By Joe Vanden Acker, Director of Athletic Media Relations
    APPLETON, Wis. -- She's headed back and looking to move up.
    Lawrence University women's hockey player Valeria Ansoleaga is returning to the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships to play for her native Spain, and the goal is to win and have the team elevated to a higher division.
    Ansoleaga, a sophomore defender from Madrid, will compete for her home country from April 7-13 in Division II Group A in Bytom, Poland.
    "To move up to the first division, we must win this championship, which means practically winning every match, and that is what we are working toward," Ansoleaga said. "It would be a historic moment for Spain, marking the first time our women's hockey team reaches the first division. Spain has reached the first division only with their U18 team, an accomplishment I lived personally, and keep in my heart together with that mythical gold medal. Today, our goal as a team is to play at our best, stay consistent and ultimately bring home the gold medal."
    Spain is in the group with Chinese Taipei, Iceland, Mexico, North Korea and Poland. Spain opens with a game against Iceland on April 7 and takes on Mexico on April 8. Spain follows with an April 10 game against North Korea and before taking on Chinese Taipei on April 12. Spain finishes with host Poland on April 13.    
    "I am looking forward to stepping on the ice with this team again and proving what we are capable of," Ansoleaga said. "We are a young team with incredible energy and potential, and many of us have played together for years, some even before the U18, which gives us great chemistry. The team environment is great, and this connection will help us through the challenges ahead. Having represented Spain before, I know what to expect at this level, and I understand that achieving our goal won't be easy. It will require discipline, hard work and resilience, which is what makes it so rewarding. Well, also a pinch of luck, as in all sports events."
    Ansoleaga was on the 2024 team that placed second in Division II Group A. Spain went 4-1 in the 2024 tournament with the only setback coming to group champion Kazakhstan. This will be the second time in the past few months that Ansoleaga will compete with her Spanish teammates. She also played in the Olympic qualifying tournament in December.
    "I believe we will be ready to compete at our highest level because we are going to have an intense preparation the previous week," Ansoleaga said. "Moreover, we already played together this year at the pre-Olympic qualifications. We know we will face tough teams, especially Poland, but we are ready to take on the challenge. Every game will be a final, and we are determined to leave everything on the ice."
    Ansoleaga is coming off a college season in which she helped the Vikings to the most victories in the short history of the program. A key player on defense for Lawrence, she helped the team set records for fewest goals allowed and fewest power-play goals allowed. As one of the defenders in front of goalie Sarah Dobrzynski, Ansoleaga helped her goaltender set school records for save percentage and goals against average.
    Ansoleaga wasn't the only Lawrence player to take part in the Olympic qualifying tournament. Pnina Basov, a first-year forward, was able to compete for Israel back in December as well. Basov, who hails from Maalot, Israel, played at the Ontario Hockey Academy before coming to Lawrence last fall. 
    "It is the dream of every young hockey player to one day have the opportunity to represent their home country in an international event," Lawrence coach Greg Moore said. "It's an incredible honor to take the ice wearing your nation's colors, a moment that few get to experience. I do everything I can to support our players in reaching these opportunities because they don't come around every day."
    With a mix of youth and experience, Ansoleaga is pleased with the makeup of the Spanish team and the potential it has.
    "As I said before, we are a very young team but with a variety of players. We have players from college leagues but also some with pro-level experience. While we lost some great players from previous years, we have also gained talented younger players who bring the team fresh energy. This mix of experience and new talent makes us competitive and a fun team to play on," Ansoleaga said.
    "My personal goal is to play at my highest level and contribute as much as I can to the team's success. More than anything, as a team, I'd like to help make history for Spain and pave the way for younger generations to believe in the future of women's hockey in our country. This championship is more than just a tournament, it's a step toward something bigger."