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St. Cloud State University
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Sports
Hangin’ with Ms. Cooper
By Ben Birnell
Published:
Thursday, November 14, 2002
Media Credit: Blair Schlichte
SCSU senior forward Abby Cooper goes up against University of Minnesota players earlier in the season. Cooper scored two goals in SCSU’s 5-3 victory over the University of Wisconsin on Saturday. Cooper now owns four goals on the season to lead the Huskies in goals scored.
In a tough sport like hockey, it’s hard to stay healthy.
What’s even harder is staying healthy enough to play in every game through your entire collegiate career. Pretty impossible, right? Almost, just ask senior SCSU forward Abby Cooper.
Nine games into her senior season, Cooper hasn’t missed a game the entire time she’s worn a Husky jersey, translating into 113 consecutive games.
“I’ve just tried to stay healthy, exercise and do everything right that I can,” Cooper said.
With the time Cooper has logged on the ice, it’s no wonder why she’s ranked third all-time on the SCSU women’s scoring list behind teammate Roxy Stang. In her first year as a Husky, Cooper scored nine goals and tallied six assists. Two of her nine goals tallied were game-winning goals.
Her sophomore season got better as she pumped in 10 goals and had 15 assists. She had 10 multi-point games and was named to the WCHA All-Star team during that year. Last season though was by far Cooper’s most productive.
She accumulated 27 points on the season (11 goals and 16 assists), set a school record with five assists in a two-game span and also had seven multi-point games during that campaign. Early into this season she’s already scored four goals and recorded one assist. Three of her goals came during last weekend’s series against No. 5 Wisconsin.
Cooper attributes the success she’s had with SCSU, to hard work and training.
“Every year I’ve gotten better and better,” she said. “I think it’s due to the coaches, just being on the ice every day and training throughout the year that has made me a better player in the four years that I’ve been here.”
Cooper stated that she tries to go out on the ice with a good attitude every game. She also tries to help out her linemates as much as she can during games. SCSU head coach Jason Lesteberg feels that Cooper is one of the best players the team has, because she tries to put herself in every play while she’s on the ice.
“She puts herself in a position on the ice to score goals,” Lesteberg said. “We’ve asked her to be a leader and that’s what she’s done.”
Junior teammate, and close friend Brie Adams agrees that Cooper is a leader.
“You always know when she’s out on the ice, she’s always talking and it really helps you out as a player,” Adams said. “She’s a great teammate and a great friend.”
Lesteberg said that beyond the goals that Cooper has scored for the team, he knows she’s becoming an excellent player at all ends of the ice.
“She’s got a strong hockey sense in general,” Lesteberg said. “She sees the ice well, she’s a strong player and she can shoot the puck well.”
Cooper had two good games last weekend against Wisconsin. Lesteberg said he thought Cooper put herself in the right spot to score the goals they needed to win.
“It was tied 2-2, she planted herself in front of the net, the pass came from behind and she redirected it in,” Lesteberg said. “So she put herself in a position to score that goal. She’s a pretty strong person.”
Cooper’s playing days began at the young age of seven. Growing up in Michigan, she was first a figure skater and then wanted to be a hockey player like her older brother.
“Hockey looked a lot more fun and looked a lot more intense,” Cooper said.
Cooper also lists her dad as the person who is her biggest supporter and mentor.
“He comes to all my games and he gives me the advice I need,” she said. “He’s always there to support me.”
Cooper and the Huskies continue their season this weekend at the National Hockey Center, looking to improve on their 2-7 record against WCHA rival, the Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks. Game times are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday and 2:05 p.m. on Saturday.
