By Tara Sowle
UWRF Sports Information

Sophomore Jenny Wallace has had an explosive second year with the Falcon women's hockey team.

During her first year with the Falcons, Wallace's defensive nature was to play tight to the net, but this year she has found her way to making a big offensive impact. Coach Joe Cranston commented that, "this year she (Wallace) is our most offensive defenseman."

Wallace has greatly improved on her hockey career. Last year she scored one goal and one assist for a total of two points in 26 games.

This year Wallace is responsible for six goals and 12 assists and has been on the ice for every game so far this season. Even with all of her successes, Cranston said this has been a learning year for Wallace.

"It has been a year of finding out when to rush the puck and when to pass it. In the last few games she has found the perfect balance of playing offense, but not trying to do too much."

This season is definitely different from what Wallace had expected. "It was frustrating to go from doing so well to an eight game losing streak, but I think it helped bring the team together because we all had gone through the same thing and had the same frustrations."

That bond is what Wallace believes will be a big strength for her team going into the playoffs. "We are really fired up! We want to show that we are not an eight game losing streak type of team and feel we have something to prove."

Wallace is worried, however, that because hockey is a five month long season that some of her teammates may begin to lose their focus, "It's the end of the season and some get tired and start to wear and tear, we
really need to stay focused."

Cranston believes that Wallace has faith in her teammates and that it really shows on the ice, "She is playing with confidence in her teammates, and that makes her even more of an offensive weapon."

Family has been a big influence in Wallace's hockey career. She started playing when she moved to Buffalo, Minn., High School and started watching her older brother compete. "My friends and I would always watch my brother play and we would cheer him on. It was also a way for me to meet people."

But it was her Dad who was her biggest influence, "My Dad would take me to all the open skates when we moved to Buffalo and really encourage me to play."

The biggest thing Wallace can tell any hockey player making the transition from high school to college is to, "really take the time to learn the system and to listen to what people say."

She warns that there is always someone ready to take your spot on the ice so you better hit the weight room hard.

Jenny Wallace