RPI Women's Hockey

leeb · 07-15-2003, 11:17 PM

Haven't posted anything in a long while on this board so I figured I'd jump right back with a new thread. We know all about the new recruits on the men's side for RPI but what do we know for the women? Any star recruits coming in? I'm honestly more excited about the women's team than the men's this year. The team loses a great player in Sauca but there are several players that can step up to replace her. I think we can at the very least look for another top ten finish nationally from this team. Most likely won't be able to compete with the Elmira's and Manhattanville's of the world but neither can most teams. And please people, come out and show your support!! (even though this is only July)

Brian Lee '01

purple_and_gold10 · 07-15-2003, 11:43 PM

RPI is a quality team......i havent actually seen them play but based on what they did last year and how they played Manhattanville tough in a few games they are legit. Coming off and impressive season resulting in a 20-7 record and a 2nd place finish in the ECAC East, RPI has a lot going for them and in turn, a lot to look forward to. Manhattanville and 3 Division 1 teams resulted in 6 of the engineers 7 losses. RPI also returns all of their top scorers from last year except for one. In Goal, RPI worked a two goalie rotation with a sophomore and freshmen so with a little more experience that both of them have now gained the net should be a solid point this year for the engineers. All in all i can only see things getting better for this young team...maybe in the next few years they will have enough to kncok off Manhattanville or atleast get a Pool C bid....

Da Big Bad Cow · 07-16-2003, 12:42 AM

except that in "the next few years" they will be a D1 team.

purple_and_gold10 · 07-16-2003, 12:02 PM

really?? i did not know that...thanks for the heads up....

thats good for RPI i guess....their men's team is D1 so why not their womens?? good for them and good luck up their in D1.....Elmira has still yet to defeat a D1 team so RPI will probably struggle a lot in their first few years of D1....but hey that usually comes with all new programs unless your name is Manhattanville or Niagara.....

Crazy Canuck · 07-16-2003, 01:13 PM

Correction.. Purple and Gold, Elmira did beat Wayne St. their first year quite handily I might add. Keep up the good work and support though.
SOAR EAGLES! Lets go for 3.

leeb · 07-16-2003, 01:17 PM

It certainly isn't official but if any women's sport were to go D1 at RPI, hockey would certainly make the most sense. They have a proven coach in Cahill (great recruiter from everything I've seen and heard), a D1 men's team rich in tradition, and a great, albeit very old, rink (my opinion). They certainly wouldn't be competitive right away in D1 but neither will Clarkson, Union, or Sacred Heart. We'll see what happens. I personally don't want the administration to rush into anything as I would much rather watch a very competitive D3 team than a horrible D1 team.

purple_and_gold10 · 07-16-2003, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crazy Canuck
Correction.. Purple and Gold, Elmira did beat Wayne St. their first year quite handily I might add. Keep up the good work and support though.
SOAR EAGLES! Lets go for 3.

my bad...i do remember that game now....6-2 at the Murray....Last year though wasnt the greatest

...but hey we cant hold D1 games against EC because they arent supposed to beat them

rpi_fan03 · 07-16-2003, 07:34 PM

Where to start??

Well first, as a recent grad of RPI I'd like to try to clear up all the D1 rumors (the key word here is TRY)...
The President put a task force together 4years ago to assess the Title IX situation. They reported back and then she repeated the process. Basically, after 4 years, 3 task forces, a new AD, and an AD Department report (not to mention the 100's of interdepartment meetings) it was finally decided that they would form another task force to "look into" the "option" of "possibly" bring the women's team to D1 status "eventually"
I guess it is at least good news that the AD was able to convince Shirley Anne that a D1 women's hockey team would be a better choice than a women's water polo team!
Soooooo, now that that is cleared up...or not...on to the recruits.

There are reportedly 5 official recruits and a possible 7 or 8 total players who will be looking to join the team this year. Among them are:

Katie Temple-soph, transferring from Wisco...didn't get a game in there but is a great player and should be a solid addition much like Sondra Sherman was last year.

Katie Hammond-frosh, coming in from Wellesley, MA. She will add some size to the lineup and should also be a nice addition.

Julie Aho-frosh, not sure exactly where she is from (out west) but just completed a good week at the 18/19 festival in Lake Placid. Strong on her skates and also will add some size.

The other two officials I am not sure of the names. I believe altogether there are 2D and 3F in the official group but not sure about the other 3 or 4 besides that there is a goalie from Long Island. If I get any more info I will be sure to let you all know.

Should be a great season! GO RED!

Fire up! Intense! Re hot confidence!

