The women's hockey team has a level of success to uphold. Despite last year's challenging schedule and tough losses to highly-ranked competitors Middlebury and Williams Colleges early in the season, a relatively young 2001-02 team made an enthusiastic comeback. With a dominating performance over Connecticut College and wins against Wesleyan University and Trinity and Holy Cross Colleges, Amherst finished the season with a record of 6-15-1, earning a spot in the postseason for the first time ever. Seeded seventh in the inaugural NESCAC tournament, Amherst lost in the first round to Bowdoin College.
The 2002-03 team returns 15 players from the 2001-02 season. Under the direction of Coach Kay Cowperthwaite, now in her sixth year at Amherst, the Lord Jeffs return a balanced squad that is already seasoned to the challenges of NESCAC play.
"There is an array of players on our team possessing different skills, every single one a very solid and contributing player," said Alexander.
Alexander and Danielle Williams '03, the only seniors on the team, will lead the way in their roles as co-captains. Alexander was named the U.S. College Hockey Online Women's Defensive Player of the Week during the 2001-02 season. She will look to improve upon a 3.69 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage during her junior campaign.
Sophomore goalie K.C. Cosentino will also make some appearances to follow up an impressive rookie shutout against New England College. Junior Amanda Muller, along with sophomores Lauren Caldwell, Sarah Mason and Alicia Pichard comprise the rest of the returning defense.
Williams has a history of consistent collegiate play. She led the team in goals and points during her sophomore season and wrapped up the 2001-02 run with seven goals and five assists. She looks to contribute to an aggressive offense this year. Joining her are forwards Alison White '04, who led the team with 13 points last season, and Tory Serues '04, whose sophomore performance yielded five goals and six assists.
Cowperthwaite will also look to Elissa Landes '04 (who plays both offense and defense), Bess Kargman '04, Katie Potter '04, Annie Grabowski '05 and Ellie Roe '05 to maintain the Jeffs' offense.
A talented group of rookies will join the skilled veterans. "We have five new, amazing freshmen who are going to make a significant impact on our team," said Alexander. Along with defenders Amanda Mattei '06 and Bethany Croy '06, forwards Renee Sisti '06, Leah Kaplan '06 and Jess Matthews '06 hope to contribute to a successful 2002-03 campaign.
Mattei and Croy and the rest of the Lord Jeff defense will be charged with filling in the hole left by the graduation of defender Hilary Zwerdling '02. Zwerdling had seven assists and scored nine goals during the 2001-02 season in addition to receiving NESCAC Winter All-Academic honors. Zwerdling served as captain for both her junior and senior seasons.
"Her role will be hard to fill, but our two new defenders, Mattei and Croy, along with our returning defenders, have all been working hard to compensate," said Alexander.
With the majority of the 2001-02 squad returning this season and the emergence of a crop of promising new recruits, the Jeffs enter this season with optimism.
"I think it is realistic to say that our goals are to beat all the mid-level teams in our league and be highly competitive with the high-level teams," said Alexander, adding that it would be "optimal" to secure the number four slot right behind Middlebury, Bowdoin and Williams.
Amherst will step onto the ice to begin the 2002-03 campaign on Nov. 22 at Orr Rink against Williams. In this stiff season debut match-up, the Jeffs hope to avenge last year's 2-0 defeat to the Purple Cows and to jumpstart what looks to be a promising season.