Otto's leadership helping Women's Hockey take on challenges in 2014-15

Story written for January 30 game program

Uncertainty faced the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Hockey team coming into the 2014-15 season. The Falcons were in a transition phase with the hiring of new head coach Steve Fabiilli, and while many of the players were back from last winter, a coaching change brings unknowns with it.

When changes are happening throughout a program, strong leadership is needed. In this case, the Falcons needed a captain who could provide leadership and help this team move forward in 2014-15. The player they turned to was senior Libby Otto and the choice has certainly paid dividends.

"I was nervous at first because we have a new coach and I didn't know what his expectations were", Otto said, when talking about her selection as the team's captain. "I felt I had more responsibility as a leader to connect the team to the coach."

Certainly there was a learning curve at first the captain and coach, but Otto's strong leadership ability and Fabiilli's coaching strategy helped pave the way for a smooth transition. The Falcons responded well behind the leadership of Otto as well, storming out to a 5-2-1 start in the month of November.

Otto was a natural choice for a team captain, as she has served in a leading role several times throughout her career. During her sophomore and junior seasons, the Stillwater, Minn. native served in an assistant captain role before putting the "C" on her jersey this season. CUW has several returning players from both of those teams, making Otto a natural choice to lead the squad.

She also has seen it all as a player, from success at the high school ranks, where her team won a state championship, to both struggles and success at the collegiate ranks in her first three seasons with the Falcons. Otto also has faced plenty of adversity, including missing most of her sophomore season due to a season-ending injury. She has faced numerous challenges, but has always been a strong leader and a player her teammates can rely on and turn to.

She's also faced challenges in the classroom. The nursing major has to balance her academic load with her hockey season. However, with the 'get it done mentality' which Otto and the Falcons apply, she has been able to lead balance, being a strong student and a leader on the ice. Otto is also a two-time All-NCHA Academic selection.

"I've definitely felt the added pressure of balancing academics and trying to lead this team farther than we have been," Otto said. "I think I have grown from the experience. We have that attitude on and off the ice of we're setting the bar here, this is what we're going to do and we're going to do it."

The results on the ice for the Falcons this season have been mixed. On one hand, CUW has proven it can skate with any team in the highly-competitive NCHA. On the other hand, the Falcons are 7-8-3 and still looking for more consistent play and, of course, more wins.

Take the last four games for instance for Otto and the Falcons. In that stretch, CUW has taken on NCHA-leader and fifth-ranked Adrian, and always-challenging St. Scholastica. The Falcons have shown an ability to compete in those games with two ties and a pair of one-goal losses, but for Otto and her teammates that won't suffice.

"We are playing well, but we're not satisfied," Otto said of her team's season so far. "We are right on the edge and in the games remaining we need to keep competing at a higher level and win those games."

The Falcons have opportunities over the next four weekends. With the strong leadership of players like Libby Otto, the Falcons will no doubt continue to compete at a high level and will be an exciting, fun team to watch down the stretch as they close the regular season and get ready for the playoffs.