Despite posting the lowest single season win total in the six-year history of the program, the 2002-03 Gustavus women’s hockey team ended up three periods away from qualifying for the NCAA national tournament. Head Coach Mike Carroll’s club overcame a sluggish start and went on a 7-0-2 run during the middle of the season before falling to St. Thomas in the MIAC Playoff Championship game. With 11 letterwinners back from last year’s 14-9-4 squad and a talented group of newcomers, the Gusties hope they can once again challenge for the conference title and get back to post-season play.
With only one returning all-conference player, Carroll believes the strength of his squad lies not within a couple of superstars, but rather with the depth of his team. “Our overall talent base has really improved. The gap between the talent in our first line and the kids who get less playing time has really narrowed,” commented Carroll. “The same can be said for the conference. The league is getting more competitive, and there are more quality athletes out there. That has led to a lot of good games.”
In order for Gustavus to come out on the winning end of those close contests, the Gusties will rely on the leadership of senior captains Ellen Doyle (defense) and Katie Deschneau (forward). Doyle played only half of last season after studying abroad and is working hard in practice to regain the form that earned her All-America honors in 2001-02. Deschneau, an all-conference selection in 2001-02, scored nine goals and tallied 10 assists for 19 points last season.
Last year Gustavus scored 65 goals, by far the fewest total by any Gustie team. Carroll believes that the necessary additions and adjustments have been made to avoid a repeat performance this winter. “Our upperclass players have been focused and dedicated to making our team as good as it can be. Additionally, we have new players that can make us more explosive offensively.”
Junior forward Laura Stypulkowski is the squad’s leading returning scorer. She scored 12 goals and added 10 assists for a team-high 22 points last season. Sophomore forward Josefin Pettersson, who added seven goals and six assists while appearing in only 17 games last year, and senior forward Ann Katz (seven goals) are the only returning players other than Deschneau and Stypulkowski who scored more than four goals last year. Senior forward Jess Brandanger is back after a two-year absence from the team and sophomore forward Blair Carlson returns after finishing very strongly last season. Two of the newcomers expected to contribute to the Gustie scoring attack include Becky Steiner (White Bear Lake, MN) and Michelle Guimond (Orono, MN).
Sophomore Abby Randall, who was named to the all-conference and all-rookie team last season, is one of two other defenders besides Doyle with significant varsity experience. She scored three goals and added eight assists. Kelly Holland, who saw action in 26 games a year ago, returns for her second season in the program.
Outside of the trio of returners on defense, the Gusties will rely upon several players with little to no collegiate experience to keep their opponents off the scoreboard. Andrea Peterson, a four-time all-conference selection and all-state player at White Bear Lake, headlines a group of newcomers on defense. Peterson could see some time at forward and by the end of the season may emerge as one of the squad’s top scoring threats.
A fierce battle between three first year goaltenders has emerged between Kristin Setterstrom, Kitty Hurley, and Kara Meyer. “All three of them have a shot at earning playing time,” Carroll said. “They are all as talented as any goalie we have ever had, but they are inexperienced, which is something that is hard to compensate for.”
Gustavus will play a challenging schedule once again. In addition to the MIAC schedule, the Gusties will face nationally ranked squads from Bowdoin, Williams, UW-River Falls, and UW-Stevens Point.
General Information
Name: Gustavus Adolphus College
Location: St. Peter, Minnesota
Founded: 1862
Enrollment: 2,540
Nickname: Golden Gusties
School Colors: Black and Gold
Arena: Don Roberts Ice Rink
Capacity: 1,250
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
President: Jim Peterson
Athletic Director: Al Molde
Athletic Phone: (507) 933-7617
History
First year of hockey: 1997
All-time play-off record: 8-5-2
Years in post-season play: 3
Last post-season appearance: / Result: 2002 Win vs Bowdoin 2-1 in NCAA 3rd place game
All-time record: 113-49-9
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Mike Carroll
Alma Mater/Year: Mankato State/1982
Record at school (years): 78-30-8 (4)
Career record: Same
Head Coach’s office phone: (507) 933-6297
Best time/day to reach coach: 9am — 11am
Assistant Coaches: Mike Deschneau, Steve Carroll, Matt Piper
Gustavus vs. the MIAC
Augsburg 7-8-0
Bethel 8-0-0
Concordia 9-1-0
Hamline 6-0-0
St. Benedict 13-0-0
St. Catherine 11-2-0
St. Mary’s 12-5-3
St. Olaf 5-0-2
St. Thomas 8-2-1
Player Information
Key Returners
Blair Carlson, Forward, SO, 3 g, 5 a – 8pts.
