Women's Soccer

NU's Casey Excelling In Two Sports

By Derek Dunning, Assistant Sports Information Director

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Even though Brittany Casey is only a sophomore, she is quickly making her mark on the Norwich University athletics scene.

Casey, from Pointe Claire, Quebec is a two-sport athlete as a member of both the women's soccer and hockey teams.

Last year as a freshman, Casey accomplished more than most athletes get a chance to accomplish in four years of collegiate athletics.

She not only led the Cadet soccer team with 11 goals and five assists, but she also played in the NCAA Division III Championship game for the women's ice hockey team.

The Cadets' cinderella run included knocking off two former national champions in Plattsburgh State and Elmira College before falling short to Amherst in the finals.

"[Last year's hockey season] was a great experience," Casey said. "We weren't expected to get there at all, but we pulled through as a team and played well down the stretch. Even though we lost in the finals, it was an unreal experience."

Hockey was originally the only sport Casey planned on playing at Norwich, but she said her will to always be competing landed her at soccer tryouts last fall.

"I was mainly recruited for hockey," Casey said. "Coach Bolding spoke with me a lot to try and get me to come here. I played soccer, hockey, and softball in high school and then decided last minute that I was going to play soccer here too."

Lucky for women's soccer coach Beth Van Parys.

"It's worked out well for our program that Coach Bolding allows girls to play multiple sports," Van Parys said.  "A lot of hockey coaches won't allow that and we tell that to recruits when they are interested in coming here."

Casey has already surpassed her scoring total from last year with 13 goals and two assists just nine games into the season.

"Last year I was playing more in the midfield rather than at forward," Casey said. "I've been playing forward my whole life and just feel comfortable there."

Her 28 points lead the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and have been an important cog in the Cadets' 6-3 overall and 4-1 GNAC record so far.

"Brittany has filled into the forward spot very well," Van Parys said. "She brings a drive to score and has the tenacity to put the ball in the back of the net. She's aggressive and can see the field well to help open up her teammates. She's just a great overall athlete and that's why she's had such success in two sports here."

Casey said the women's soccer team has made it a goal this season to atone for last year's disappointing results after the Cadets won the league title in 2008.

"We would love to win the conference again," she said. "Last season was tough because we weren't doing as well as we should have been. This season we're near the top of the conference and playing well together. The bonding and atmosphere has been great so far."

Hockey practice officially gets underway on Oct. 15 and Casey will still have four regular season soccer games as well as postseason play before she can suit up and strap on the skates fulltime again.

"It can be tough with the two seasons overlapping," she said. "I initially miss the tryouts for hockey and depending on how far we go for soccer; I can miss a few games for hockey too."

Casey said that once the women's hockey team starts practice, she'll probably skate with them once a week on Sundays until the soccer season is over.

Between playing two collegiate sports and balancing a full slate of classes, free time isn't exactly easy to come by for Casey.

"I've been [playing sports] my whole life though, so I'm pretty good with adapting quickly," she said. "I love both the sports and I've learned a lot about time management playing two sports."

Once the soccer season does come to an end, Casey will have no time to adjust because hockey will be well underway as the women start-up the 2010-2011 season by hosting their inaugural tournament on Oct. 29 and 30.

Casey plays defense on the hockey team, but still managed to score three goals and four assists; including a goal against Amherst in the national championship game.

"This year hockey is going to be very competitive because we've got a strong team returning and a lot of freshmen coming in too."

For now Casey can focus solely on soccer, but in two weeks time she'll be back into dual-sport mode trying to lead the Cadets women's soccer team to another league title, as well as preparing for a hockey season where expectations will be high for a return trip to the championship game.