Northeastern coach Joy Woog allegedly hit a member of the women’s hockey team during a practice, according to former player Pamela Pachal. Pachal cited a number of other incidents of mistreatment caused by the third-year coach.

According to the Pachal, Woog cornered the player into the boards before striking the athlete in the shoulder twice. After the alleged incident, the Pachal stated that the player struck was left crying.

Pachal and Michelle Lorion were cut from the team three weeks ago.

“I felt as though we were summarily dismissed and that it is no representation of our character whatsoever,” said Lorion. “That is one of the things that hurts the most.”

Perhaps the most serious allegation to come fourth from Pachal is that Woog allegedly hit one of her players.

“One of our players got hit by Joy, and after it Michelle and I were brought into the office and yelled at about how we were the ones who were unprofessional,” said Pachal.

Northeastern Athletics Director Dave O’Brien denied that the incident happened.

“As far as we’re concerned there were no incidents of physical abuse,” said O’Brien.

Pachal also cited an incident involving fraudulent signature sheets. The sheets are given to the players to record the hours they have spent towards the sport and sign after filling them out.

“The signature sheet was present but the hours sheet was not, so I refused to sign because I wanted to see the hours sheet presented,” Pachal said. “When I went in and talked to her [Woog], she was really upset and she said something that I remember. She said ‘It doesn’t matter anyway because I already handed a sheet in.’ When I went in to check the sheet, there were two of the same sheets marked with different dates. But they were identical sheets. This was a photocopy.”

Other allegations Pachal made revolve around harassment of team members by Woog via phone and e-mail.

“There are some players who have been on this team who have said that they have gotten threatening phone calls, threats of scholarships being taken away and getting kicked off the team,” Pachal said. “There were messages left on answering machines, people getting phone calls at one in the morning, and obscene e-mails. Other people witnessed this,” said Pachal.

Woog is currently denying all of the allegations that Pachal has brought fourth.

“There is no truth behind any of the allegations, but the university has requested that I make no comment,” said Woog.

Pachal and Lorion also allege that all of the above allegations were brought to the attention of the athletic department. They had meeting with the department on Jan. 8 where the above was discussed at length.

“Our coach felt that it was in the best interest of the team that both players be dismissed,” said O’Brien. “We have done our best to talk with everyone associated with the program and will continue to do so.”

Woog herself said the media and other parties are making the issue a bigger deal than it is.

“People are trying to make it a situation. There were two cancers on our team and they were removed. We are not the ones making this a situation, we’re moving forward and playing hockey,” she said.

According to Pachal and Lorion this is not a new problem as well. Complaints about Woog have allegedly been brought to the athletic department before.

“Ever since she’s been here players have told me that they have voiced complaints about her,” said Pachal. “I don’t think that anybody who treats people they way she does should be able to teach or coach.”

In the past two years, four players have been let go from the team and five have chosen not to come back.