Even though the Bethel and St. Thomas campuses are separated by mere minutes, Kathryn Larson was looking for a change of scenery.
Larson, now a junior at UST, played the first two years of her college career at Bethel, compiling 36 goals and 65 points in 54 games with the Royals.
Still, it was time for a change.
“After attending Bethel for a couple of years, I knew I was ready for a different atmosphere,” said Larson. “I looked into St. Thomas because I knew their health and human performance program was top of the line, and that their hockey team had a tradition of success. I was fortunate to meet some great people and teammates during my time at Bethel.”
With the Tommies this year, the Shoreview, Minn., native has nine goals and 17 points in 13 games. She actually has scored 20 goals over her past 20 games, dating back to last season with Bethel.
“On a personal level, I believe my year so far is going well,” Larson said. “I am so fortunate to have great teammates and coaches. As a transfer, they were all super welcoming and it was very easy to transition into this team. Our team is a very tight-knit group off the ice, which transfers onto the ice. We are playing very well as a unit because of the confidence and trust we have in each other.”
At UST, Larson has seen her offensive numbers continue to be prevalent, but truth be told, she said she prides herself on playing a solid game at both ends of the rink.
“I’ve played both forward and defense, and in high school (at Mounds View), I had coaches that instilled in me the importance of being a two-way player and to focus on the team’s success rather than individual stats,” explained Larson. “Statistics are a by-product of working hard in every zone. A key to our team’s success so far is the selfless attitude each player has. We all want to see success for our teammates and want to win for each other.”
Might that attitude mean the season gets extended come March? Ranked No. 4 with an 11-1-1 overall record, it’s a distinct possibility.
“The national tournament is an absolute goal for our team, but we are taking every game one at a time to reach that goal,” Larson said. “We know we have to respect every opponent and cannot look past any game.”
In the classroom, Larson is an exercise science major with an emphasis on pre-physical therapy. After graduating from St. Thomas, her plan is to attend grad school and pursue a doctorate of physical therapy.
“Short term, I just want to continue to grow as a player and a person,” said Larson. “I want to be an impact player for UST and be a part of continuing their tradition of success. I want to be a great teammate and when I graduate, leave a positive legacy at UST.”
NOTEBOOK
The USCHO.com Division III Women’s Poll released Monday once again had Plattsburgh garnering all 15 first-place votes. The first eight spots remained unchanged, with just No. 9 Castleton and No. 10 Norwich flip-flopping. … No. 3 Adrian blanked Bethel 3-0 Monday night as Jade Walsh made 22 saves. … On Tuesday, Plattsburgh blanked Norwich 6-0, Camille Leonard stopping all 25 shots for her NCAA-best ninth shutout. Six different players scored for the Cardinals; Leonard is also tops in the country with her .975 save percentage and 0.43 GAA. … Williams scored two third-period goals to beat Manhattanville 2-1 Tuesday. … Plattsburgh’s Kayla Meneghin has D-III lead in scoring with 34 points and is also tied with Canton’s Tess Adams with seven power-play goals apiece.
