Field Hockey Returns to Campus with High Hopes
8/12/2008 8:26:02 AM | Field Hockey
Syracuse welcomes back head coach Ange Bradley and her squad of returning veterans with high hopes of combining knowledge and experience with nine freshmen to conquer this year’s schedule. After finishing the 2007 season with an overall record of 12-7 and making it to the BIG EAST semifinals, the team looks forward to molding into a stronger, faster, more aggressive squad.
Bradley welcomes nine freshmen to the team. Five of whom represented Orange field hockey at the National Future Championships in Virginia Beach, Va. These five newcomers are the first Orange players to be selected to participate in the championship. With this experience in spring play, along with seven of its players being selected to participate in USA Field Hockey’s High Performance Training program, the team is preparing itself for success this season.
"I think we are gaining strength all over the field. I think we will be a much more skilled team this year and much faster. We have good speed and good stick skills to put the ball in position to be able to finish, which is really exciting," Bradley said.
With expertise from returners, such as returning redshirts, senior Shannon Taylor and sophomores Lena Voelmle and Lindsey Conrad, and the knowledge gained over spring and summer play, SU’s field hockey is looking to come out strong into its fall schedule.
"We have such a good group of student-athletes who are committed to taking this program to the next level, winning a BIG EAST Conference championship and pursuing a national championship. I am really excited about the fall season ahead," Bradley explained.
The Orange plays 19 regular-season games, including six BIG EAST contests. The tough Syracuse schedule features matches against five teams that qualified for the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
"I wanted to play a more difficult non-conference schedule because I feel it is important to have an insurance policy in the event that we don’t win the BIG EAST Championship," Bradley said. "To get the at-large bid we need to have a good non-league schedule and win those games, so that we can get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament."
Forwards
Senior Brittany Shannon, junior Tracy Deitrick and sophomores Lindsey Conrad, Kristin Girouard and Shelby Schraden are returning to the forward line this year. Adding to the line’s strength are freshmen Nicole Nelson, Heather Susek and Kahli Vojkovic.
"I think we are going to be really good. Heather Susek is coming out of high school scoring a lot of goals. Everybody I recruited is a scorer," Bradley said. "Our backs and midfielders create our scoring opportunities and our forwards just have to be in the right place to get the rebounds and clean up the work of everybody else."
Last year the team was shooting to break the Syracuse University record of goals scored (58). SU was five goals short, but the Orange is still looking to conquer it this year.
"It is always a focus; I would rather win a game 5-4 than 1-0," Bradley said. "I like to attack and I like an aggressive, fast-paced style of play, so we want to take that goal and blow it out of the water."
Sophomore Lindsey Conrad
•The 2006 Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year at Richmond.
Junior Tracy Deitrick
• Registered first career goal last season.
Sophomore Kristin Girouard
• Scored two game-winning goals last year.
Sophomore Shelby Schraden
• Notched two goals and an assist in 2007.
Senior Brittany Shannon
• Recorded three assists last season.
Midfielders
Senior Shannon Taylor and sophomore Lena Voelmle, along with freshmen Mariana Vernet and Martina Loncarica comprise the Orange midfield.
"We will have some midfield play this year which we missed out on a bit last year," Bradley commented. "Offense is generated by the work of others and the midfielders have the opportunity to increase the forward line’s aggressiveness by giving them key passes for scoring opportunities."
Senior Shannon Taylor
• The 2006 Atlantic-10 Player of the Year at Richmond.
Sophomore Lena Voelmle
• Participated in USA Field Hockey’s High Performance program.
Defenders
Senior Heather Doran, sophomore Kim Coyle and sophomore Maggie Befort, who made the switch from offense to defense, return as SU’s top defenders. The Orange also adds six newcomers in Shannon Connolly, Danielle Czysz, Celeste DiFerdinando, Giselle Schlegel, Anne-Sophie van der Post and Erika Wachter, to the backline, giving SU a lot of depth.
"We are a lot faster and we move better collectively as a unit. I think our defense definitely will be stronger," Bradley said. "Maggie Befort moved into the center back position. She learned the position during the spring and continues to do a really solid job."
Sophomore Maggie Befort
• Named to the womensfieldhockey.com all-rookie squad.
Sophomore Kim Coyle
• Started 18 games last season.
Senior Heather Doran
• Notched first career assist in 2007.
Goalkeepers
Senior Heather Hess and sophomore Christina Puggi are back as Syracuse’s goalkeepers. Hess has played in 54 career games, making 268 saves. Puggi played in eight games last season, tallying 16 saves.
Senior Heather Hess
• BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year in 2005.
Sophomore Christina Puggi
• Recorded a 1.44 goals-against-average in eight games.
