Field Hockey Takes to the Practice Field
8/15/2008 11:24:29 AM | Field Hockey
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 2007 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Ange Bradley and the rest of the Orange field hockey squad began the 2008 campaign earlier this week. 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.
“Practice is good, fun and exciting. The student-athletes came back in good shape. They are passionate and enthusiastic about the season,” Bradley said. It is awesome to work with a group that’s really motivated to push themselves to be better.”
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The 2007 BIG EAST Coach of the Year Ange Bradley and the rest of the Orange field hockey squad began the 2008 campaign earlier this week. 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.
“Practice is good, fun and exciting. The student-athletes came back in good shape. They are passionate and enthusiastic about the season,” Bradley said. It is awesome to work with a group that’s really motivated to push themselves to be better.”
Bradley welcome’s back the 2006 Atlantic-10 Player of the Year, senior Shannon Taylor. The senior redshirted last season and is excited about this season.
“It feels great to be back with my teammates. It’s always great seeing everyone, but to be back on the field and being able to play is very special,” Bradley said. “For me it’s the last season and I have to give it my all, because this all the time I have left.”
Joining Taylor is sophomore back Maggie Befort. Befort, a 2008 All-BIG EAST Preseason selection has changed positions after being Syracuse’s most prolific scorer in 2007.
“We have set a lot of goals for this year and one of the goals is to allow 18 or less goals. It’s a huge responsibility at center back and I feel as though I’m leading this team to shutouts,” Befort said. Ultimately defense wins games and we want to go as far as we can.”
Helping Taylor and Befort is freshman forward Heather Susek. Susek arrives at Syracuse after winning a medal in the U19 Division at the 2008 National Futures Championship.
“Heather is really just starting to come into her own. I can tell the first couple days she was a little nervous and shy and her eyes were wide open but Heather has a lot of experience behind her,” Bradley said. “She has solid skills and each practice she is getting stronger and stronger with her confidence and speed of the ball.”
Bradley, Taylor, Befort, Susek and the rest of the Orange begin the 2008 season against Old Dominion on Sunday, August 31 at 1 p.m.
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