By Tara Sowle
UWRF Sports Information

Emily Nierenhausen has returned for her second year on the defensive line for the Falcons. She is one of the few remaining defenseman and during her 2004 season she finished with 9 assists and played in every single game. Her stats are filled with accomplishments such as being named to the All-Conference Team and being a member of the Minnesota Selects and the Junior Stars.

Hockey first sparked her interest when she was very young and watching her friend’s dad play in a league. It wasn’t until she was in 5th grade that she finally joined a team, but she felt that she was at a disadvantage. “I had never played on a boys team and I started really late.”

Nierenhausen, an Oakdale, Minn., native, did well though and her strong work ethic and drive to succeed landed her on the Falcon team some eight years later.

Falcon Coach Joe Cranston has seen that work ethic too. “Emily works really hard. She is a really good special teams player, and is out on almost every penalty kill and power play.”

Unfortunately, Nierenhausen is suffering from an injury in her hip-flexor and has had to sit out the last three games against Superior and St. Mary’s. But Cranston is anxious to have her back out on the ice. “We hope to have her playing again soon.”

Nierenhausen doesn’t think the season is going as planned and she believes what the team is lacking is one really good goal scorer. “We started doing really good, but right now we’re lacking someone that can score goals.”

In 16 games for the Falcons this year, the Oakdale, Minn., native has scored four goals and recorded nine assists.

Nierenhausen is staying optimistic. “I think in playoffs we’re going to come out strong, our team has a lot of character. I have a weird feeling we’re going to win playoffs!”

Nierenhausen’s optimism and hardworking mentality is what keeps her being a driving force on this Falcon team. She believes her role on the team is to, “push the team and at the same time not to let them down, I want motivate them.”

Cranston commented that, “Emily is very vocal on the ice, and is a good leader on the ice.

Coming into a college level hockey program was a lot harder and a more physical than Nierenhausen expected, but her advice for anyone joining a

hockey team is, “to come in with an open mind and don’t expect to be the best.”

Emily Nierenhausen