Issued: October 27, 2003

2003-04 WOMEN'S HOCKEY SEASON PREVIEW

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team will come into the season looking to improve upon the previous season's record for the third consecutive year. Coach Mike Collins took the reigns in the team's inaugural season in 2000-01 and coached the team to a 4-21-0 record. Since then the Blugolds have improved to six wins in 2001-02 to eight wins in 2002-03.

Eau Claire, while still young, will return 14 players from last year's squad including the team's top three scorers from a year ago. Amanda Schultz (So.-Stevens Point/SPASH) enters her sophomore campaign as the team's leading returning scorer. Schultz scored 14 goals and had 19 points in her freshman campaign earning her an All-NCHA Honorable Mention selection. Christa Hubert (Jr.-Blaine, MN) enters her final year after scoring 13 points a year ago while Claire Parda (So.-Waukesha/Catholic Memorial) had 11 points.

In goal the Blugolds bring back Tara Berlute (Jr.-Bloomington, MN/Holy Angels) and Sara Steinhoff (So.-West St. Paul, MN/Henry Sibley). Berlute and Steinhoff shared goalie duties last year with Berlute going 5-8-1 with a 3.15 goals against average and Steinhoff going 3-6-2 with a 2.17 goals against average.

The Blugolds brought in nine freshmen to play this year. Expected to contribute are Allison Campbell (Fr.-Plymouth, MN/Wayzata), Laura Suppes (Fr.-Falcon Heights, MN) and Martina Korinek (Fr.-White Bear Lake, MN). Campbell was a six-year letterwinner at Wayzata High School while garnering All-Conference honors her senior year. Suppes was a five-year letterwinner at Roseville Area High School where she was a two-time All-Conference honorable mention. Korinek was a three-year letterwinner earning All-Conference honors her senior year.

Collins says that the team's strengths coming into the season will be good team speed with a great work ethic. The youth and inexperience of the team could be a weakness. Collins believes anyone on the team is capable of having an outstanding year and garnering All-Conference honors.

The top teams coming into the year are UW-River Falls and UW-Stevens Point. River Falls won the NCHA last year compiling a 12-1-3 record in conference while Stevens Point went 12-3-1 to take second. River Falls and Stevens Point both return four All-NCHA First Team members from last year.