Freshman goalie Drinkwater keeps SU in game in debut just day after getting word of start
During Northeastern breakaways, a Husky player would come racing down the ice, the net straight in front of her. And almost each time, she would come up empty.
The obstacle facing them: Jenesica Drinkwater, the freshman goalie making her debut for the women’s ice hockey team.
Largely thanks to Drinkwater, who made 15 saves in her first collegiate game, SU managed a 4-4 tie in overtime against the Huskies in its season opener. Two of those saves came in the overtime period.
‘Drinkwater played amazing for us,’ forward Megan Skelly said. ‘We had a lot of breakaways that potentially could have gone in, so she really helped us out on that end. When we needed her, she stepped up.’
Drinkwater is one of 10 freshmen on the team, seven of whom got playing time against Northeastern.
And she only found out the night before the game that she was making the start.
‘I was a little nervous at first, but it was definitely an awesome experience,’ Drinkwater said. ‘It was pretty exciting to get the start.’
The Orange came out firing, as they held a 2-0 lead 14 minutes into the first period. For the game, SU outshot the Huskies 38-19.
Despite just 19 shots on goal, it seemed as though Northeastern had a breakaway on nearly every other possession. With all the breakaways, Drinkwater was unable to prevent the Huskies from putting goals in the back of the net. That was especially the case in the second and third periods, when the Huskies outscored SU 3-2.
Those scoring outbursts put the Orange in a 4-3 hole. And with the third and final period nearing the end, the team appeared to be heading for a disappointing loss to start the season. But then Isabel Menard scored to tie the game at four goals apiece and sent the game into overtime, during which the score would remain 4-4.
‘They scored on me, and we scored back on them,’ Drinkwater said. ‘That really brought us back in the game, brought the energy back for sure. It would have been great to pop away a goal in the overtime, but at least we got back into the game because we were down a little bit once they scored on us.’
Breakaways are just one of a few areas the team will have to work on. But that is expected. Especially with a bevy of freshmen getting valuable playing time.
Drinkwater’s position at starting goalie is not at all guaranteed. But for now, the team is looking at the positives. After all, it is only in its third season of existence and has come a long way since 2008.
The large freshman class represents the steps the program is taking to become a powerhouse.
‘There’s 10 new faces, so I’m still learning everything about them. But I think it’s a good start, and I think there’s great chemistry within the team,’ Skelly said. ‘Everyone loves hockey and wants to be here, so I think for the rest of the season, great things are expected.’
For one game, the team got a glimpse of what the future holds. Though the upperclassmen led the way, much of the attention was focused on all the freshmen receiving playing time.
‘You’re a little apprehensive, probably, with that many rookies before the game starts, but I think they did a nice job,’ head coach Paul Flanagan said.
And with Drinkwater at one of the most recognizable positions on the ice, eyes will be on her early this season. Staying focused and alert toward each game is key, she said. That will help her earn the start in the next game.
If the coaches do decide to give her that start again in the next game, she’ll get a chance to shake off the nerves of a first game and really show the team what she can accomplish.
‘I think it was a good start for the season,’ Skelly said. ‘We had no idea coming into this game. Brand new goaltender hasn’t played a college game. So I think it was a good start to see where we initially are at, where we need to move, and I think we can only get better from here.’
