The St. Joe’s women’s club ice hockey team has clinched first place in Division III of the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Hawks are currently undefeated, improving their record to 6-0 after defeating the University of Virginia 9-3 on Jan. 26 and 8-2 on Jan. 27.
Senior forward Erin Dougherty, who has played on the team for all four years of her college career, said young talent has made the difference this season.
“This is the first time that it’s been primarily younger girls playing,” Dougherty said. “We’ve really started to play a good team game together. No one is scoring all the points, everyone is contributing.”
Head Coach Sydney Flemister ’17, who played on the team throughout her four years at St. Joe’s, said that while young talent has been key, combining it with experience has brought the season together.
“We have some girls on the team who started playing in college and now that they’re a little older [and] it shows,” Flemister said.
A player who may not have a lot of ice hockey experience at St. Joe’s, but brings high-level athletic experience to the team, is senior forward Monica Tice.
Tice played four years of Division I field hockey for the Hawks and was a two year captain during her junior and senior seasons. She said field hockey prepared her for what is her first season on the ice hockey team.
“[Field hockey] has helped my stick skills so much,” Tice said. “I’m a little shaky getting back on skates, because last time I played was sophomore year of high school, but field hockey definitely helped me to stay in shape.”
The combination of experience and youth are not the only things that set this team apart, according to senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Difilippo. She said communication on the ice has also been crucial.
“We talk to each other on the ice more than any other team,” Difilippo said. “A lot of players contribute during games in that respect.”
Freshman forward Clara Tomann said constant enthusiasm is also something that helps to maintain good communication throughout games.
“We try to hype each other up,” Tomann said. “Between periods we just like to get all our teammates enthusiastic and get loud on the bench.”
Dougherty said this type of communication is what builds momentum, something the Hawks will need headed into their game against Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Feb. 2, the Hawks’ most challenging opponent.
“We’re in the homestretch of the season,” Dougherty said.“We’ve kept that momentum so I think we’ll be able to maintain it for the rest of the season.”
Flemister said the team’s loyalty and willingness to always show up will be helpful in closing out the season successfully.
“One thing I always love about this team is that everyone is close,” Flemister said. “When we get out there, even when we’re having a tough game, everyone has fun because they work hard for one another.”
The Hawks have two games remaining in the regular season, one against Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Feb. 2 at Oaks Center Ice in Phoenixville Pa. and one against Lafayette College on Feb. 9 in The Rink at Lehigh Valley.
