PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The St. Thomas women’s hockey team traveled to Plattsburgh, New York Thursday to compete in the first round of the NCAA tournament Saturday against No. 1 Plattsburgh State at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
Players and coaches boarded a private charter Boeing 747 airplane, a plane of such magnitude each person got his or her own row with still many left empty. For some, this is their first appearance at the NCAA tournament. But two are hoping the fourth time’s the charm.
“We have been preparing all year for this,” forward Hannah Bird said.
Plattsburgh (25-1-1 overall) has won three national championship titles in the past three years and has only lost six games in the last five seasons. The Tommies (14-10-4 overall) have faced Plattsburgh before so forward Kathryn Larson knows what the team is up against.
“Plattsburgh has a super high powering offense so they have a lot of quick little players and they all have great hands,” Larson said. “So that is something we are going to have to look for in the D-zone.”
Larson noted that team defense is going to be one of the focus points of the game.
Bird is prepared to play a high-tempo game, but has confidence that team chemistry will make the game competitive.
“We know how fast they are going to come out,” Bird said. “But we also know that we can play with them and if we play like we have been playing lately it’s going to be a good game.”
Larson agreed: “We are all playing great as a unit and that is something that we are going to look for during Saturday’s game.”
The team traveled to Plattsburgh two years ago, which Bird described as a whirlwind.
“I think this travel scenario is a lot better and works more to our advantage,” Bird said. “We can get there and practice and kind of relax for a little bit before Saturday.”
The Tommies have an allotted practice time Friday.
As game time ticks closer, the two seniors can’t help but wonder if Saturday will be the day they take their last shots in purple.
“At practice today I definitely didn’t want that to be the last practice I have at home or the last time I skate on that ice, so I am kind of just soaking it all in and enjoying every moment and playing like it’s not our last,” Bird said. “No one wants our season to be done yet.”
Larson hopes to seize the opportunity with her teammates.
“I am just going to go out there and play with a calm heart and just play for my teammates,” Larson said.
Puck drop is at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
“I’m going to go out and give it one more,” Larson said.
Marissa Groechel can be reached at groe5630@stthomas.edu