By: Mike Brown, News Correspondent
Athletes dream of being able to compete in the Olympics. Julia Marty has been there. Twice.
In 2006 and 2010, Marty played for Switzerland’s women’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics.
“It was just really cool,” Marty said. “It’s a great experience, [and] great to think back [on].”
Last Sunday, her goal and three assists led Northeastern to its fourth straight win, 5-1 over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Her performance earned her Huntington News Player of the Week honors. The senior defenseman of the women’s hockey team is off to a great start this season leading the Huskies with seven assists.
“We expect it from her,” said head coach Dave Flint. “She has the confidence that she didn’t have a couple years ago.”
Marty, now in her second year as a captain for the Huskies, said that her performance is because of her leadership role on the team.
“Being a captain, I have more responsibilities,” she said.
Marty’s twin sister, forward Stefanie Marty, has also played ice hockey for Switzerland at the Olympics. Stefanie plays for Syracuse University, and scored two goals and notched an assist against Northeastern during a 4-4 draw when the teams faced off in Syracuse Oct. 1.
Before Northeastern, Marty played for the University of New Hampshire (UNH) along with her sister. Both transferred from UNH after just one season. Marty chose to come to Northeastern partially because of Florence Schelling, the Huskies’ goaltender, who is also a member of the Swiss national team.
“She came because Florence was here and what Northeastern had to offer really enticed her,” Flint said. Marty has tallied 32 points in 52 career games for the Huskies, but her impact goes beyond the scoresheet.
“She’s come a long way,” Flint said. “She’s matured into a leader. Her work ethic is second to none.”
Marty’s work ethic is strong in the classroom as well. While most athletes find it difficult to balance school and sports, Marty said she is capable of captaining the women’s hockey team while studying behavioral neuroscience.
“I’m kinda used to it,” Marty said. “At home [in Switzerland], high school is much harder and I still went to practice every night.”
After graduating, Marty plans to go back to Switzerland and play hockey. While she has no idea where she might play, she said she knows she wants to keep studying neuroscience.
Female hockey players are few and far between in Switzerland, which is partly why Marty decided to come play NCAA hockey.
“We have not even 1,000 players in [Switzerland],” she said. “The [talent] level of players is better here.”
Regardless of what she might do after graduation, she is optimistic about the rest of the season. The Huskies have won four in a row, and now sit at 5-1-1. They begin their Hockey East slate this weekend with two games at Matthews Arena against Vermont.
“If we can keep it up and improve, I have a good feeling,” Marty said. “The new players are enthusiastic. I look forward to the rest of the year.”
