Women's Ice Hockey: Young a veteran in the crease

Being a hockey goaltender is one of the most high-pressure positions in sports: the goaltender alone determines whether an opposing players’ shot makes it into the net. A save is greeted with nonchalance; it is almost expected. But when the puck gets past the netminder there is nowhere to hide. An ear-splitting horn and flashing red light let the whole world know that you weren’t up to the challenge.

While it seems as though this position would be extremely stressful, the women’s ice hockey team’s senior goaltender Kristen Young feeds off the intensity when in front of the net.

“I’m a really competitive person, and I love the fact that you can have such an impact on the game,” Young said. “If you’re on one night [in goal], even if your team can’t score, you can still get a tie.”

Young established herself as the starting goaltender during her sophomore year after former netminder Roxanne Gaudiel ’06 graduated. She won the starting job after a preseason competition for the gig and logged more than 1,200 minutes in goal her first year, with a 2.06 goals-against average and 480 total saves.

“[Young] came in and worked hard that year,” head coach Jeff Kampersal ’92 said. “[Young] learned a lot by watching Gaudiel, although Young was probably frustrated because she didn’t play as much as she would have liked.”

Last season she remained remarkably consistent, with a 2.04 goals-against average. This was achieved, however, under much more difficult circumstances: For most of the season, Young was the only goalie on the team. Without a backup, she was forced to play every minute of every game — except on the rare occasion when she was pulled for an extra player — and totaled 1,945 minutes in front of the net.

“Kristen improves every year and every summer,” Kampersal said. “She’s been a really solid presence since she’s been here for sure, particularly the last two years.”

Last year, Young was at her best when the team needed her most, exemplified by both games against No. 9 Connecticut, in which she gave up only one goal in each game. At one point in the season, Young had a shutout streak that spanned almost four hours of icetime, including three full games when she did not allow a single goal. On the season she notched seven shutouts, including a 1-0 thriller against Clarkson in the ECAC quarterfinals.

“Last year, I established the fact that I got the starting job,” Young said. “I like pressure.”

This year, Young has continued her excellent play, compiling a 2.41 goals-against average so far in more than 1,000 minutes of goaltending. She has also recorded two shutouts, including a 1-0 victory against Harvard in Cambridge. It was the first time the Tigers have won in Cambridge since 1996.

“We’re lucky to have her,” Kampersal said. “She’s an amazing person.”

Young did not instantly fall in love with the game. She played as a kid but quit quickly and did not pick up the sport again until eighth grade, in part because of Disney’s movie ‘The Mighty Ducks.’ Princeton, Dartmouth, Boston College and Colgate recruited her out of high school. Unfortunately for the other three schools, Young fell in love with Princeton the moment she stepped on campus.

“Basically I loved the campus, and it came down to Boston College and here,” she said. “But I wanted to go to an Ivy League school.”

Young is majoring in sociology, but she plans to continue playing hockey after graduating before continuing to the “real world.” Young is planning to try out for the Canadian national team. She tried out for the Canadian under-22 national team last year and was the last one cut, so she says she thinks that she can make the squad this year.

“[The national team] is really intense,” Young said. “It was a really neat experience trying out for a team like that. It pushes you to become a better player in general.”

Ultimately, Young said she will probably end up at law school after she tries her luck with the national team. She will certainly be missed by the Tigers, who will have to search for a new netminder.