I actually get a chance to play and succeed. Melanie is a perfect example of a player who may have been playing at a lower level than she should have been and got the chance to move up. The other end of that spectrum is a player like G Shannon Kasparek from Stevens Point that was a stand-out in Div. III, but then transferred to UMD for last season, and only saw action in 11 games (going 5-0 I might add) but is not getting the ice time that she may indeed deserve.

[Coach]

UWS - 3 St Kates - 0
UWS - 9 St Kates - 0

The Superior web site shows 13 different players had points in the two games. Sounds like a well balanced team.

Anyone see the games?

[fantasticfrito]

I saw friday's game and both teams looked ok. Both goalies had some pretty sweet saves and the score could have been closer if Kate's had finished on a couple of plays. Saturday's score suprised me a little bit, they seemed to be fairly evenly matched teams on Friday but maybe Superior wasn't playing to their full potential. They have some quick kids on their team and should do well this year.

[jacketfan]

The Superior web site shows 13 different players had points in the two games. Sounds like a well balanced team.

Anyone see the games

Coach I saw the Saturday game in Superior and the UWS girls dominated play in the St. Catherine end for the entire game outside of a couple of opportunities on the power play St. Catherines rarely got it out of their zone.
I don't know if the girls were more comfortable playing at home and that made a difference.It was the first game I've seen the woman play this year so I can't say if they were on their game or if they play like that all the time.Most of the goals were from inside the circles as UWS has some skilled players who can cycle it low and get quality chances.

[Coach]

I heard the loss to River Falls on Friday night was a good learning experience for the mostly freshman UWS lineup, as they were outmuscled most of the game.

The second game must have built character for UWS, as their top goaltender (8 shutouts) and top goal scorer in D3 were both out, along with one of the captains. Sounds like the stage was set for River Falls to blow them out.

The UWS team proved that they are very deep in talent, as great backup goaltending, numerous blocked shots by the number 1 defence and timely scoring by the forwards gave them a 3-1 win over last year's Conference Champions.

RECORD: 10-1-1
I have to admit that I didn't even think that UWS would be this strong at the half way point.

[Cozmo Timothy]

UWS Lady Jackets schedule gets tougher in the second half of the season. Of the 13 games yet to be palyed, they play Stevens Point 4 times, 2 games at River Falls, and a home & away series with Augsburg, along with Bethel, Eau Claire, and Lake Forest at home.

Freshman goaltender Dowdell's effort in Saturday's game with River Falls was impressive as it was her first start of the season and her first start of her college career.

I know it is way too early to be thinking about this, but what if one team in the NCHA wins the regular season and another wins the tournament. Since the NCHA does not have an automatic bid (not enough teams in the conference) and only one team gets chosen as a Pool B selection, which team goes to the NCAA's? Would the selection criteria be the same as the D III Men? Last year this was not an issue as River Falls won both events.

[PointerHockey]

Originally posted by Cozmo Timothy
I know it is way too early to be thinking about this, but what if one team in the NCHA wins the regular season and another wins the tournament. Since the NCHA does not have an automatic bid (not enough teams in the conference) and only one team gets chosen as a Pool B selection, which team goes to the NCAA's? Would the selection criteria be the same as the D III Men? Last year this was not an issue as River Falls won both events.

It's never too early for this kind of stuff. :) I believe that the criteria are the same for both men and women. One team gets screwed while the other goes dancing. As to how the decision would be made, there are formulas that are supposedly followed by the NCAA selection committee, but if you check the formulas against how they've chosen in the past, they don't add up.

The best way to get it done is the way that Falls did last year. Win both, it's a no-contest.

[yellowjacketfan]

Fridays game against River Falls, was a great game, and the RF goal that tied it and the 3rd goal....were just very momentary lapses in the defense....If not for like 20 seconds of bad play.....it could have been a much different game......but i know that thats what its all about...so i should shut up

[purple_and_gold10]

Originally posted by yellowjacketfan
Fridays game against River Falls, was a great game, and the RF goal that tied it and the 3rd goal....were just very momentary lapses in the defense....If not for like 20 seconds of bad play.....it could have been a much different game......but i know that thats what its all about...so i should shut up

atleast you can admit it!!:) ;) ...thats an automatic bonus in my book!!:cool: :cool:

I really hate the woulda, shoulda, coulda's of sports...you win or lose the game...deal with it...excuses are for arseholes....

[GOFALCONS!]

Anyone know when Kegley will be healthy enough to play? I was hoping to see her when Superior heads to the cities in January...

[Cozmo Timothy]

According to the a Duluth News Tribune article about the Saturday UWS versus River Falls game, Kegley was on the bench with the team but not dressed in full gear. Mononucleosis is a tricky illness with no real cure except rest and recouperation. In addition, certain internal organs like the spleen can swell and if the player would take a good body blow, it could result in internal bleeding. As per the article, Kegley wanted to go and she might have been able to, but I'll bet Coach Laughlin was holding her out with the holiday break upcoming to not take chances with her health and to make sure she was ready for the second half. Maybe even to test the "metal" of the team to go on without their leading scorer?

To GoFalcons: Appears you are a River Falls fan, any word on Ali Slinden returning to the Falcons after the semester?

[jacketfan2002]

FYI:

Erin Kegly should be back when they resume play (mono)
Marianne Bortolin should be back (knee)
Kristy Faechner will be back (concussion)

It is nice to see the depth of the team during these problems. When your top goal scorer, #1 goalie, and one of your top defense and co-captain is out the rest of the ladies stepped up and played!!! NICE JOB!!! KEEP IT UP!!!

[GOFALCONS!]

Cozmo-I am a Falcons fan who farther removed from UWRF than I'd like to be. I'm not sure what the deal on Slinden is... I'm hoping she comes back, the Falcons need all the offensive help they can get!

[Cozmo Timothy]

Go Falcons!-Thanks for the reply. I hope Ali does come back so as to make the second half of the NCHA season very entertaining.

Happy Holidays to all!

[UWS Dad]

When my daughter chose to attend UWS this year, I had a real good feeling about the school and the hockey team that was being put together.
I showed up at Wessmann arena to watch a practice in October, and I said at that time, that this was definitely going to be a top ten team. The enthusiasm of the 15 freshman and the returning veterans was obvious. And the way the kids blended with the coaching staff was amazing. I'd seen this chemistry many times before in my coaching career and it always resulted in an excellent season.
UWS slowly crawled up the ladder in the polls, with the turning point being the River Falls series. UWS lost their first game and were badly outplayed by the more experienced UWRF team. In game 2 of the series UWS was faced with playing without their leading scorer, Erin Kegley, D3 shutout leading goaltender Kristy Faechner and captain Marianne Bortolin. On that day the women jelled as a team, even with some of their top players out they pulled off a 3-1 victory.
The next challenge to respectability in the polls was #4 ranked Stevens Point. With everybody relatively healthy the team pulled away to a 5-0 lead by the end of the second and ended up winning 5-2. To prove this wasn't a fluke they played the rematch on Saturday (without one of their key defenceman Susie Crabb), and they again outplayed Point posting a 7-4 decision and showing once again that this is a true team effort and not just 4-5 star players. Veterans Amy Kachinske and Nadine Aubin have also been great leaders for the young freshman.
UWS has done something that Plattsburgh, Elmira, Williams, St Thomas and River Falls were unable to do. Win big over Stevens Point. Stevens Point & River Falls are still great teams and the season is only have way through, but UWS finally has the respectability it deserves. Great job by the WHOLE team.

IS UWS FOR REAL - I thought so back in October. Now I think that the whole country knows it.