RCDS Girls’ Hockey
Age Is Nothing But a Number for Rye Country Day

When it comes down to it, 8th graders should have no business sharing the ice with a varsity hockey team. Matched head-to-head with competitors on the precipice of adulthood, one might think newly teenaged skaters would be overwhelmed.

Not Rye Country Day’s girls’ hockey team. A pair of wunderkinds have fueled the Wildcats’ early success. Left winger Elizabeth Wulf and goaltender Nicole Grosser, both in the 8th grade, propelled the team to the Princeton Day School Holiday Tournament championship in December. Rye Country Day defeated Princeton High School 7-5 in the first round, and then Grosser pitched her first varsity shutout in the Wildcats’ 3-0 victory against Princeton Day School in the final. Wulf, the team’s leading scorer with seven goals in five games, was the recipient of the Christopher Reeve Sportsmanship Trophy.

Elizabeth Wulf is a player who has to be seen to be believed. The youngster plays like a cross between a Ferrari and Bode Miller – possessing the on-ice equivalent of the former’s blinding acceleration and the latter’s hairpin control.

“She’s amazing to watch on the ice,” said head coach Gil Castagna of his prodigy, who is now doubling up on defense to help the team. “Her speed and moves are incredible for her age. Wulfie is one of the most talented skaters that I have seen.”
While Wulf drives the offense, the defense has welcomed the addition of Grosser in the crease. The newcomer had the unenviable task of filling Liz Garry’s skates, but has played well and is assisted ably by her teammates. Junior defender Kayti Faustini’s return from injury has been a boon, and Rashi Narayan – the third 8th grader on the team – makes her presence felt on defense.

Junior Isabel Beshar and sophomore Jessica Hanway are also key contributors, but none match the experience and leadership of captain Jessica DiChiacchio. On a team with just seven juniors and seniors out of 16 players, the senior center’s role is invaluable.

“She is such a great leader,” said Castagna. “She works so well with her linemates – Wulf and Hanway – and, in addition, has been doubling up admirably as a defenseman. Jessica is a wonderful play maker.”

DiChiacchio is second on the team to Wulf with three goals and five assists. It’s not uncommon to see the five-year veteran involved in most of the on-ice action, zooming from coast-to-coast to get her stick on the puck.

The Wildcats – who finished the 2007-08 season 5-12 – improved to 2-2 after the Princeton Tournament, but recently took a loss to fall back to 2-3. It’s the team’s best start in years.

“I am extremely pleased with how our season has started,” said DiChiacchio. “By the end of it, I expect us to have a better record than we had last year, and to beat some of the teams that we had close games against. The ultimate goal is to be .500, and to surprise some of the competition that underestimates us.

“The team's greatest strength is that we never give up,” she continued. “No matter what the score is during a game, we continue to play hard until the final seconds.”