YOUNG GUN: Princeton University women’s hockey player Karlie Lund controls the puck in a game last season. Princeton will be looking for sophomore forward Lund, the 2015-16 ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year and the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, to be an offensive force again this winter. The Tigers start their 2016-17 campaign by playing a two-game set at Providence on October 22-23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Before the puck has even dropped for the 2016-17 season, the Princeton University women’s hockey team is turning heads.

Princeton is ranked seventh nationally in the USCHO (U.S. College Hockey Online) preseason poll and third in the ECAC Hockey preseason coaches poll, coming off a superb 22-9-2 season last winter which saw the Tigers win the Ivy League title and make their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2006.

While Princeton head coach Jeff Kampersal is excited to see the Tigers receive that recognition, he knows it means there is a target on his team’s back.

“This year is going to be a lot harder than last year, no question,” said Kampersal, who is entering his 21st year at the helm of the program and has compiled a 307-251-55 record.

“The preseason polls are noteworthy in terms of trying to create media attention but we have got to play games.”

Steeled by the experience of playing in a number of big games last winter, the Princeton players are not taking anything for granted in the wake of last year’s success.

“Preseason is going well, they all worked hard over the summer,” said Kampersal, whose team opens its 2016-17 campaign by playing a two-game set at Providence College on October 22-23.

“I think they are aware of what it takes to compete in the playoffs and compete in the NCAA tournament. They know how hard it was to get there and that just by showing up, we can’t get it done his year.”

With a core of seven battle-tested seniors, the team is getting some good leadership to show the way.

“They have been really good, Kelsey Koelzer is our captain and the assistant captains are Fiona McKenna and Molly Contini,” said Kampersal, referring to his senior class.

“It is a good mix; they have a good feel on the pulse of the team. They all work hard so they are good leaders by example. They each have different styles but I think it all works out.”

Kampersal is expecting good work from sophomore forward Karlie Lund, who enjoyed a huge freshman campaign, getting named as the 2015-16 ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year and the Ivy League Rookie of the Year after piling up a team-high 39 points in 17 goals and 22 assists.

“Karlie had a really good summer, she has come back in better shape than she was last year,” said Kampersal.

“We expect big things from her but again she will have a little bit more attention this year.”

Freshman Carly Bullock has the potential to do some big things as she follows in the footsteps of high school teammate Lund.

“Carly played with Karlie at the Blake School in Minnesota and she set a state tournament record for goals so she can definitely put the puck away,” said Kampersal.

“She is going to have to figure out how to do it a little quicker at this next level.

Princeton is looking for senior Contini (10 goals and 15 assists in 2015-16) to take things to a higher level.

“Contini had a high ankle sprain so she missed four games,” said Kampersal.

“She played the rest of the year, not necessarily at full speed so she is back to being Molly, she is very clever and tricky with her stick.”

The team’s corps of forwards features a number of clever veterans in senior Morgan Sly (9 goals, 13 assists), senior Cassidy Tucker (10 goals, 8 assists), junior Kiersten Falck (3 goals, 6 assists), and sophomore Keiko DeClerck (4 goals, 5 assists).

“Morgan does a good job of wiggling out of trouble and getting shots off, her shooting percentage is fairly high,” said Kampersal.

“Tucker and Lund have looked the best so far in camp. I think Falck is going to have a big year, she is a really good skater. I am hoping this is a breakout year for her. DeClerck is a grinder, she will be a checking forward.”

Senior defenseman Koelzer produced a breakout campaign last winter, scoring 33 points on 17 goals and 16 assists on the way to earning first-team All American honors and figures to be one of the top players in the country this year.

“Kelsey had a good summer, she played with the U.S. U-22 team so she had a good experience there,” said Kampersal.

“She looks like her dominant self in practice, she is doing a good job. The key for her is to try not to do too much and just rely on her instincts and take her chances when they come instead of forcing things.”

Sophomore Stephanie Sucharda (3 goals, 14 assists) also had a big summer as she played for Canada’s U-22 team and should be a force on the blue line for the Tigers.

“Stephanie is looking very good, still the same, very poised, she can slow the game down,” added Kampersal. “She is a great breakout passer, we expect a lot out of her as well.”

A pair of tough veterans, Molly Strabley (2 goals, 9 assists) and junior Emily Achterkirch (1 goal, 5 assists) along with freshmen  Sylvie Wallin, Julia Edgar, and Claire Thompson will provide Princeton with good depth in its defensive unit.

“Strabley, and Achterkirch will give us shifts; they had good experience last year,” said Kampersal.

“I think Sylvie Wallin and Julia Edgar will play a lot as well as Claire Thompson.”

At goalie, junior Alysia DaSilva (4-1 record, 0.94 goals against average, 954 save percentage in 2015-16) and promising freshman Steph Neatby, a member of Canada’s U-22 team, are vying for time between the pipes.

“I think it has been a very good open competition,” said Kampersal. “DaSilva had one of the better summers in terms of conditioning, she came back in great shape. She is a good gamer kind of goalie so we expect her to step up. Neatby is a good goalie with a lot of promise. She is tall and is working to improve like any goalie but she will push Sils for sure.”

In assessing his team’s prospects for the upcoming season, Kampersal believes Princeton should be pushing for titles.

“I think the potential is high for sure,” said Kampersal. “Our goals are to get to the ECAC final 4 and get that spot that had been eluding us for a while and then go from there.”

Going up to New England to open the season at Providence (2-3) will be a good litmus test for the Tigers.

“Providence always competes really hard; their coach (Bob Deraney) is high energy and their team plays high energy,” said Kampersal.

“We don’t know a ton about them but their league is a good league and they are a good, strong team.”