With wonderful chemistry and talent, Penn’s 1988 discipline hockey group became the highest-hit area hockey crew in Penn records.
After a down season 1987, wherein this system went 7-8-1 overall, the 1988 crew rebounded with a season that would be in the Penn report books for many years and cement them because of the exceptional all-time area hockey team. Penn’s group might cease their season with a 14-three-1 document, which nonetheless stands because of the most wins in a single season in software records.
The Quakers’ 5-1 Ivy League document earned them a percentage of the Ivy League title with Dartmouth. No. 4 inside the nation, their Ivy League name assured them an NCAA Tournament berth. The crew made it to the semifinals, the furthest match run in software history. This event became especially special because the semifinals and finals were hosted at Franklin Field.
“We had also been wonderfully excited due to the fact it’s miles your property area, you do have your house locker room, you’re used to everything in Franklin Field, and it’s your property base as far away as fans are concerned,” said Donna Mulhern Woodruff C’90, a junior at the 1988 crew.
After a first-round bye and with the comforts of a domestic discipline gain, the Quakers confronted their in-nation rival, Penn State, in the 2d round of the tournament. After three beyond regular time durations, the Red and Blue defeated Penn State by way of 2-1. While this matchup became a major event for the Philadelphia media, it became special for the group. Many of Penn’s gamers were from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, so they had buddies and excessive college teammates on the Penn State crew.
“We did pretty properly in opposition to Penn State, and I assume they were a little aggravated,” Woodruff laughed. “It’s constantly incredible if you have a very good contention, going backward and forward, to pop out at the triumphing give up. I understand they weren’t too thrilled with us.”
In 1988, Woodruff became considered one of six Penn players named to the first-team All-Ivy. Six players are tied for the most in an unmarried season to make first group All-Ivy in application records. Among the six was senior Nicky Hitchens, who became revered as one of the Ivy League Players of the Year. Woodruff was also named to the 1988 All-Tournament crew.
The Quakers, in reality, had the talent that season to take them to the next level. However, the major aspect that made this group successful was their chemistry. They were greater than just teammates; they were their own family. The group had a big institution of juniors who had developed together as gamers two years before the 1988 season. That organization was highlighted by Woodruff, Ellen Vagelos Masseur, and Carrie Vesley Horrigan.
The crew also spent much time together in the summer, earlier than the 1988 season, on a crew experience in Holland. The week-long journey allowed the team to play against extraordinary opposition; more importantly, it brought the crew together.
“It became just a lot of really excellent humans that everyone preferred the possibility we had at an Ivy League institution, but also, we wanted to be very good in the game we were playing,” Woodruff stated.
While it is greater of a rarity now, many gamers at the crew played field hockey and lacrosse at Penn, together with Woodruff, Hitchens, and Horrigan. The simplest freshman, Madison Jiranek, plays in each group this year. This supposed that many players competed collectively for 12 months, permitting the crew to grow nearer.
“It can’t hurt that you’re with the identical people, equal awareness, equal schedules for that time, and surely getting to know our coaches,” Woodruff stated.
The late Anne Sage became the longtime coach of each field hockey and ladies’ lacrosse team. In 1988, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association commemorated Sage as Coach of the Year. While she became an exceedingly proficient trainer with top-notch thoughts for the sport of area hockey, her presence became felt strongly in the athletics program as a whole.
“The stunning factor is that Sage was simply herself, and she allows anyone around her to be themselves,” Woodruff said. “She virtually-delivered satisfaction in each person without making us all identical. That turned into her energy, and she believed in our groups, but she also believed in women’s athletics.”
First-class teams have not only the best athletic capabilities but also a high-quality connection between their players. Penn’s 1988 discipline hockey group combined these to have an exceptional season in software records.
