Statesman

Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Sports

Like it or not, winter is here. Hockey is back in action, and fall sports are on their last legs of the season. Here comes the home stretch. This week's Athlete of the Week is UMD goaltender, Hannah Bengtson.



Year: Junior

Major: Sociology with a minor in Women's Studies

Favorite Class: "Women, race and class" Women studies is my minor and it's something I really enjoy learning about and am very passionate about," she said.

Plans after UMD: "My plans after UMD are unknown, but as of right now I want to do Americorps for at least a year or two, and then decide if I want to go to grad or law school after that," she said.



Led by a lights-out defense, Bengtson assumes hordes of responsibility tending the goal for a nationally recognized team. However, displaying the pure confidence that has made her a staple between the pipes for the Bulldogs, Bengtson recognizes that the media attention hasn't changed things among the team.

"I'm not quite sure if the attention has changed things in the locker room at all, but we're definitely a confident group of girls who strive to portray that on and off the field. It's a great feeling to be a part of a team where every player believes we're the best team out there, and we've proved that to ourselves thus far," she said. "Sure, it's great to have a solid backing from the soccer community, but that respect isn't handed out for free."

Bengtson has played well enough in recently to receive a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Defensive Player of the Week nomination after competition this past week. Undoubtedly a great individual honor, a humble Bengtson was quick to acknowledge that playing a team sport means that everything you earn, even individual honors, is earned as part of a team.

"NSIC player of the week is a great honor, and I'm lucky to have such a great defensive line (and team) in front of me, making it easier for me to do well," Bengtson said. With such a powerful bond between teammates, there seems to be no ceiling to the achievements of this squad.

"We're trying to take it one game at a time, even though it's hard not to think about the 'what if's' of the future, but we're going to work hard to end our conference season with two big wins this coming weekend, and then go into the conference tournament confident and kicking butt," she said.

We can thank Central Michigan University (Bengtson's previous team) for donating such an immense talent to the UMD athlete pool.

"The Bemidji game was tough. As a team we started off strong but just couldn't put it together after they scored. Personally I had a tough game, the goal was a clear mistake on my part, and so it was mentally straining for me to stay positive and keep my head in the game but, in the end it was a team effort and we hung in there to get the tie," she said. "We're looking towards the future though, next weekend will bring better results."

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