2007-08 Season Outlook
Every fall the Ohio State women's hockey team sets goals for its upcoming season. Last year, the goals included hosting the first round of the WCHA playoffs at OSU Ice Rink, advancing to the playoff championships and finishing the season ranked in the Top 10. Check, check and check. Along with achieving all of those goals, the Buckeyes set two program records, totaling 20 overall wins and 30 points in the WCHA standings.
"Last season, winning a school-record 20 games really elevated the program to another level," head coach Jackie Barto said. "We were ranked in the Top 10 throughout the season and finished at No. 10. We really grew from last year and the leadership of the team was something that separated us. We were able to play a total team game and be solid from the goal out. We could play in the tight game and win it. Our team dealt with a lot last year and really learned from it and grew together."
So in the 2007-08 season, Barto, entering her ninth season behind the Ohio State bench, and the Buckeyes have set their sites higher. Not only building on the win and point totals, but finishing as one of the Top 3 teams in the WCHA and advancing to the league's championship game. And beyond that, being a Top 8 team in the nation vying an NCAA tournament spot. Ohio State will have 81% of its goal-scoring and 76% of its point-scoring from 2006-07. With the return of three All-WCHA selections, including All-American and Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top 10 finalist Tessa Bonhomme, and the winning combination of veteran experience and youthful enthusiasm, the Buckeyes are ready to hit the ground running and maintain that pace through March.
"There is a lot of confidence gained by the returning players and a sense of the ability to really compete for a top spot and the WCHA championship," Barto commented. "The success of last year sent the team into a good spring and summer. It was great to win 20 games and reach some of our goals, but as a team our goals have now increased and we want to move forward and build upon that."
Forwards: The forwards are an experienced group, including six upperclassmen and three seniors who have played in every career game. Leading the pack is senior Erin Keys, who had one of the best seasons in OSU history. Keys, who came to the Buckeyes has a goal-scorer, found her knack around the net and led the team with 22 goals and was second with 26 assists. Her 48 points were the second-most recorded by a Buckeye in a single season and Keys was named Second Team All-WCHA as well as the Most Improved Player in the nation by USCHO.com.
"Our top returning forward is Erin Keys, who had a breakout season in 2006-07," Barto said. "She is a natural goal-scorer who can find the net."
Fellow seniors Mallory Peckels (4-16–20) and Jody Heywood (8-9–17) also had career-best seasons and will be leading the team as assistant captains. All three are also important members of the OSU special teams.
The junior trio of Morgan Marziali, Hayley Klassen and Olivia Antognoli has two years of WCHA play under their belts and has gained the knowledge of what it takes to succeed at the college level. Marziali was the second-highest scoring forward in 2006-07 with 26 points (14g), while Klassen had 10-7–17. Antognoli, one of the strongest players on the team, has missed only one game in two seasons and demonstrates hard work by grinding out every shift.
The sophomore threesome of Raelyn LaRocque, Colleen Olson and Michele Tonnessen will continue to develop their games. All three have good size and strength and will have increasing contributions throughout the season. LaRocque was the lone freshmen to play in all 37 games last year. Kristen Smith will be a redshirted freshman in 2007-08.
"Over the past couple of years, we've become deeper with our forwards," Barto said. "We've become bigger, quicker and more creative. In the style that we play here at Ohio State, our forwards have the ability to be creative and really be aggressive fore-checking and forcing turnovers. We emphasize going to the net and creating scoring chances."
New to the front lines are Jenna Kilpatrick and Christina Mancuso. Both 5-7, left-shooting forwards, Barto expects the pair to generate offense and contribute as rookies.
Defensemen: Ohio State has had a history of solid defense with players like Emma Laaksonen and Amber Bowman developing as two of the top defenseman in the WCHA. Seniors Tessa Bonhomme and Lisa Chesson carry on that tradition in 2007-08. Bonhomme retuned to the Buckeyes last season after participating with the Canadian National Team Centralization Program during the 2005-06 season. Her impact was felt immediately, scoring seven points in her first collegiate series back and totaling 14-22–36. She tallied a team-high four game-winning goals and six power-play lamplighters.
Bonhomme became OSU's third All-American with a second team nod and earned First Team All-WCHA and Third Team All-USCHO honors. She also was the fourth Buckeye to be named a Top 10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Bonhomme, who enters the season with 83 career points and is one of the top offensive defensemen in the nation averaging 1.09 points per game last year to rank fourth in the NCAA, should continue to lead the Ohio State blueliners and team overall as she was voted captain for the second year in a row.
"Coming back from Team Canada last year, Tessa elevated her play and our team's play," Barto said. "She makes such a difference in the locker room, on the ice and in practice. Her perspective and vision of the game elevates everything. We have high expectations for her as our captain this year."
Coming off an equally impressive season is Chesson. She concluded the year averaging a point per game to rank sixth in the NCAA and earned All-WCHA Third Team honors for the second-consecutive season. Chesson posted career highs with 13 goals, eight of which were scored on the power-play, and 24 assists, ranking third on the Buckeyes. She also led the team with a +17 rating and ranked in the Top 10 four categories overall in the WCHA. A consistently stellar defensive player as well, Chesson had a minus rating just five times in 37 games in 2006-07 and was named one of the team's assistant captains for this season.
Also returning to the defense is junior Megan Hostasek. With good size and strength, she is becoming a steady defenseman for OSU and had a good sophomore season with nine points and a +7 rating.
Classmate Whitney Miller is a utility player for the Buckeyes, playing more defense, but also able to move up to forward.
Rachel Davis may be the lone sophomore on defense, but is a key part to maintaining the strong Buckeye defense.
There also will be three new faces on the defensive corps in freshmen Teal Bishop, Sandy Nelson and Shannon Reilly.
"Defensively, we're going to be very solid with Tessa and Lisa as our leaders back there," Barto said. "We're experienced with half our D, and young and talented but inexperienced with the second half. The freshmen are going to be asked to contribute immediately and they have to learn on the job and experience WCHA hockey pretty quickly."
Goaltenders: One of the members of the graduating class from 2007 was Erika Vanderveer, who concluded her career on top of almost every season and career goaltending record at OSU. But Barto has plenty of confidence in junior Liana Bonanno.
Although she has not been the go-to goaltender as yet, Bonanno has had quality experience in net over her first two seasons, with an overall save percentage of .903 and goals-against average of 3.26. In 19 career games, she has recorded 30 or more saves 10 of those games.
"Liana is a great athlete who sees and reads the game really well," Barto said. "She's one of the hardest workers on the team. She competes hard and we see her stepping in and assuming most of the playing time this year. She's ready for that challenge and she wants it. She has the potential to win games and be a difference maker."
While Bonanno will be patrolling the OSU net most of the season, backup goaltenders Jill Mauch, a senior, and Deidre Facklis, a freshman, will also see game action.
"We're excited about our depth and talent in the net with Liana and Jill's improvement and Deidre coming in," Barto commented.