Field Hockey Opens 2010 Season in D.C. Friday
8/25/2010 10:04:08 AM | Field Hockey
DAVIDSON, N.C.- Returning all but two starters to a talented squad, expectations have never been higher for the Davidson field hockey team. The 2010 season begins at a tournament hosted by Georgetown Friday against Bryant and Saturday against St. Francis, while the home opener is Sept. 4 at 12 p.m. versus Towson.
“This should be the best team I've had at Davidson because we have so much experience and very good players,” said head coach Ginny Sutton Turner.
The Wildcats are coming off a season in which they finished 7-12, but nearly scored a first-round upset of perennial power California in the NorPac Tournament. The Golden Bears needed extra time to escape with a 2-1 win.
Looking to carry the momentum of a strong finish into the new season, the experienced 'Cats were able to devote more time to improving team play as opposed to individual fundamentals during the spring. A talented group of incoming freshmen will bolster the squad and make an immediate impact on the field.
A challenging slate awaits Davidson this season, as 2009 NCAA tournament participants Wake Forest and Richmond will be among the opponents. However, the early season tests will prepare the Wildcats for what could shape up to be a special year in conference play.
With Davidson's Belk Turf Field serving as the host venue for this season's NorPac Conference Tournament, the 2010 Wildcat field hockey team would like nothing more than to make history right at home.
Attack
Davidson boasts an experienced group of forwards with senior Ellie Szykowny, junior Christine Rua and sophomore Finley Amato leading the charge.
Amato was one of the team's top scorers last season, tallying four goals and an assist in her rookie campaign. Szykowny garnered the final NorPac east Offensive Player of the Week award of the 2009 regular season after scoring a late game-winning goal over Longwood.
“Ellie is an extremely smart player,” said Sutton Turner. “Ru' has an unbelievable drive to the cage, so we'll be looking for her to take some more shots. Finley is the most powerful and dangerous, so we'll be looking for big things from her.”
Senior Courtney Tobe, junior Meg Jarrell and sophomore Brit Donaldson will all see time in the rotation up front. Speedy newcomer Tyler McFayden is expected to contribute early.
Midfield
The midfield is expected to be the strongest part of the 2010 Wildcats, as All-NorPac seniors Jennie Mostellar and Clare Perry look to build on a stellar 2009 campaign. Mostellar, Perry and junior Hannah English led the team in scoring last year, while sophomore Annie Evans ranked fifth on the squad. Junior Gray Robinson, one of just three players to start all 19 games for the 'Cats last season, will also bolster the unit.
“I see the midfield as the backbone of our team this year,” said Sutton Turner. “They have plenty of experience and will be the dominant players for us.”
Newcomers Sydney Schreiner, Brooke Osborne and Floor Wolfhagen bring solid skill sets and will challenge the returners for playing time.
Defense
A pair of juniors, Hannah Lawrence and Steph Meador, will anchor the 'Cats' defensive unit after gaining valuable experience as starters last season. Meador started all 19 games and tallied two defensive saves in 2009.
“We had a very young defensive group last season, but Steph and Hannah both stepped up,” said Sutton Turner. “They have continued to improve during the offseason, so we'll look to them to anchor the defense again this season.”
Sophomore Madison Parrish will make her Davidson debut after redshirting last season. Juniors Amanda Vredenburgh and Krista Jackson will also factor in, while freshman Kelsey Dwyer will look to compete for playing time early on.
Goalkeepers
With the graduation of Christa Goeke, sophomore Sarah Fisher will step in as the Wildcats' last line of defense. Fisher saw action in just six games in 2009, but her unshakeable confidence and strong command in front of the cage has left no doubt that she is up to the task. She saw plenty of work during the spring as the team's lone keeper.
“Sarah is a great leader in the backfield and very athletic,” said Sutton Turner. “She'll be outstanding for us as a starter.”
Freshman Carolyn Macek will give the Wildcats another talented option in the cage. Smart and athletic, Macek will challenge Fisher for playing time as she adjusts to the college game.
