Jenna Dancewicz '11 led the women's hockey team to two wins over the weekend by tallying four points. First, she assisted on a pair of goals in a 3-0 win over Quinnipiac on Friday, before stepping up to notch both goals in a 2-1 upset over Princeton on Saturday, including the game-winner with 54 seconds left in overtime. With five goals, Dancewicz now stands in a three-way tie for the team lead.
The wins jump-started Bruno's ECAC Hockey playoff hopes, leaving the team just eight points behind Rensselaer for the final slot, with seven games remaining in the season. But the Bears will face a stiff test this weekend when they hit the road to take on conference titans Dartmouth and Harvard.
For her exceptional play, Dancewicz was nominated for the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week, but The Herald will do her conference one better by naming her Athlete of the Week.
Herald: When did you first start playing hockey and why?
Dancewicz: I started playing hockey when I was 5 years old. My brother (John) played hockey, and - I don't really remember this - but apparently during one of his games, I went up to my mom and I was like, "Mommy, I want to play hockey," and she was like, "Okay." I guess she didn't really know what she was getting herself into. So I started skating - well, I mean I knew how to skate before, but I started skating with equipment and playing house league and just went on from there.
Why did you choose Brown?
I had been to Brown actually several times before actually coming here for school. I used to go to (Head Coach Digit Murphy's) camp. She had a summer camp ... and I went there for four or five years, and I also have known Digit for a long time. I played on a summer team, and we used to go out to the East Coast and play, and she used to come to our games, and so I've known her for, like, six years or something. When I went to those camps, I really liked the campus, and then finally when I went on my official (visit) I really liked the team, so that's why I chose Brown.
Do you have any superstitions?
I actually am superstitious talking about my superstitions. I don't like to tell other people what they are (laughs). I'm not that superstitious, but the things I am superstitious about I don't like talking about.
Okay, I can accept that. So, you've scored four goals since the team returned from winter break. Have you made any adjustments that have led to your success?
Maybe just everything is coming together. I mean, I wish it had come together earlier in the season so I could have helped out the team earlier, but during winter break we had a lot of practices. That gave me time to get some extra skating in and work on my shot and work on getting the plays down and everything. We practiced every day and sometimes twice a day during winter break, so that probably really helped bring out my game.
How did it feel to score the game-winning goal against Princeton?
It felt really good. My coach said today we haven't beat Princeton in (three) years, and so it was really exciting to beat them, and especially in their own barn. We really, really needed these wins to end our season on a good note and hopefully make the playoffs.
Do you feel that these wins over Quinnipiac and Princeton are something that the team can really build on going into the stretch run?
I think that we definitely have a big confidence boost, and I think that we can definitely build upon it for next weekend. This weekend is going to be pretty tough - Dartmouth is ranked (No. 2) in our league, and Harvard is also really up there, so this will be a tough weekend. We had a good game against Harvard last time we played them and then not so much against Dartmouth. But I think we're ready to keep on winning and keep our winning streak going and bring some more upsets to the ECAC.
You've taken 15 penalties this year, the most on the team. Does that make you the enforcer?
Am I the enforcer? I don't know (laughs). Sorry, my roommate, who's also my teammate, is laughing right now. I actually didn't know until a few weeks ago that I was leading in penalties.
I was actually surprised that I was leading in penalties, but I don't know. There (are) a few things I need to work on, like keeping my feet moving when I'm hitting someone or something. So, I guess I could be an enforcer. I'm definitely more of a grinding player rather than, like, fancy-schmancy, so I guess that's probably why I get more penalties. And I'm not necessarily a small kid, so I don't know (laughs).
What's been your favorite moment from this season?
From our team, our wins over Colgate and Princeton were probably my favorite moments, especially Colgate - that was a really good game, and it was really close. And then individually, my favorite moments were when I got my first goal versus St. Lawrence, and probably this past weekend.
You all seem to do much better on the road than at home. Can you explain that?
Not that Brown's campus isn't great or anything, but I think when we get away from campus we also put behind other things that are on our mind, like academics or whatever, so we're able to really focus on the game and hockey and each other rather than other things. And also, we get to sleep in nice, warm, comfy beds in the hotel (laughs). So I think it's just like, our mindset is just a lot different when we're on the road than when we're at home.
What are your goals for the rest of the season, both individually and as a team?
As a team, we obviously want to keep winning. If we win a certain amount of games, we'll make it into playoffs, so we're just really trying to grind out these wins in this last part of our season. And then individually, I just want to help our team keep winning, so I guess keep on scoring and keep goals out of our net, too, and just keep working hard and doing the right things at the right times.
