Field Hockey Seeks Continued Success After Capturing 2005 ECAC Title
Posted on Wed Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2006
GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Gettysburg's field hockey team looks to kick off its 2006 season after successfully closing the 2005 season with an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship.
The Bullets have set their 2006 goal at winning the Centennial Conference (CC). After finishing second in the conference in 2005 and advancing to the conference tournament championship game before falling to Ursinus, who went on to the national semifinals, Gettysburg hopes to improve upon its success in 2006.
Head coach Barb Jordan knows that winning the competitive CC is no easy task.
"That's just the nature of the game and the nature of the conference. No matter who you are playing, you've got to play your best because I really do believe that on any given day anybody can win the game. It's so close."
The Bullets will rely on several young players to fill significant roles vacated by the Class of 2005.
"I don't expect to replace them," Jordan says of her seniors from a season ago. "I think every year it is definitely different with the type of leadership you have. But we do have great role models in terms of leadership. We have captains who can lead by example, and they are hard workers and have a great attitude."
The trio of captains leading the 2006 Gettysburg Field Hockey campaign are Maura Downey (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic), Laura Frondutti (Media, Pa./Penncrest) and Sarah Latta (West Chester, Pa./Henderson). These three will lead a group of 18 returning letterwinners from the 2005 team that went 17-6 overall, 10-2 in the Centennial Conference.
Gettysburg lost five seniors, all of whom started, to graduation. Meg Goddu, (Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-Centennial) set the Gettysburg single-season goals record in 2005. The departure of Goddu, along with Bridget Seidel, who was third on the team in points, and Becky Latta, (First-Team All-Centennial) who led Gettysburg in assists, makes space for a lot of new scorers. Lauren Eby, the Bullets other central midfielder along with Latta also graduated along with stalwart defender Jamie Heeneke (Second-Team All-Centennial).
The Bullets will look to Krissy Browning (Baldwin, Md./Fallston) to shoulder a large part of the offensive load. Second on the team in points as a sophomore last year with eight goals and five assists, Browning has Jordan's confidence that she is up to the challenge.
"Because she is such a natural athlete, she's going to have an impact on every game that she plays," said Jordan.
The coaching staff is also considering moving Downey forward for added point production.
"We're playing around with maybe trying Maura up there, but she is such a strong force in the midfield that we don't want to lose that by pushing her up too high."
Downey finished last season fourth on the squad in scoring with 12 goals and 3 assists.
Cristi Farrell (Bromall, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame), Amy Morris (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr School), Essie Mallonee (Baltimore, Md./Park School) and Frondutti will all likely share time at the forward position. Morris contributed two goals and two assists in 2005, while Frondutti chipped in two tallies. Mallonee netted one.
In the midfield, a host of experienced returners will look to slide into more prominent roles. Molly Myer (Springvale, Maine/North Yarmouth Academy) brings experience to the midfield after playing in 16 games last season, including three starts.
Amy Schneider (Allentown, Pa./Moravian Academy) also made 16 appearances, including seven starts, in 2006, netting a goal. Sophomore Anne Ritter (Selingsgrove, Pa./Selingsgrove) who played more and more as last season progressed will also be relied upon in the midfield in 2006.
Latta, who started every game last year as a sophomore, will return to anchor the defensive unit along with Michelle Marsnick (Towaco, N.J./Montville Township), who earned 20 starts in 2006.
Sophomores Michelle Harpster (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) and Nikki Dyer (Kildeer, Ill./Stevenson) will likely compete for the third defender spot on the line that allowed the conference's fewest goals per game (1.35) a season ago.
The Bullets return a substantial reason for their miserly goals-against average in the form of netminder Katherine Corkhill (Paoli, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame). Corkhill earned Honorable Mention All-Centennial honors in 2005, garnering a conference-high eight shutouts to go along with a 1.28 goals against average, also tops in the conference.
Jordan credits Corkhill's ability to stay calm under pressure for her success as well as for part of the success of the entire defensive unit.
"Because she stays calm and keeps things in perspective I think it helps the defense do the same thing."
Jordan credits assistant coach Jenny Lindner for the cohesiveness of her defensive unit.
"Having Jenny Lindner here for four seasons is absolutely critical for our defense. She's molded them since the time she started here and every year they've gotten stronger."
The coaching staff is confident that its defense will be just as stingy in 2006.
"The defense especially will be able to pick up quickly where we left off last year because we have so many returners and because they know our style," Jordan said.
In addition to the returners, Jordan is hoping for contributions from some new faces. Courtney Powell (Cochranville, Pa./Octorara) brings exceptional playing experience from high school that the coaching staff hopes will result in significant playing time off the bench. Molly Latta (West Chester, Pa./Henderson), sister of Becky and Sarah, is another freshman who could contribute in a short time.
The field hockey team will also make a shift in 2006 to play their home conference schedule on Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium.
"I'm excited that once we get to conference games that our home games will be on turf because I think the game is moving in that direction," Jordan said of the change of venue.
With the veteran corps of defensive returners and a mix of youth and experience in the midfield and on the front line, the Bullets are confident that they will find success in 2006.
The Bullets kick of their 2006 schedule at Eastern Mennonite on Sept. 1 and follow that game with a contest at Lynchburg the next day. Gettysburg's home opener is Sept. 8 against Randolph-Macon on Memorial Field, and they will kick off their conference schedule at Swarthmore on Sept. 23.
Centennial Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) - Points
1. Ursinus (10) - 100
2. Gettysburg - 88
3. Johns Hopkins (1) - 80
4. Franklin & Marshall - 66
5. Washington (Md.) - 62
6. McDaniel - 59
7. Swarthmore - 50
8. Muhlenberg - 43
9. Dickinson - 24
10. Haverford - 22
11. Bryn Mawr - 11
GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Gettysburg's field hockey team looks to kick off its 2006 season after successfully closing the 2005 season with an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship.
