By Jared Sugerman, News Staff
When Dave Flint and his coaching staff recruited players for next season, they were determined to make themselves as offensive as possible, he said.
As of Jan. 28, five recruits had committed themselves to Northeastern for the 2009-10 campaign. Four forwards ‘- Siena Falino (Centerport, N.Y.), Rachel Llanes (San Jose), Casey Pickett (Wilsmington, Mass.) and Kelly Wallace (Libertyville, Ill.) ‘- and one defender, Casie Fields (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), will all become Huskies next fall.
‘We needed a little bit more up front,’ Flint said. ‘We need some more firepower, so that was kind of one of our main focuses recruiting this year, was trying to get some difference makers up front and I think with the kids we got, they’re definitely going to give a big boost to us.’
Flint and his staff targeted skilled players who have been part of winning teams, as the first year head coach tries to improve an offense that is ranked 30th in the nation and a program that recently secured its first 10-win season since 2003-04.
‘It worked out that the kids we targeted were coming from successful programs and they know how win,’ Flint said.’ ‘Some of them are captains on their teams, MVP’s of their teams, so these are really solid kids,’ Flint said.
Falino, Llanes, Pickett and Fields have all been involved with the US National Program, and Wallace won a U14 national title as a member of the Chicago Young Americans in 2004-05.’ Since then, she has played for the Mid Fairfield Stars.
Falino plays for the Portledge school and the Connecticut Polar Bears. In 2007-08, she led the team in goals with 26
Fields played for the Chicago Young Americans U14 and U16 squads and is also involved in the USA national program.
Llanes played for the San Jose Sharks U14 and U16 teams. In 2005-06 she scored 75 goals and added 52 assists to led her U14 team points.
Pickett played for St. Mark’s school as well as the Assabet Valley Club, winning National Championships in 2003 and 2007.
Flint said he is particularly excited about the addition of Pickett, who attended the USA Hockey Festival in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and helped St. Mark’s school to a championship by scoring six goals and adding six assists during the 2007 national tournament.
‘I think just about every Hockey East school has contacted her at some point along the recruiting process,’ Flint said, who also said he hopes to round out his first recruiting class by signing more players this spring.
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