One of Nichols School's Finest Brings Hard Work, Leadership to the 614
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| Photo Credit: Jeffrey T Barnes/Sun News |
Julianna Iafallo – Forward,
Nichols School
Shoots: Left
The
last time we took a look at an incoming women's player, we
highlighted Alli Gasuik, one of the two bright stars coming to
Columbus from national prep power Nichols School (Buffalo N.Y.)
This
week we take a look at yet another offensive machine in Julianna
Iafallo.
The
2014 Buffalo News Prep Talk player of the year, Iafallo has the
remarkable ability to look at the net as if the opening were covered
by a giant slice of swiss cheese instead of a goalie.
Last
season with Nichols, she popped home 30 goals and had helpers on 21
others, as she finished her time as a Viking with 70 goals and 56
assists during her three years at the treasure trove in western New
York.
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| Julie made six trips to the USA Hockey National Tournament, reaching the finals twice. (Photo Credit: usahockey.com) |
“Julianna
has been dominating as a player her entire career while excelling in
the classroom as well. She is a player who makes other players around
her better,” Welch said, “She is quiet by nature, but lets her
actions do her talking.” (nicholsschool.org)
One
of the things that separate a good player, from a great player, is
his or her ability to make others around them better. If Iafallo is
able to bring that quality to Woody Hayes Drive, then making the trip
to the rink will be more than worth it to watch her play.
Julianna
will be joining her brother Alex in the Division I collegiate rank in
a few months. A freshman last season for Minnesota-Duluth, Alex
posted 11 goals, 11 assists, and was named to the 2013-14 NCHC
All-Rookie Team.
Much
like a Hollywood actress discovering what botox is, or a teenage girl
being introduced to filters when taking pictures, it was love at
first sight when Iafallo stepped onto the OSU campus.
“Ohio
State was the first place I visited,” Julianna told Matthew Ondesko
of The Sun, a newspaper servicing western New York. “Ever
since I first stepped on the campus I loved it. From the coach, to
the team, the entire atmosphere of the campus, it was just the
perfect fit for me.”
Iafallo
also has experience through playing in USA Hockey National
Championship Tournaments with the Buffalo Bisons travel team and has
participated in USA Hockey National Development Camps over the past
few summers.
This past April, she played in her sixth and final national tournament, finishing with five goals and two assists. Her five lamp-lighters were tied for best in the tournament.
“My
game is probably more play-making than anything,” she told Ondesko.
“I hate being scored on. I would rather not be scored on than
score. I back check a lot. I just hate being scored on.”
It
sounds like head coach Nate Handrahan has himself a winner with this
one.
Team-oriented,
smart, a leader, and a phenomenal two-way player. Julianna seems like
the type of player who, if asked to play all 60 minutes, would find a
way to do so.
The
Buckeyes lost only one forward from last season. Unfortunately, it
was Ally Tarr, one of their most prolific point producers in program
history.
However,
given enough time, the freshman big three of Allison Gasuik, Julianna
Iafallo, and Lauren Spring will provide more than enough firepower to
make goalies see a permanent red light.
Here's Juls on PrepTalkTV further emphasizing her team mentality and how OSU was a "perfect fit" along with other Prep Talk Players of the Year
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