The Bullets have set their 2006 goal at winning the Centennial Conference (CC). After finishing second in the conference in 2005 and advancing to the conference tournament championship game before falling to Ursinus, who went on to the national semifinals, Gettysburg hopes to improve upon its success in 2006.
Head coach Barb Jordan knows that winning the competitive CC is no easy task.
"That's just the nature of the game and the nature of the conference. No matter who you are playing, you've got to play your best because I really do believe that on any given day anybody can win the game. It's so close."
The Bullets will rely on several young players to fill significant roles vacated by the Class of 2005.
"I don't expect to replace them," Jordan says of her seniors from a season ago. "I think every year it is definitely different with the type of leadership you have. But we do have great role models in terms of leadership. We have captains who can lead by example, and they are hard workers and have a great attitude."
The trio of captains leading the 2006 Gettysburg Field Hockey campaign are Maura Downey (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic), Laura Frondutti (Media, Pa./Penncrest) and Sarah Latta (West Chester, Pa./Henderson). These three will lead a group of 18 returning letterwinners from the 2005 team that went 17-6 overall, 10-2 in the Centennial Conference.
Gettysburg lost five seniors, all of whom started, to graduation. Meg Goddu, (Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-Centennial) set the Gettysburg single-season goals record in 2005. The departure of Goddu, along with Bridget Seidel, who was third on the team in points, and Becky Latta, (First-Team All-Centennial) who led Gettysburg in assists, makes space for a lot of new scorers. Lauren Eby, the Bullets other central midfielder along with Latta also graduated along with stalwart defender Jamie Heeneke (Second-Team All-Centennial).
The Bullets will look to Krissy Browning (Baldwin, Md./Fallston) to shoulder a large part of the offensive load. Second on the team in points as a sophomore last year with eight goals and five assists, Browning has Jordan's confidence that she is up to the challenge.
"Because she is such a natural athlete, she's going to have an impact on every game that she plays," said Jordan.
The coaching staff is also considering moving Downey forward for added point production.
"We're playing around with maybe trying Maura up there, but she is such a strong force in the midfield that we don't want to lose that by pushing her up too high."
Downey finished last season fourth on the squad in scoring with 12 goals and 3 assists.
Cristi Farrell (Bromall, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame), Amy Morris (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr School), Essie Mallonee (Baltimore, Md./Park School) and Frondutti will all likely share time at the forward position. Morris contributed two goals and two assists in 2005, while Frondutti chipped in two tallies. Mallonee netted one.
In the midfield, a host of experienced returners will look to slide into more prominent roles. Molly Myer (Springvale, Maine/North Yarmouth Academy) brings experience to the midfield after playing in 16 games last season, including three starts.
Amy Schneider (Allentown, Pa./Moravian Academy) also made 16 appearances, including seven starts, in 2006, netting a goal. Sophomore Anne Ritter (Selingsgrove, Pa./Selingsgrove) who played more and more as last season progressed will also be relied upon in the midfield in 2006.
Latta, who started every game last year as a sophomore, will return to anchor the defensive unit along with Michelle Marsnick (Towaco, N.J./Montville Township), who earned 20 starts in 2006.
Sophomores Michelle Harpster (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) and Nikki Dyer (Kildeer, Ill./Stevenson) will likely compete for the third defender spot on the line that allowed the conference's fewest goals per game (1.35) a season ago.
The Bullets return a substantial reason for their miserly goals-against average in the form of netminder Katherine Corkhill (Paoli, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame). Corkhill earned Honorable Mention All-Centennial honors in 2005, garnering a conference-high eight shutouts to go along with a 1.28 goals against average, also tops in the conference.
Jordan credits Corkhill's ability to stay calm under pressure for her success as well as for part of the success of the entire defensive unit.
"Because she stays calm and keeps things in perspective I think it helps the defense do the same thing."
Jordan credits assistant coach Jenny Lindner for the cohesiveness of her defensive unit.
"Having Jenny Lindner here for four seasons is absolutely critical for our defense. She's molded them since the time she started here and every year they've gotten stronger."
The coaching staff is confident that its defense will be just as stingy in 2006.
"The defense especially will be able to pick up quickly where we left off last year because we have so many returners and because they know our style," Jordan said.
In addition to the returners, Jordan is hoping for contributions from some new faces. Courtney Powell (Cochranville, Pa./Octorara) brings exceptional playing experience from high school that the coaching staff hopes will result in significant playing time off the bench. Molly Latta (West Chester, Pa./Henderson), sister of Becky and Sarah, is another freshman who could contribute in a short time.
The field hockey team will also make a shift in 2006 to play their home conference schedule on Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium.
"I'm excited that once we get to conference games that our home games will be on turf because I think the game is moving in that direction," Jordan said of the change of venue.
With the veteran corps of defensive returners and a mix of youth and experience in the midfield and on the front line, the Bullets are confident that they will find success in 2006.
The Bullets kick of their 2006 schedule at Eastern Mennonite on Sept. 1 and follow that game with a contest at Lynchburg the next day. Gettysburg's home opener is Sept. 8 against Randolph-Macon on Memorial Field, and they will kick off their conference schedule at Swarthmore on Sept. 23.
Centennial Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) - Points
1. Ursinus (10) - 100
2. Gettysburg - 88
3. Johns Hopkins (1) - 80
4. Franklin & Marshall - 66
5. Washington (Md.) - 62
6. McDaniel - 59
7. Swarthmore - 50
8. Muhlenberg - 43
9. Dickinson - 24
10. Haverford - 22
11. Bryn Mawr - 11
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