Sophomore forward Catherine White can always be counted on to demonstrate a prominent role on the women’s ice hockey team. This past weekend, for example, White scored one goal during both games, and tallied an assist in Saturday’s game against St. Lawrence.

Although it’s only the start of her second year of play, White is a huge asset to the team. Currently, she leads the team in scoring, tallying 10 points for the Red. White has also managed to secure the highest career point total of anyone on the Cornell roster, having surpassed the 50-point mark during the game against Harvard earlier this month.

“Catherine is an exceptionally talented and skilled hockey player. She’s someone who can beat you in a lot of different ways,” said head coach Doug Derraugh. “She’s a big, strong forward who can skate very well, has great hands, and can see the ice very well. She’s difficult in one-on-one situations and is great at scoring on the net.”

As a freshman last year, White saw a lot of game time, playing in every contest during the 2008-09 season. She finished with 44 points, ranking second on the team. With these numbers, she placed first among ECAC freshmen in terms of both goals scored and assists, having made 18 and 26, respectively. With these statistics from a year of playing under her belt, White is to take on a larger role in leading the team.

“She’s expected to be a leader at both ends of the ice, specifically with the power plays and penalty plays, as she’s involved in our special teams,” Derraugh said.

Teammate and senior forward Melanie Jue agreed that White’s leadership roles have increased.

“She’s a sophomore this year who has definitely stepped up since she was a freshman, and she is taking on the role of someone to look up to,” Jue said. “She’s a great player all-around, and is always making huge contributions to the team.”

As this upcoming weekend is foreseen to be one of the toughest road trips for the Red, White is someone to look out for, as she will be a valuable player for a team that hopes to come back to Ithaca with wins after tough games against Princeton and Quinnipiac.