Lundberg leading Dutchwomen in new role

by Ryan Fay

Going from backup to starter isn't always easy, but women's hockey goaltender Shenae Lundberg is handling the extra responsibility just fine.

When current volunteer assistant Kate Gallagher graduated last spring, the sophomore was given the starting gig. In the time since, Lundberg has taken the bull by the horns and is backstopping the program to its best season as a Division I team. 

With seven wins, the Dutchwomen are having the kind of success not seen since winning 11 games as a Division III program back in 2002-2003. Lundberg, a backup on the World Champion USA Under 18 National Team in 2011, has picked up six of the team's seven wins.

Lundberg (uscho.com)

She said her previous experience as a starter has been key to her transition this year.

"I learned a lot in middle school and high school when I was a starter, so I had a good idea of what [being a starter] was like."

Being able to learn from a senior like Gallagher last season also made the jump easier.

"It was really nice to learn from her," Lundberg added. "She really taught me a lot, so stepping into this year, I had [a lot of] help."

Lundberg, 19, said the team is working harder than ever and practice sessions have never been better. The netminder credited teammates for sending a lot of great shots her way in practice this season.

All that seems to be paying off. Her goals against average has dropped from 3.95 last year to 2.78 this season and her 253 saves rank fifth in ECAC women's play. That kind of performance has earned her two ECAC women's goaltender of the week awards and a goaltender of the month award.

Over the weekend, she helped sweep Penn State by collecting her first collegiate shutout in Friday's 1-0 win and only allowing one goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory.

Lundberg said earning the shutout on Friday was a "great" feeling, but added it was a team effort, with special thanks to the defense in front of her.

Outings like the ones this weekend have caught the attention of head coach Claudia Asano Barcomb, who said earlier this year that the Deerfield Academy product "has stepped into her role as a starter and done a great job."

The Dutchwomen will need Lundberg to keep it up when play resumes on Tuesday with a non-league home game against New Hampshire (7-11-2, 4-4-1 Hockey East). Union then goes back to league play as it travels to Dartmouth (11-5-2, 6-4-1 ECAC) on Friday before playing at #2 Harvard (13-1-1, 11-0) on Saturday.