NEAT STUFF: Princeton University women’s hockey goalie Steph Neatby makes a save in action last winter. Sophomore goalie Neatby is coming off a superb debut season, getting named as the ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year and the USCHO Division I Rookie of the Year. The Tigers, who will be guided by Cara Morey after the departure of longtime head coach Jeff Kampersal to Penn State, start their 2017-18 campaign by hosting a two-game set against Providence (4-2) on October 20-21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Despite the departure of longtime head coach Jeff Kampersal, there is no reason to expect drastic changes around the Princeton University women’s hockey team this winter.

With top assistant Cara Morey being promoted to head coach to succeed Kampersal, who is now guiding the Penn State women’s team after a superb 21-year tenure at Princeton, the Tigers shouldn’t miss a beat.

“I was fortunate enough that Jeff had given me a lot of responsibility before he left,” said Morey, who is in her seventh season with the Princeton program and has also coached with Team Canada.

“Things transitioned pretty smoothly for the girls because a lot of our systems and stuff are familiar to them. We have made some subtle changes and nuances, not anything dramatic. It has been pretty seamless for the girls.”

With Princeton bringing back some key players from a 2016-17 squad that went 20-10-3 and advanced to the ECAC Hockey semifinals, the Tigers have hit the ice running since starting practice on September 29.

“The preseason has been awesome; our girls came back in phenomenal shape,” said Morey, whose team opens the 2017-18 campaign by hosting a two-game set against Providence on October 20-21. “The fitness testing was really smooth. I was really happy with all the results.”

Morey is really happy to have the one-two punch of junior Karlie Lund (21 goals and 23 assists in 2016-17) and sophomore Carly Bullock (20 goals, 10 assists) spearheading her offense.

“Lund and Bullock look awesome; they look like they haven’t taken any time off,” said Morey of the two stars who both hail from Eden Prairie, Minn. and played together in high school at The Blake School in the Minneapolis area.

“They hit things in full stride. I am pretty excited to see what they are going to do this year. They have been together since they were little kids.”

A trio of veterans, senior Kiersten Falck (5 goals, 13 assists), junior Keiko DeClerck (1 goal, 3 assists), and sophomore MacKenzie Ebel (1 goal), has the ability to do some big things this winter.

“Falck is really stepping into her role as captain, Keiko has brought a whole another level of speed which she didn’t know she could bring,” said Morey.

“MacKenzie has stepped up a whole other level. She has gotten quicker; she has got some finesse in her hands.”

Morey believes the team’s five talented freshman forwards, Annie MacDonald, Shannon Griffin, Sharon Frankel, Amanda Harris, and Sarah Verbeek, should get up to speed quickly.

“They are all going to get ice time right away, they are going to contribute on both special teams,” said Morey, who got two goals from MacDonald and one from Griffin in a 3-0 win over Team China in an exhibition game last Monday.

“They all stand out in different ways. They all bring something a little bit different, which is really good.”

Princeton boasts a good crew of veterans on defense in junior Stephanie Sucharda (12 assists), junior Kimiko Marinacci (1 goal, 3 assists), senior Emily Achterkirch (1 goal, 3 assists) and a trio of sophomores: Claire
Thompson (6 goals, 14 assists), Sylvie Wallin (3 goals, 6 assists), and Julia Edgar (1 goal, 9 assists).

“Steph, Kimiko, and Emily are our oldest three veterans back there,” said Morey.

“Sucharda has tremendous poise in the back; she breaks the puck out better than anybody I have ever seen. All six of our defensemen have hit the ice with a lot of confidence and they look like leaders back there. The
D-corps is really solid from one through six.”

Having sophomore star Steph Neatby at goalie gives the Tigers a lot of confidence. The 6’0 native of Toronto, Ontario came up big last year, posting a 1.52 goals against average and a .950 save percentage on the way to being named the ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Year and the USCHO Division I Rookie of the Year.

“Steph looks awesome; she takes up so much net and she is extremely athletic,” said Morey, who has senior Alysia DaSilva (2.04 goals against average,.921 save percentage) and freshman Rachel McQuigge backing up Neatby.

“She is unconventional in making saves that are more like Dominic Hasek-esque. She is going to be pushed because the other two goalies are really strong as well.”

The Tigers will be pushed hard by Providence (4-2) on opening weekend.

“Providence is a very strong team this year so we are going to be in for a battle,” said Morey. “It is going to be a tough series against Providence and our girls are going to have to be ready to go.”

If Princeton adjusts well to its new leadership and has some luck on the injury front, it should be tough to beat this winter.

“I think a key to success is going to be our work ethic on the ice,” asserted Morey.

“We have high end talent and we have gritty depth. We only have 16 skaters so we have to stay healthy and stay extremely fit. If we can come together as a team and one unit, I think we can beat any team in the country.”