In the 2000-2001 season, the women's hockey team finished with a record of 7-16-1 (5-13), good enough for seventh in NESCAC. While Amherst showed that it could play with and dominate the weaker teams in the league, humbling losses to conference powerhouses proved that this team had a long way to go. But a year has passed, youth has turned into experience and this year's installment of the Lord Jeffs looks to assert itself as a dominant force in NESCAC and ECAC.

The loss of just one senior, combined with an influx of young talent, has given the team new life and a new attitude. Six freshmen have joined the team, and their impact will be immediate. Head Coach Kay Cowperthwait will be able to cycle through three lines instead of just two. This change will afford the team more rest time over the 60 minutes of a game and also through the course of the season.

Co-captain Hillary Zwerdling '02 is excited about the rookies' play. "All of the freshmen are showing a lot of strength, talent and drive out on the ice. Being such a large portion of the team, they are forced to immediately become leaders and key players, and they are doing a great job of it," she said.

Joining Zwerdling as co-captain this year will be forward Danielle Williams '03. Williams is likewise happy with what she has seen from the team thus far. "Practices have been phenomenal so I am psyched with the team's enthusiasm," she said. "Every day, everybody has shown up ready to play and that is so important."

One of the strengths of this year's team is its size. The statistics indicate that the third period was a struggle last year: Amherst scored 23 goals in the first period, 25 in the second, but only 12 goals in the third period all season. "The size of our team is a great advantage for us, as we will not be as tired," said returning goalie Heidi Alexander '03. "Our returning players will stand out with their talent that was not necessarily able to be shown last year because of the small size of our team."

Another difference from last year is the schedule. In the past, Amherst was forced to skate against giants like the University of Vermont and Colgate University. But a restructuring of the league has made it so that Amherst will face more teams suited to its size.

With a challenging schedule early in the season, the Lord Jeffs will find out early where they stand amongst the elite of NESCAC. Friday's season opener pits them against Middlebury College. The following day, Amherst will battle Williams College. Defenseman Pam Burkardt '04 exhibited guarded optimism about the matchups: "We'll give them a better game [than last year], but they definitely are our most challenging games of the season."

"This is a new season and new team and we will be ready for the competition brought on by all the teams in the NESCAC," Alexander added.