Women’s Hockey Team Break the Ice

Waterville Valley, NH-The Plymouth State University women’s ice hockey team hosted Boston University last Saturday 13 in the Panthers season opener, and faced an optimistic 8-0 loss. It may seem doubtful that a season would look optimistic after a first game shut out, but the Panthers coach, Mark Wojcinski, explained “They played fantastic.” He went further to say that many of the girls played their first game of hockey ever, and the fact that they played as a team against BU, who already has six games under their belts, says a lot about the future of the program. “As a coach, you always look years ahead,” Wojcinski said, “and the fact that we have no seniors on the team says that we can work hard and pick up next year where we left off.” On Saturday night, the BU Terriers out shot the Panthers and scored three goals in the first and third periods, and put two away in the second. It was noted that sophomore goalkeeper Danielle Lewis raked in 39 saves for the night.The Ice Panthers were weakened by low numbers because many of their athletes were still in competition with the field hockey and rugby teams. As soon as the change over from the Fall season to Winter, the team looks willing to work hard says Wojcinski, who is “confident in his players and their skills.”The PSU women’s ice hockey team is only in its second season of existence and is already looking forward to becoming a varsity sport which would allow them to maintain higher numbers for the team, and to recruit girls with prior hockey experience.When asked about the upcoming game against UMass, Wojcinski said that they will “play their game no matter who we’re against.”The Plymouth State University Ice Panthers are 0-1-0 in this season and will be back on the ice this Saturday, November 20 in another home game at Waterville Valley against UMass Amherst at 1:30 p.m.,