Sept. 30, 2016
By Tom Shively, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Three years have come and gone and one final season remains for a senior class that has contributed so much to the development of the Penn State women's hockey program. Four seniors are hoping to leave their mark on a team that has grown so much since their arrival in 2013.
"To be honest, it went by so fast," said forward Laura Bowman. "I'm so excited for this year. We're going to do some amazing things and impress a lot of people."
Bowman led the team with 17 goals last season, adding eight assists as well. That is the highest goal total for a single player in Penn State history. Bowman also tied the program record with six power play goals.
Bowman has been selected as team captain for the 2016-17 season after serving as an alternate captain for the past two years.
Forward Amy Petersen has been selected as an alternate captain for the upcoming season along with sophomore Kelsey Crow. Petersen led the team in points last season with 29 (8 goals, 21 assists), including 18 points over the last 16 games.
"It's gone by so fast and I can't believe we're seniors," said Petersen.
Five Nittany Lions including Petersen and Bowman hail from Minnetonka, Minnesota. However, it's the Penn State community that makes this team so special.
"We loved Minnetonka High School and we love Penn State too," said Bowman. "I think now we're all just from Penn State. We get along with the Minnetonka girls just as well as any of the other girls on the team. We're all just here to play for Penn State."
As with any senior year in college, the focus shifts from classes to careers as the Penn State seniors are looking forward to the next chapter of their lives.
"I'm planning on going to med school," said Bowman. "I'm taking a gap year hopefully to play a little more hockey but after that I'll start med school. I still have to figure out how to apply to that and do all that stuff."
"I already have a job," said Petersen. "I'm working for Millman Consulting in Seattle, it's like an actuarial consulting firm."
Speaking on Petersen's math ability, Bowman added, "She's a math genius."
Looking ahead to 2016-17, Petersen and Bowman are very optimistic about their final season and the ceiling for this team.
"We want to go out with a bang," said Petersen. "Prove that Penn State's program has a bright future moving forward. We want to end it on a high note and impress people."
Defenseman Kelly Seward and forward Sarah Nielsen round out the Penn State senior class. The duo combined for nine points last season.
The Nittany Lions handled Guelph 4-1 in an exhibition game last weekend to start the season on a high note. The regular season opens up this weekend as the team travels to Clarkson for a pair of games. The home opener is Oct. 14 against Boston University.