Girls Hockey
COACH
Jason Mayer, 1st year
ASSISTANT COACHES
Mandi Samuelson (varsity), Veronica Collins (head JV), Glenn Leitch (goalies)
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2009-10 SEASON REVIEW
Overall: 12-12-2
Central Lakes Conference: 2-8-2, 6th place
Section 2A: beat Mankato East 5-2; lost to Hutchinson 5-1 in section final
Key Dates
Season/Home: 7 p.m. today North Wright County
Central Lakes Opener: Nov. 19, Fergus Falls at Willmar
Cardinal Classic: Nov. 26-27 (Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato, Austin, Morris/Benson Area)
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Holiday Tournament: Dec. 27-29 at Austin
Section 2A: Feb. 10, 12, 27 (final at Gustavus Adolphus' Lund Arena)
ROSTER
(name, position ... returning letterwinners in bold)
Seniors
Jessica Bays, forward
Kayte Cole,* center
Katie Hoffman, forward
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Alex Linbo, wing
Talia Orsten, forward
Juniors
Paige Davis, wing
Becca Freese,* wing
Kayla Hanson, defense
KyLee Hulscher, wing
Liz Marshall, forward
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Kendra Maxfield, defense
Baylie Young, goalie
Sophomores
Sam Block, defense
Elsie Duininck, forward
Liz Gorans, forward
Brooke Mayer, center
Madison Sandberg, goalie
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Brittany Serbus, defense
Lauren Sing, wing
Freshmen
Miranda Roelofs, wing
Alex Sobieck, defense
Eighth-graders
Amelia Amon, defense
Kaylee Chester, forward
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Allison Freese, defense
Annie Johnston, center
Shelby Schneider, wing
Ellissa Wiler, forward
Peyton Setrum, forward
* - Captains
starters
Lines: (1st) Kayte Cole centers KyLee Hulscher and Lauren Sing ... (2nd) Brooke Mayer centers Becca Freese and Miranda Roelofs ... (3rd) Annie Johnston centers Shelby Schneider and Alex Linbo ... Defense (pairs): Brittney Serbus and Alex Sobieck, Kendra Maxfield and Sam Block; also, Amelia Amon, Allison Freese, Paige Davis and Kayla Hanson ... Goalies: Baylie Young, Madison Sandberg
OVERVIEW
New head coach Jason Meyer, a native of Wadena employed at Rice Memorial Hospital, has coached eight years in the youth program.
His first team must replace six front-line players, including All-Central Lakes Conference picks Erin Sheehan and Jennie Mattison, one of three defenders gone. It's a young team with first-line center Kayte Cole and third-line wing Alex Linbo the only seniors with varsity experience. There are nine letterwinners in the next two classes, two freshmen and at least four eighth-graders that will see significant varsity ice time. Freshman winger Miranda Roelofs was voted "Most Improved" as an eighth-grader.
The Cardinals have veteran goaltenders in Baylie Young, a third-year starter, and two-time letterwinner Madison Sandberg. Skating is a strong point and there's good overall speed and skill but the four scrimmages revealed the players must learn to finish off plays around the net.
Last year, Willmar got off to a sluggish 0-2 start while getting outscored 15-1, but then reeled off six straight victories before a 1-0 loss at Alexandria.
Willmar graduate Tim Hanson, a third-grade teacher at St. Michael-Albertville who began his high-school coaching career at Willmar as John Wilson's assistant in 1997, brings his North Wright County RiverHawks to Willmar Tuesday. The Cardinals will get a taste of a top tier Class AA team. The RiverHawks return eight seniors and junior goalie, Amanda Koep, coming off an 18-5-4 year in which all five losses were by a goal including a 3-2 overtime loss to state-bound Roseau in the Section 8AA semifinals.
-- Rand Middleton
