After a heartbreaking loss to Amherst in the NESCAC semifinals last year, the women’s ice hockey team is gearing up to build on last year’s successes.
The team has steadily improved during Head Coach Marissa O’Neil’s tenure and is getting ready to make strides toward the NESCAC playoffs.
“This is my third year here, so everyone is more comfortable with our system of play,” she said.
O’Neil’s coaching style involves an aggressive and fast-paced game that forces the opposition to keep up.
She explained that she wants Bowdoin to set the tempo of each game from the start.
“We want to be a team with a target on our back. We want to be known in the conference as the team that gives their best every game,” she said.
“We’ve returned a really solid group. Our scoring is back, and we have returned two goalies who played a majority of last season. Also, we have many young players who can contribute,” O’Neil added.
This season, the team welcomes Assistant Coach Holly Lorms. Hired this past spring, Lorms played D-I ice hockey at Boston University (BU). As the captain in 2010-2011, she led the squad to a second place finish in the NCAA tournament and was voted as the top defensive forward in her division. She also received BU’s John B. Simpson Award for leadership her senior year.
Lorm captained BU’s 2010-2011 squad to a second-place finish in the 2011 NCAA tournament.
She came highly recommended by many coaches and will assist Coach O’Neil in all facets of the game. O’Neil said she hopes Lorm’s athletic background and experience will greatly benefit the team.
“She has been a part of good hockey teams, is a very knowledgeable and articulate coach and, most importantly, has the team’s respect,” O’Neil said.
Seniors Kayte Holtz and Stephanie Ludy will be the captains this season. However, O’Neil said all of the seniors will set the tone for the season.
“No days are overlooked because you don’t want to leave the season with regrets. It’s not just our captains leading, it’s all the upperclassmen,” said O’Neil.