07-16-2003, 08:45 PM

RPIfan - Do you know the name of the goalie? I can only think of 3 goalies from here who graduated this year.

rpi_fan03 · 07-17-2003, 08:09 AM

Not sure of the last name but her first name is Tina I believe...I also don't know if she necessarily played on LI last year (could have gone to a prep) but she lives on LI for sure...if you know who it is, please share

07-17-2003, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RPI_fan03
Not sure of the last name but her first name is Tina I believe...I also don't know if she necessarily played on LI last year (could have gone to a prep) but she lives on LI for sure...if you know who it is, please share

There is Christina Johnston who played for Sound Shore Warriors in Pelham. Her Dad coached the men's team at Suffolk Community College. There are some girls from here who went to Preps but I can't think of any who are goalies.

starsparents · 07-17-2003, 09:29 AM

The Goalie in question I believe is Christina Johnston, she apparently is very good, I believe she played with Sound Shore Warriors Tier 1 last year, we saw them in a tournament in New England- But looking at RPI roster, they seem to be in great shape in goal already.

leeb · 07-17-2003, 02:32 PM

RPI_fan03, do you have some connection with the team? It's always extremely hard to find out about the women recruits. Pretty much in years past the first time I heard about new players was when I went to the first home game! Anyway, what teams are Hammond and Aho coming from? I found through a quick search a Julie Aho playing in Michigan but she was a goalie too. I figured it wasn't the same player seeing as we have an abundance of goalies right now.

rpi_fan03 · 07-17-2003, 03:44 PM

leeb-

One could say I have connections with the team...but I'll leave it at that.

And actually, the Julie Aho who you found to be a goaltender is the same as the Julie Aho who will be coming to RPI this year....with a twist.

A year ago she made the 16/17 Festival in Placid as a goalie....and this year she made the 18/19 Festival playing out. She will be a forward at RPI...but I guess having a FOURTH goalie couldn't hurt either

Hammond is coming from Welleseley High and Charles River Girls.

As for the third goalie, starsparents is correct in stating that it is Christina (Tina) Johnston who played this past season with the Sound Shore Warriors.

Hmm, wish I could remember the other few names of incomers....maybe I'll get some more info next week. It's been hard this past week with the RPI hockey community mourning the death of Tom Cavosie. I ask for everyone on the board to keep his family in your prayers. He was a great man and will be missed by both the men's and women's teams, coaches, and alumni.

Red Cloud · 07-17-2003, 05:01 PM

Regarding DI, as of this season RPI is now the only school in the men's ECAC without a DI women's program... Union is joining the DI ECAC this year, and Clarkson will spend their inaugural year as an independent.

I believe (and this is only my guess) that the team is trying to orient itself towards an anticipated move to DI, and the team will continue to improve as long as it seems likely to happen, which it still does. I do hope that this upcoming school year we will see the announcement, followed by an elevation for the 2005-06 season.

Ralph Baer · 07-17-2003, 05:23 PM

Thanks for all of the information about the RPI women's team. It's too bad that RPI hasn't decided to go D-I already. If they do decide in a year or two, they will have allowed Union and Clarkson to get ahead of them (besides the rest of the league).

leeb · 07-17-2003, 11:31 PM

So I guess the ultimate question about Julie Aho is whether she's a better goalie or forward? We're set at goalie so here's hoping she can put the biscuit in the basket!

Ralph Baer · 07-18-2003, 04:29 AM

I searched on the RPI locator for the recruits that have been mentioned:

name: Aho, Julie Erin
curriculum: Science, Technology and Society
class: FR

name: Hammond, Kathryn Bradley
curriculum: Environmental Science
class: FR

name: Johnston, Christina Rosella
curriculum: Undeclared Science
class: FR

name: Temple, Katharine Ann
curriculum: Biology
class: FR

When are the RPI women hockey players going to learn that they have to major in management before the team can become D-I.

rpi_fan03 · 07-18-2003, 08:34 AM

Ok, I have good news for you all...the list of the names for the 2003-2004 class were sent to me this morning. Here you are:

Katie Hammond D
Julie Aho F
Sarah Daniel F
Holly ODonohue D/F
Katie Temple D/f
Christina Johnston G

As I said before, there could be some walk-ons trying for a spot, but since we have 6 recruits coming on to a team who only lost 3 players and was already above the travel roster size, we could see some shakeups in the team. I guess we will ALL have to wait and see on that one until the season starts.
Which reminds me...anyone out in Troy happen to see a schedule yet? Maybe in the papers? If I get one, I'll post for you all.

PS- Ralph, are you possibly mistaking the women's team for that OTHER hockey team on campus??

Ralph Baer · 07-18-2003, 08:48 AM

For completeness:

name: Daniel, Sarah Claire
curriculum: Undeclared Engineering
class: FR

name: O'Donohue, Holly Frances
curriculum: Undeclared Engineering
class: FR