University of Minnesota Athletics
Bona Previews Bemidji State Series
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - Senior forward Rachael Bona was humbled when she learned her Gopher teammates had voted her as a team captain this season. A natural leader, Bona is vocal on the ice and her work ethic speaks for itself.
With the support of Gopher fans at Ridder Arena, Bona looks forward to this weekend's series against Bemidji State and has high hopes for the rest of the season. Despite already having been part of three of the most successful seasons in Gopher women's hockey history, the Coon Rapids, Minn., native promises that she and her fellow seniors are not done yet.
Gopher Sports: How do you feel about the season so far?
Rachael Bona: I feel like it's going very well. We beat Boston University earlier in the season and have had great wins against Wisconsin and North Dakota. It's off to an awesome start.
GS: How does it feel to host two back-to-back series at Ridder Arena?
RB: It's so nice. After traveling two back-to-back weekends, it's nice to be home at our rink with our crowd. We also appreciate getting to sleep in our own beds.
GS: What does the support of Gopher fans mean to you?
RB: It's awesome. We have the best fans in the whole country. When the crowd is really excited and into the game, it's easier for us to play our game.
GS: What do you need to focus on against Bemidji State?
RB: Bemidji State is a really hard-working team, so I think we need to match their intensity. They played a tough game against Wisconsin last weekend, so we know they will be ready to go. Bemidji State always gives us a hard time.
GS: What does it mean to you to have been named captain?
RB: Being captain is really special to me. In the beginning, I didn't even know if I would be playing hockey at the U of M and now I'm playing here as captain. It's very humbling and cool to know that my teammates voted for me.
GS: As a senior and captain, what has been your biggest takeaway from your hockey career?
RB: Every single game matters. Coach Joel Johnson always talks to us a few times throughout the year about how important every single game is. Losing one game can throw us off at the end of the year by not having home-ice advantage. It's important to take every game seriously knowing that it could have an effect on the end of the season.
GS: What are your hopes for the rest of the year?
RB: I hope that we continue to improve and get better throughout the season. We have already had a great start against really tough teams and some of the best teams in the country. I hope that towards the end of the year, we get to play all those great teams again and make it all the way to Ridder Arena in March for the Frozen Four.
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