The Cortland Women’s Hockey team shocked the conference in their 2023 season. The Red Dragon’s ended their season placing second in their conference, with an overall 20-0-7 record–which is their highest win total in Cortland history.
Although the team faced some hard battles, they showed up this season and proved they have what it takes. The Red Dragons season was cut short in the NEWHL (Northeast Women’s Hockey League) Finals against the nationally second-ranked team, SUNY Plattsburgh.
To start off their season, the Red Dragons started off strong with a 2-game win streak against Buffalo state but unfortunately loss the next three games. However, the team bounced back with an eight-game win streak, against some of their biggest rivals like, SUNY Plattsburgh who has never lost a conference game. For the rest of the season, the team won majority of their conference games except for two.
The Red Dragons are expected to have 22 returning players for the winter which includes four seniors coming back for another year. Seniors Jayden Kelley, Molly McCabe, captain Dany Donegan, and Elena Eichmann will be returning for another season. Although the team is losing seven seniors who played crucial roles for the team, their roster is still full of talent. There are a few players to look out for in their 2024 season that will lead the team to the finals again.
Sophomore forward Mia Hlasnick was named to the all-league first team this season after being selected to the second team and the league’s Rookie of the Year last season. This season, Hlasnick accumulated 35 points on 13 goals and 22 assists in 26 games played. She set a record for assists in a season and has tied the record for single season points back in February against Oswego.
For offensive leaders in the NEWHL conference, Hlasnick is ranked third in points and third in assists. It’s exciting to watch Hlasnick play and break records especially since she is only a sophomore. With her next two years of eligibility, Hlasnick is going to continue to break records and become a big leader for the Red Dragons.
Freshman defender Ainsley Delacourt was voted as the NEWHL Rookie of the Year, the all-league second team, and was chosen to the NEWHL All-Rookie Team. Delacourt accumulated 20 points with six goals and 14 assists in 24 games played. For defensive leaders in the conference, Delacourt is currently tied for 14th in scoring and tied for ninth in assists. She continued to impress this season especially it being her first. Delacourt’s skills helped the Red Dragon’s during the victory against Morrisville when she scored the game winning goal and assisted on another.
Lastly, Sophomore goaltender Molly Goergen continued to impress this season. From being Goalie of the year last season, this season Goergen has posted a 16-6 record and has been ranked first with 1.20 goals against average and a .948 save percentage. In less than two seasons, Goergen is Cortland’s career leader with 27 wins and 14 shutouts and has set the school single-season records for wins and shutouts. Back in January, Goergen set the career record for shutouts against Morrisville and broke a tie she held with goaltender Chelsea Allain, who had eight shutouts back in 2017-20.
These players are just a few of the talented players coming back next year since all players equally put in the effort and showed up this season. With the Red Dragons ranked second in their conference, they are in a great spot and set to win a NEWHL championship.