WATERVILLE, Maine -- With just three seniors on the roster, the Colby College women's hockey team heads into the 2017-18 season with one of the youngest teams in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.
Second-year head coach Holley Tyng was hired late last year and barely had a month to get prepared for the 2016-17 season. With second-year assistant coach Meghann Treacy back and Katie McLaughlin '17 joining the staff, familiarity will not be an issue this season.
"I'm sure the players feel a sense of stability and overall comfort knowing what to expect on a day-to-day basis," Tyng said. "I know we are in a better place that we were a year ago. We have a clear vision for the direction that our program is headed in and have worked hard to establish our team values."
The Mules open the season Friday at 7 p.m. at Bowdoin College. Colby has its home opener Saturday against the Polar Bears at 3 p.m. on Alfond Rink.
The captains
* Colby seniors Brooke Gary (Boxborough, Mass.) and Jacqueline Seymour (pictured right, Canton, Mass.) lead the defense and are co-captains. Gary had one goal and three assists a year ago while playing in all 24 games.
"Brooke and Jackie are both well respected by their teammates and compliment each other well," Tyng said. "Brooke is a really steady defender who will mentor our younger players and provide excellent leadership on the back end. Jackie has battled some injury problems the past few years and we are taking a patient approach so she is progressing well physically and hitting her stride during the second half of the year."
The returners
* The Mules have the most experience on defense and will have four goaltenders. Junior Anna Rudinski (Morristown, N.J.) returns on defense and led all Colby players with eight assists. Junior Mikayla McLaughlin (Glenburn, Maine) was fourth in goal scoring with four and added a pair of assists for six points.
* Colby's defense also returns sophomores Taylor Methven (Andover, N.H.) and Izzy Tegtmeyer (Portland, Ore.). Methven had one goal and two assists, while Tegtmeyer had a pair of assists. Moira Mullaney (Worcester, Mass.) can play on defense or at a forward spot.
* Sophomore goalie Halley Fine (Minneapolis, Minn.) played 67.8 percent of the minutes last year and made 573 saves in 17 starts. Katie Fenton (Norwich, Vt.) saw limited action iin a back-up role.
* Goal scoring will be a key for the Mules (2-19-3 overall) after scoring 33 goals a year ago. Sophomore forward Cassidy Holzer (Minneapolis, Minn.) was tied for second in total goals (5).
* Senior forward Meredith Keenan (Sherman, Conn.), junior forward Carly Thomas (Lincolnshire, Ill.), and sophomores Lily Santonelli (Boston, Mass.), Lucy Dembeck (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), and Tess Dupre (Dover, Mass.) will need to contribute offensively.
The newcomers
* First-year goaltenders Savannah Shaw (Auburn, Maine) and Cierra San Roman (Orange, Calif.) both have a chance to start or see significant playing time. Fellow first-year Tay Munson (Wilmette, Ill.) will be play on defense.
* The Mules added needed offensive threats in forwards Taylor Lundberg (Traverse City, Mich.), Anna Cosentino (Brentwood, N.H.), Elizabeth Brashich (Penfield, N.Y.), Hailey Rohall (Weston, Mass.), Jenna Greenbaum (Amherst, Mass.), and Natalie Maus (Evergreen, Colo.). Greenbaum also could play on defense.
"We're young, energetic, and eager to learn," Tyng said. "I've told the team that age doesn't matter. We have 24 players and they will all assume important roles over the course of the season."
Schedule
