GVH Victorious Against Cushing

While the new year slowly creeps up on Exeter’s 50-degree weather, absence of snow and back-to-back Saturday classes, the girls’ hockey team remains hard at work training for the upcoming season. “We’re on the ice every day,” lower Layne Erickson said. “Pushing each other, both mentally and physically.”Compared to other years, this year’s team is comprised of mostly young talent. For assistant captain and senior Rachel Morse, the potential is unparalleled. “We have a strong team,” Morse said. “But it’s really young with a lot of new underclassmen.”For most, the struggles of Exeter posed a challenge during the first few weeks of term, as they sought to assimilate to new teachers, a rigorous Exeter schedule, a demanding sport and new teammates. In a sport where teamwork and chemistry are crucial, the girls have managed to foster care and a strong sense of community during the first weeks of practice.

“It’s more fun when you win, but the girls and the team are great and that’s what I want to concentrate on.”

For Erickson, the time she spent with her teammates formed an unbreakable bond. “I’ve seen these girls every day for the past two weeks,” Erickson said. “Although we were definitely awkward around each other for the first week, the more time we spend, the more comfortable we get around each other.”This translates to the ice as well. “As we progress as a team, we’ll begin to trust each other more.” Erickson said. “The more we learn about each other, the more we’ll begin to rely on our fellow teammates, both on and off the ice.”Assistant captain and senior Deziray DeSousa remains optimistic about what this season holds. She hopes for Exeter to make the playoffs. “We came so close last year,” DeSousa said. “And with this year’s talent and work ethic, we have the potential to go far.”Morse agreed with DeSousa, and explained the merit of having young players. “We’ve got a lot more potential than last year because we have a lot of young girls who are excited to come out and play,” Morse said. “When you come in as a prep or lower, you have time to grow with the team and acclimate to the culture and team.”The girls had two games this past week on Wednesday and Saturday. Wednesday marked the first game of the season again Milton and ended with a 2-5 loss. For Erickson, however, the game symbolized much more.“Considering that they had already played three games, over half the team was new and that this is the first game we’ve ever played together, it was good performance,” Erickson said. Exeter lost the first period but was able to rally in the second and tie the game. In the third, however, Milton took a decisive lead. “We just got off track,” Erickson said. “But that was our first step onto the ice as a team and it went pretty well.”After having a couple days to play together as a team and switch positions, players and lines, Exeter clinched a 4-3 win against Cushing. According to Morse, the team worked together as a unit, having lost the initial nervousness that had cost them goals against Milton.For Erickson, the Cushing game represented a special bond among the team. The physicality of the opposing team brought Exeter closer together. “They were almost dangerous to us,” Erickson said. “And we had to fight that team as a unit. It was almost an urge to protect each other.”For the captains, the season strikes a bittersweet chord. As this is Moorse’s last year of hockey, the season is a tough goodbye to the sport she has been playing for ten years. “I want us to have a good season and make the playoffs and keep going,” Moorse said. “But at the same time, I don’t want it to fly by and just be done with my hockey career.”DeSousa echoed Moorse’s concerns. “As assistant captain, it’s my last season and I want to make it memorable,” DeSousa said. “It’s more fun when you win, but the girls and the team are great and that’s what I want to concentrate on.”For the players, there aren’t any statistical goals. The team is focused on becoming stronger, better players and a more connected team and community. “This season is a chance for us to prove ourselves,” Erickson said. ”We know our potential. We just have to prove it.”