Passing the Torch

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Heading into the 2013 season Syracuse field hockey has a core group of returners, but one rather important position has a vacancy. After goalie Leann Stiver's four-year career came to an end due to graduation last season, the SU is looking to sophomore Jess Jecko to fill the void.

"I understood coming in as a freshman that it was going to be difficult getting the starting spot," Jecko said. "Looking back now at where I was a year ago, I don't think I was ready to jump in the cage. Growing over the year and having Leann there to teach me and mentor me was a great step because she was a great leader and helped grow me to be the player I am today. I learned leadership and the techniques of being a goalie, like how to talk, from Leann."

The goalie position has maintained consistency for a while when looking back at the SU field hockey team under the direction of head coach, Ange Bradley. Stiver started the majority of games during her reign from 2009-2012. Before her, Heather Hess did the same thing for her four years, playing a total of 78 games from 2005-08.

"In the spring I definitely felt the pressure after Leann left— I knew it was my time-to shine," Jecko said. "At first I felt a little pressure and I was thinking that it was all happening so fast, but coming into the season I'm very relaxed and I'm ready to step up and take the role. I'm a lot more confident this year than I was last year and I'm just really looking forward to this season. I don't want to let Leann and Heather down and I want to keep the good name of goalkeepers at Syracuse."

Going into her seventh season as the head coach at Syracuse, Bradley, a former goalie herself, has some experience mentoring standout goalies. In 2008, four-year starter Hess was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and was named to the womensfieldhockey.com All-America third team. Following Hess's stint, Stiver took over the job, starting 74 of her career 82 games and finishing with a save percentage of 73 percent.

Jecko is the next in line to keep up with prestigious reputation of SU goalies.

"The goalkeeping unit has done an outstanding job of developing as a team," Bradley said. "That has happened under the tutelage and leadership of Jess Jecko. She has done a fabulous job of embracing them, engaging them and being their leader."

Jecko said she spent the summer training in Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania High Performance team and was selected to play for the U-21 team.

"I was chosen to play in the U-21 tournament in Virginia and that helped me grow a lot because it made me realize that I can actually play at this level because you're playing against the best U-21 players there," Jecko said. "The experience of the U-21 was a huge confidence booster. Playing there just helped me see a lot of the better players at the college level. Seeing fellow competition there is huge for growth."

In addition, Jecko spent the rest of her summer on campus training with strength and conditioning coach Corey Parker and working on her speed and agility. She said she also took the time to reciprocate the mentoring process by helping freshman Regan Spencer with the transition.

"Jess has grown so much in her ability to take care of the group with her leadership and her understanding of the game," Bradley said. "She has done so much work with video in the off-season and playing in the USA High Performance boosted her confidence and made her realize she can play with anyone in the country."

There are currently three goalkeepers listed on the 2013 roster: Jecko, Spencer and freshman Rebecca Congel.

Although Jecko is the front-runner of the starting goalie competition, Spencer and Congel are learning swiftly and hoping to see some action on the field this season.

"I think I play better when I am competing against someone, so I feel like we're all pushing each other to be better," Spencer said. "Jess is the starter right now and she's doing really well and teaching us a lot, but I don't feel like I have completely no chance of playing. It's a good competition."

In the Orange's scrimmage on Wednesday, Aug. 21 against Lafayette, all three goalkeepers played a period and combined for a shutout against the Leopards.

Syracuse will begin the 2013 campaign on the road against Quinnipiac on Friday, August 30 at 2 p.m. in Hempstead, N.Y. as part of the ASICS Invitational.

Syracuse University Athletics

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