Photo courtesy of Julia Lehman-McTigue.
Mount Holyoke’s Ice Hockey Club secured a historic win against Wheaton College on Oct. 21.
By Baya Jaiswal ’27
Staff Writer
Mount Holyoke College’s Ice Hockey Club team secured its first win in recent memory after defeating Wheaton College on Oct. 21. This historic achievement did not come easily, according to the players.
“All of my teammates devote an incredible amount of time and energy every week to learning and improving, and it's seriously a labor of love for each and every one of us,” Edith Townsend-Cardosi ’25, a goalie on the team, said. “Essentially, it was the culmination of the hard work and passion of everyone involved — particularly those behind the scenes.”
Townsend-Cardosi also credited their coaches for the win.
“Right alongside us every step of the way have been our coaches, Tom and Atticus,” they said. “The commitment they have shown to not just teaching us but to the team culture and to making sure everyone, regardless of experience or skill level, feels like they have a place in the sport is nothing short of incredible.” Townsend-Cardosi believes that the inclusive nature of the team, strong dedication of its team members and the coaches’ supportive leadership brought this win to fruition.
As the Ice Hockey Club team gears up to compete against Fairfield University on Nov. 4, Townsend-Cardosi shared their goals for the remaining matches in the season. “Our goals look pretty similar to every other season, regardless of the win — learn and grow as much as we can, work hard and most importantly have fun,” they said. As the Lyons head into the season with this positive attitude, they hope to flourish as a team.
Townsend-Cardosi elaborated on their club’s goals.
“It isn't so much about winning or losing as it is about building community and making hockey something for everybody. Of course, I'd always love to see another win, but I'd rather lose and have fun doing it than win without my team. That's what makes this team special to me.” They added, “I've been on plenty of national-level teams, but I have far more fun at MHC than I ever did with them.”
The warm and close-knit community that shapes the student body extends to club sports at Mount Holyoke. This sense of good sportsmanship and camaraderie demonstrates how the club embraces losses and also prioritizes and uplifts the team members.
The Ice Hockey team next competes on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Fairfield University.