By Madeline Sattler, News Correspondent
In ice hockey, goaltender is considered one of the hardest jobs in the sport. It takes patience, agility and emotional strength. It takes practice and determination to succeed.
Northeastern is tending senior goalie, Florence Schelling, has spent years perfecting her goal skills and has had an solid career for the Huskies.
Schelling was born in Oberengstringen, Switzerland. So far this season, Schelling has shutout six opponents.
“It makes a world of difference in the game, she’s such a solid goalie that you know she’s going to get every shot,” sophomore defender Maggie DiMasi said.
Going into Tuesday’s Beanpot, Schelling was tied with Victoria Vigilanti of Quinnipiac University and Alex Rigsby of University of Wisconsin for the most shutouts in the nation.
Heading into Saturday’s loss to Boston University, Schelling had allowed one goal or less in the previous six games, in which the Huskies were 5-0-1.
“Everyone’s happy, we are happy we’re winning,” Schelling said.
This season, Schelling has made 612 saves for a save percentage of .946. with a 1.51 goals scored against per game average. Overall the team is 15-5-3 with Schelling guarding the net and she has already more wins this season than in any of her previous three seasons on the team.
“She’s a world class player,” said recent NU hire and goalie coach Todd Lampert. “Good goalies make the hard saves look easy and the easy ones look easy and she does that.”
Schelling has won many Hockey East awards this season. She was named defensive player of the week six times this year, most recently for the week of Jan. 16, and was October’s goaltender of the month.
“From a coaching standpoint, it’s comforting knowing you have a solid goalie,” head coach David Flint said.
Flint, who is in his fourth season with the Huskies, said he has coached many talented goalies, but he noted that Schelling was one of the best he’s ever seen.
Schelling’s teammates were also quick to compliment their goalkeeper.
“She’s so good and so calm that you are never worried on the ice that she won’t make a save,” said freshman forward Kendall Coyne.
Earlier this week, Schelling was named to the Women’s Hockey East Association’s (WHEA) All-Decade Team. The WHEA is celebrating its tenth year. Schelling was the only current Husky of seven to be named to the team. Coach Flint was not surprised to hear the news his goalie received this honor. Schelling, on the other had, was quite shocked to learn she was named to the All-Decade Team.
“That’s definitely a great honor – I didn’t even know there was a team like this,” Schelling said.
Other notable awards Schelling has received during her Northeastern career include WHEA player of the year for the 2009-2010 season.
Schelling was also a finalist for the 2010 Patty Kazneier Award. Players have to demonstrate outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, competitiveness and a love of hockey in order to receive a nomination.
“She’s put up some impressive numbers and has had an impressive career,” Flint said.
Off of ice at Matthews, Schelling has been a member of the Switzerland national team since 2005, and has competed in three world championships and the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.
“We’re an awesome team and the vibe there is amazing,” Schelling said of her team in Switzerland.
In 2008, she helped Switzerland to a fourth place finish in the World Championships by knocking off number two Sweden 4-3 in a shootout. Schelling was the second ranked goalie in the tournament that year, with a .919 save percentage and 170 saves. She was also the only goalie in the tournament to play every minute of every game.
“It’s always a great experience,” Schelling said. “And my teammates are a lot of fun.”
In the 2006 Olympics, Schelling averaged 2.4 goals against and had a .939 save percentage. The Swiss finished seventh that year thanks to Schelling’s efforts. In 2010, the team finished fifth, behind her 160 saves in five games.
“Obviously it was [an] amazing [and] great experience and everything but I can’t tell you how it really was,” said Schelling. “You’ve got to experience it for yourself.”
Schelling is not exactly sure what her post-graduation plans include. Right now she is focusing on finishing the season with her teammates and winning the upcoming Beanpot tournament.
“This is going to be my last Beanpot, so I’m definitely hoping to win that,” Schelling said. “I’m excited to play the last couple games of the season.”
