Season Outlook: Dutchwomen Eye 2009-10 Season

It’s a familiar sound that fills the Messa Rink air as summer comes to an end and fall begins to roll into town. Surrounded by the sound, standing at center ice is head coach Claudia Asano and she is on the verge of leading a Dutchwomen group into a season long battle. Three years ago Asano took over the program and with each passing season her team is becoming hungrier and more prepare.

“This year has been different in the start than the other two years,” Asano said. “My first year was a lot of implementing systems and things that we want to do. Last year was similar because we had so many freshmen. This year our returners have done a great job of preparing the freshmen for practices and everything we do that is Union hockey. It has been a much quicker start and the basics are out of the way.”

The Dutchwomen, who open the season on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Northeastern at 2 p.m., return 15 letterwinners and add six newcomers. With the start of a new class and a new season comes a new set of goals.

“Our goal for the year is to be more successful in terms of wins,” Asano said. “I don’t think that putting a number on it is necessarily what we need to do. We want to win more games and gain from our non-conference schedule and I think that’s possible.”

With sophomores and freshmen taking up 15 of 21 roster spots, it will be essential to get great leadership from captains Jackie Koetteritz and Marissa Gentile, who are entering their senior and junior season’s, respectively.

“They are two different people and they get along really well, which is incredible,” Asano said. “They are very much leaders but in two different ways. Jackie is a vocal leader on the ice; she works hard and kids follow her lead. She also understands what it takes to play at a high level and is very good at helping teammates. She achieves team goals in addition to her own.

“Marissa is a very intense kid, who has a lot of talent and does a lot of things on the ice that people look up to. She leads by example and does all the right things. With the two of them together they will create a great environment within the program.”

Last season, Koetteritz and Gentile each finished in the top five on the team for scoring. Koetteritz, a defenseman, posted five goals and four assists, while Gentile, a center, had a team-high eight assists and tied with a team-best 10 points. In all, six Dutchwomen last season finished within two points of leading the team in that category.

Parity is always said to be a good thing, but with the development of the team, Asano expects to see more breakthroughs with her team.

“Emilie Arseneault(6G-3A) will have a great,” Asano said. “She has had a great preseason and I believe she will produce this year. “Freshman Emma Rambo will put up some points along with Marissa – she’ll have more assist than goals.
“Freshman Rhianna Kurio is a solid center who will contribute. Molly Kate Devin and Kelly Alyea, I think, will have a breakout year. The top two lines really have people who can put the puck in the net.”

With eyes maybe glancing at the top two lines, the third and fourth lines could do some damage as well.

“As of right now we have two top lines, but the players on the third line are competing hard to be on the second; before it wasn’t that way,” Asano said. “There could be some moving around because of the competiveness of our program. We have 12 solid forward and I’m trying to find the perfect match when it comes to lines.”

The defensive side of the puck may not have the same shuffling the offensive half could. All six defensemen from last year return with the addition of freshman Katie Faucher. Koetteritz joins juniors Elsa Perushek and Perri Maduri, along with sophomores Chelsey Heinhuis, Dania Simmonds and Kayleigh Melia.

“I’m happy with the defense,” Asano said. “Now our forwards are deeper, but our defense has more experience. They are going to be challenged this year and they are going to have to work hard. They’ve played together before and have been putting in extra time.”

A philosophy Asano and her coaching staff is preaching to the blue liners is keeping it simple.

“They need to move the puck out as quickly as possible and find the open man,” Asano said. “We worked on it this during the preseason and will continue to work on it. I don’t think there is a coach in the nation who would preach for their defense to keep it simple.”

For the first time in Asano’s career she will have a new starting goaltender. Sophomore Kate Gallagher returns and welcomes freshman Alana Marcinko. Gallagher played in five games last season, posting a 0.58 goals-against average and a .984 save percentage. Marcinko comes to Union after playing at Gilmour Academy

“They are both young goaltenders and the key for them is to keep mentally tough,” Asano said. “They’re going to get opportunities to play. They have to stay consistent. There are going to be some good goals scored and they just need to be able to move on. Another key will be staying positive. They need to put forth achievable goals, so they can build confidence.”

Just like at the beginning of every season, there are expectations to be met and questions to be answered. The Dutchwomen have had seven month to prepare to best handle what gets thrown at them.