Saturday, August 29
Davidson, N.C.
1:30 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
vs
Ball State
Field Hockey Set to Open 2009 Season This Weekend
8/28/2009 1:22:49 PM | Field Hockey
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Davidson field hockey team will kick off the 2009 regular season with a pair of non-conference matchups this weekend at Belk Turf Field. The Wildcats will take on Ball State in the season opener on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., then face off against Sacred Heart at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Fans that are unable to make it out to the field this weekend can follow all the action via live stats, which will be available for both contests on the weekend. Live stats can be found here.
Scouting the Wildcats: Davidson returns 15 letterwinners from last season's 8-14 squad, who took home fifth place in the NorPac tournament and won five of their final seven games. After the season, the Wildcats earned the program's first-ever national ranking, coming in 26th in the final STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. The 'Cats have also added a heralded group of five freshman, all of whom will make an impact in their rookie seasons. Last year, Davidson recorded a 6-3 record at home, including three-straight to close the schedule.
Scouting the Cardinals: Last year, Ball State went 2-17 overall, including a 1-9 mark in the Mid-American Conference. They have 16 returning letterwinners, and eight starters coming back from 2008. They are led by sophomore Brittany Hammer, who was their top scorer last season with six goals and 15 points overall. They were picked to finish fifth in the MAC in the preseason coaches poll, and are coached by Annette Payne, who has recorded a 31-82 record in her six seasons at the helm for the Cardinals.
Scouting the Pioneers: Sacred Heart is coming off a 7-12 campaign in 2008, going 5-2 in the Northeast Conference and taking home third place. The Pioneers bring back 15 letterwinners and add seven newcomers to this season's squad, who was picked to finish fourth in the NEC preseason coaches poll. They will have to overcome the loss of last season's NEC Offensive Player of the Year, and will be led by junior Dana Luhrs and senior Whitney Russo, who both appeared in all 19 games last year. Russo earned second-team All-NEC honors last season, and will be joined by leading returning scorer Kelsey Zeyher, who scored four goals in 18 games.
The Series: Saturday's contest will be the second meeting all-time for Ball State and Davidson. In the first, which took place last season, the Cardinals took home a 2-0 victory in the finale of the Miami Kick-Off Classic in Oxford, Ohio. This is also the second meeting between Davidson and Sacred Heart. The two teams faced off in 2000, with the Wildcats coming away with the 3-0 home win.
Up Next: Following the weekend contests, the Wildcats will head to Washington, D.C. for a pair of neutral-site games at American University. On Friday, Sept. 4, they will go up against Georgetown, then will take on Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Fans that are unable to make it out to the field this weekend can follow all the action via live stats, which will be available for both contests on the weekend. Live stats can be found here.
Scouting the Wildcats: Davidson returns 15 letterwinners from last season's 8-14 squad, who took home fifth place in the NorPac tournament and won five of their final seven games. After the season, the Wildcats earned the program's first-ever national ranking, coming in 26th in the final STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. The 'Cats have also added a heralded group of five freshman, all of whom will make an impact in their rookie seasons. Last year, Davidson recorded a 6-3 record at home, including three-straight to close the schedule.
Scouting the Cardinals: Last year, Ball State went 2-17 overall, including a 1-9 mark in the Mid-American Conference. They have 16 returning letterwinners, and eight starters coming back from 2008. They are led by sophomore Brittany Hammer, who was their top scorer last season with six goals and 15 points overall. They were picked to finish fifth in the MAC in the preseason coaches poll, and are coached by Annette Payne, who has recorded a 31-82 record in her six seasons at the helm for the Cardinals.
Scouting the Pioneers: Sacred Heart is coming off a 7-12 campaign in 2008, going 5-2 in the Northeast Conference and taking home third place. The Pioneers bring back 15 letterwinners and add seven newcomers to this season's squad, who was picked to finish fourth in the NEC preseason coaches poll. They will have to overcome the loss of last season's NEC Offensive Player of the Year, and will be led by junior Dana Luhrs and senior Whitney Russo, who both appeared in all 19 games last year. Russo earned second-team All-NEC honors last season, and will be joined by leading returning scorer Kelsey Zeyher, who scored four goals in 18 games.
The Series: Saturday's contest will be the second meeting all-time for Ball State and Davidson. In the first, which took place last season, the Cardinals took home a 2-0 victory in the finale of the Miami Kick-Off Classic in Oxford, Ohio. This is also the second meeting between Davidson and Sacred Heart. The two teams faced off in 2000, with the Wildcats coming away with the 3-0 home win.
Up Next: Following the weekend contests, the Wildcats will head to Washington, D.C. for a pair of neutral-site games at American University. On Friday, Sept. 4, they will go up against Georgetown, then will take on Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 5.
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