The NEC women’s ice hockey team finished their 2020-2021 season with a record of 1-7-2 during their 10-game season.
The WIH team started the year off with a new coach, Mackenzie Meegan. After two straight losses, the team tied Castleton University, then went on to lose three more consecutive games. In the second half of their season, NEC WIH picked up another tie, this time against Plymouth State and a win against the same opponent the next day. They finished up their season with two losses versus Castleton University.
Women’s ice hockey usually sees a 25-game season, but due to COVID, their season was shortened to ten games against only four different opponents this year. However, players didn’t seem to mind the shortened game schedule, as senior captain, Cortney Reyes, said “coming into the season, we were just grateful that we had the opportunity to play.”
With eight new freshmen, chemistry building and finding a new rhythm was high up on the list of priorities for this year’s Pilgrim team. Freshman forward Emily Lenzen mentioned that developing team chemistry during the shortened season proved to be tough, “It’s a challenge playing with new teammates and only a couple weeks of practices, but I feel like after our first weekend together we got in a decent groove.”
Both Reyes and Lenzen mentioned that their best moment of the season was their win against Plymouth State on March 6th. Reyes said, “we finally got to see all our hard work paying off with a win,” while Lenzen added, “this was our second weekend playing them and after two losses and a tie, that win felt amazing.”
The Pilgrims said goodbye to lone senior, Cortney Reyes, this season as she heads out to law school in the coming year. Lenzen stated that even in her short time with Reyes, that she will be missed by the team, “even with a shortened season, she stayed positive and kept the team going…I know the team and I will miss her dearly.”
Reyes noted that she is excited to see how NEC women’s ice hockey progresses over the next few years.
“I hope to see the girls make a good NEHC playoff run in the years to come, and I can’t wait to cheer them on from wherever I end up,” Reyes said. Reflecting on her final season, she added, “I am extremely grateful for Coach Mackenzie and Coach Cassidy for helping me find my love for the game again in my final year at NEC.”
In preparation for next season, Lenzen said that the team will be working hard in the gym and the rink over the summer in hopes to come out stronger next season. “I’m excited to see what we can do!” Lenzen concluded.