Ellen Doyle, Defense, SR, 0g, 2a — 2 pts.
Katie Deschneau, Forward, SR, All-Conference in 2001-02, 9g, 10a — 19 pts.
Laura Stypulkowski, Forward, JR, 12g, 10a — 22 pts.
Ann Katz, Forward, SR, 7g, 12a — 19pts.
Abby Randall, Defense, SO, All-Conference, All-Rookie, 3g, 5a — 8 pts.
Josefin Pettersson, Forward, SO, 7g, 6a — 13 pts.
Letterwinners returning: 11
Letterwinners lost: 9
Starters returning: 3
Starters lost: 3
2003-04 Schedule
Nov. 7 UW-River Falls 7:05
Nov. 14 UW-Stevens Point 7:05
Nov. 15 UW-Stevens Point 2:05
Nov. 21 at University of St. Thomas 7:45
Nov. 22 University of St. Thomas 2:05
Dec. 5 at Augsburg College 7:00
Dec. 6 Augsburg College 2:05
Dec. 10 at UW-River Falls 7:00
Jan. 9 Hamline University 7:05
Jan. 11 at Hamline University 2:05
Jan. 16 Bethel College 7:05
Jan. 17 at Bethel College 4:00
Jan. 23 at St. Olaf College 5:00
Jan. 24 St. Olaf College 5:05
Jan. 31 at Colby College 6:00
Feb. 2 at Bowdoin College 6:00
Feb. 3 at Williams College 12:00
Feb. 6 at St. Mary’s University 7:00
Feb. 7 St. Mary’s University 2:05
Feb. 13 at Concordia College 7:00
Feb. 14 at Concordia College 12:00
Feb. 20 at College of St. Catherine 7:05
Feb. 21 College of St. Catherine 2:05
Feb. 27 at College of St. Benedict 7:00
Feb. 28 College of St. Benedict 7:05
2002-03 Game-by Game Results
Nov. 2 at UW-River Falls L, 0-1
Nov. 8 at UW-Stevens Point L, 0-5
Nov. 9 at UW-Stevens Point T, 2-2
Nov. 16 St. Benedict W, 3-0
Nov. 17 at St. Benedict W, 6-1
Nov. 22 at St. Thomas L, 0-1
Nov. 23 St. Thomas T, 5-5
Dec. 6 at Augsburg L, 0-1
Dec. 7 Augsburg W, 4-1
Dec. 11 UW-River Falls W, 5-2
Jan. 5 Williams W, 3-1
Jan. 10 St. Mary’s T, 3-3
Jan. 11 at St. Mary’s W, 1-0
Jan. 17 Bethel W, 6-3
Jan. 18 at Bethel W, 1-0
Jan. 24 at St. Olaf T, 2-2
Jan. 25 St. Olaf W, 4-1
Feb. 2 at Manhattanville L, 1-2
Feb. 3 at Middlebury L, 0-7
Feb. 7 at Hamline W, 6-1
Feb. 8 Hamline W, 3-1
Feb. 14 Concordia L, 1-3
Feb. 15 Concordia W, 2-1
Feb. 21 at St. Catherine L, 1-2
Feb. 22 St. Catherine W, 2-0
MIAC Playoffs
Feb. 28 Concordia W, 3-2
Mar. 1 St. Thomas L, 1-4