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To be more competitive, the team’s emphasis will remain the same as last season. They are striving to limit scoring opportunities for opponents.

“If we can reduce the amount of shots, we have a greater chance of having success,” Asmundson said.

There is a lot of room for improvement in the young program, and Asmundson remains optimistic about the Pipers’ ability to improve.

With 10 returning players and good off-season and preseason workouts, Asmundson feels that things are going well for the Pipers.

“We are much improved, but have a ways to go to compete with the top teams in our conference,” he said.
“I hope that we can be spoilers this season.”

To accomplish this goal, Asmundson is looking for leadership from every player on the team.

“In a team sport, all must work hard for the same common goal,” Asmundson said.

Asmundson’s other goal is “to get this team to play 60 minutes of competitive hockey. If we can do that, we will be in more games all season.”

Asmundson said he hopes team veterans will step up and have a better season than last year.

Asmundson is relying on his three captainsčseniors Emily Gross and Regina Voracek, and junior
Rachael Youngčto have a much-improved season from last year.

In an effort to bolster the team’s defense, Asmundson moved Gross from forward to defense along with Voracek and junior Heather Olson.

As a forward, Gross led the team in goals last season with four. First-years Marie Gross (Emily’s sister), Allison Walsh, and Emily Toenes also plan to make a defensive impact.

Hamline returns junior goal-tender Rachael Young, who has been solid in the goal and has anchored the team since she came to Hamline.

Young started 41 games in her first two seasons and last season, she posted a 2-16 record with a 5.41 goals against average. She also sported a .888 save percentage.

Young holds the women’s hockey save record, with a total of 1636 over two years.

The Pipers’ other goaltender, senior Alysha Huberty, returns to add depth to the position.

Half of the 20-woman roster are first-year players, but Asmundson believes they will make immediate contributions to the team.

“I would say that, collectively, this is the best recruiting class this program has ever had. They all have varsity or U-19 experience. We have more talent now, so hopefully that will equate to more success.”

Heading into the new season, questions about offense and who will be key producers in this category remain up in the air.

After moving Gross to add security to the defense, Hamline will put on the ice a talented (but inexperienced) group of forwards. Leading this group will be returning sophomores Andrea Davis and
Holly Wiborg. Sara Wagner, Kyle Foley, and Andrea Paulson also return to the ice for the Pipers, hoping to improve offensively, Asmundson will need strong contributions from his first-year members.

First-year forwards Emily Dusold, Sara Voyda, Mindy Lein, Sara Mickleson, Elysha Fuchs, Marisha Park-
Childs, and Cassie Flagg will all have a chance for some valuable playing time in their first season.

While hopes and expectations are high for the incoming recruits, Asmundson points out that sometimes being a first-year athlete can be difficult.

“It takes time to get used to being a college athlete,” he said, “but I think we will be fine.”

The Pipers also welcome a new assistant coach to the mix this season, Angie Rieger.

She joins the Hamline squad after assisting at St. Catherine.

Rieger was a two-time MIAC Player of the Year and three-time All-American selection at Augsburg. Her presence should be a positive to a young team learning to compete.