Jan. 3, 2014
By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 26-day break between games is over for the Penn State women's hockey team, as they returned to campus last Sunday (Dec. 29) to begin preparing for their series at Ohio State that begins tonight.
The 3-14-2 Nittany Lions haven't played a game since the first week of December when they dropped a series to College Hockey America foe Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa., but the team is feeling confident coming out of the long break.
Although nearly a month between games has passed and head coach Josh Brandwene's team had more than a week off of practice, they feel as if they have stayed in competitive hockey shape.
"We looked fresh and rejuvenated when we came back from break," said senior captain Taylor Gross, who ranks second on the team in points this season with 10 (6 goals, 4 assists). "We had some workouts that our strength coach gave us and I think that the break was really good for us."
Players had several strategies for staying in shape over the break in addition to following the prescribed workouts from strength and conditioning coach Michael Chatman.
"For me, I went to the gym that I use when I am home and I completed the workouts that were given to us," said junior forward Jess Desorcie. "I also got on the ice to skate and helped coach my younger sister's team."
Assistant captain Jenna Welch followed a similar routine over break, competing in several pick-up games with former teammates from high school.
The long break provided a substantial mental and physical break from the rigors of life as a student-athlete, especially after final exam week closed out 2013.
"Finals week is fairly laid back in terms of hockey and we are really given the chance to focus our attention on finals," Desorcie said. "We have the opportunities to skate and lift on our own time, but nothing is mandatory that week which relieves a lot of stress."
Now, after the lengthy stress-relieving break, this group is eager to get back out on the ice to take on the rival Buckeyes in Columbus.
"This is the first time we will be playing another Big Ten team," Desorcie said, "and to be honest we are not looking at it as a rival school but just another game."
Although Penn State and Ohio State compete in the Big Ten in several sports, women's hockey is not one of the conference's varsity sports. On the men's side, however, this season marks the inaugural season of Big Ten men's hockey--the conference in which the Nittany Lions' men's program is competing in after being independents last season.
"I'm sure that once we are there [in Columbus] and get on the ice, the excitement level will be a little higher," Desorcie said.
This upcoming weekend's series with the Buckeyes begins a seven-game non-conference stretch for the Nittany Lions. The squad won't return to CHA action again until a home series against RIT on Fri., Jan. 31 at Pegula Ice Arena.
Although the first half of the 2013-14 campaign doesn't have as many notches in the win column as Brandwene's squad would like, the team has continually drawn positives from each contest.
The coaching staff has expressed a desire to improve consistency in multiple facets of the team's game, which they believe will translate into more wins. Specifically, the Nittany Lions look to clean up their play in the defensive zone to generate more offensive opportunities.
"Breaking out in the defensive zone and making those smart, decisive plays in neutral ice will put more pressure on our opponents," said sophomore defender Jordin Pardoski. "It's then that we can hope for more offensive chances."
The Nittany Lions hope to bring more consistency to the ice in 2014 as they battle their way through the second half of the season, but for a team that takes things game-by-game; their focus is on Ohio State.
The two teams will square off on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:07 p.m. and again on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 4:07 p.m. The Nittany Lions will return home to Pegula Ice Arena on Fri., Jan. 10 when they host Colgate in the first of two games.