Schedule
The Wildcats' 12-game non-conference schedule will have a different look in 2010, as the 'Cats will face just four opponents from their 2009 season: Wake Forest, Georgetown, Sacred Heart and VCU.
The 'Cats will look to get off to a strong start in Washington, D.C. in a tournament hosted by Georgetown, challenging Bryant in the opener Aug. 27 and taking on St. Francis the following day. Davidson will open their home slate at Belk Turf Field Sept. 4 at 12 p.m. against Towson and then make the short trip to Winston-Salem, N.C. (Wake Forest) for a neutral site contest against Lafayette on Sept. 5.
Sutton Turner will look to lead Davidson to a victory over her alma mater, William & Mary, on Sept. 10 in Williamsburg, Va. The 'Cats will remain there and meet Penn Sept. 12 in what will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Davidson returns home for four of the next five games, but the stakes only get higher. Wake Forest, which finished No. 7 in the final Kookaburra/NFCHA Division I National Coaches Poll last season, visits Davidson Sept. 17. The Wildcats will then play their first NorPac match of the season at Radford before returning home for their next three contests.
The 'Cats will welcome Richmond, the 19th-ranked team nationally at the end of 2009, in the first game of the homestand Sept. 25. Georgetown visits the following day and Longwood arrives Oct. 2 for the second NorPac game of the season.
The Wildcats will spend fall break in New England, challenging Brown and Maine in Providence, R.I. The game against Maine will pit the north and south extremes of the NCAA Division I field hockey map against each other. The 'Cats will conclude the trip in Connecticut to face Sacred Heart.
VCU visits Davidson in the final non-conference tilt Oct. 16. The 'Cats will hit the road to face conference foes Appalachian State and Longwood before returning home to face Radford (Oct. 29) and Appalachian State (Oct. 31) to conclude the regular season.
The field hockey season will be far from over in Davidson though. The NorPac East and West divisions will meet for the NorPac Tournament, Nov. 4-6. Stanford will be looking to defend their 2009 title, but the Wildcats will be looking to impress on their home turf.
“This should be the best team I've had at Davidson because we have so much experience and very good players,” said head coach Ginny Sutton Turner.
The Wildcats are coming off a season in which they finished 7-12, but nearly scored a first-round upset of perennial power California in the NorPac Tournament. The Golden Bears needed extra time to escape with a 2-1 win.
Looking to carry the momentum of a strong finish into the new season, the experienced 'Cats were able to devote more time to improving team play as opposed to individual fundamentals during the spring. A talented group of incoming freshmen will bolster the squad and make an immediate impact on the field.
A challenging slate awaits Davidson this season, as 2009 NCAA tournament participants Wake Forest and Richmond will be among the opponents. However, the early season tests will prepare the Wildcats for what could shape up to be a special year in conference play.
With Davidson's Belk Turf Field serving as the host venue for this season's NorPac Conference Tournament, the 2010 Wildcat field hockey team would like nothing more than to make history right at home.
Attack
Davidson boasts an experienced group of forwards with senior Ellie Szykowny, junior Christine Rua and sophomore Finley Amato leading the charge.
Amato was one of the team's top scorers last season, tallying four goals and an assist in her rookie campaign. Szykowny garnered the final NorPac east Offensive Player of the Week award of the 2009 regular season after scoring a late game-winning goal over Longwood.
“Ellie is an extremely smart player,” said Sutton Turner. “Ru' has an unbelievable drive to the cage, so we'll be looking for her to take some more shots. Finley is the most powerful and dangerous, so we'll be looking for big things from her.”
Senior Courtney Tobe, junior Meg Jarrell and sophomore Brit Donaldson will all see time in the rotation up front. Speedy newcomer Tyler McFayden is expected to contribute early.
Midfield
The midfield is expected to be the strongest part of the 2010 Wildcats, as All-NorPac seniors Jennie Mostellar and Clare Perry look to build on a stellar 2009 campaign. Mostellar, Perry and junior Hannah English led the team in scoring last year, while sophomore Annie Evans ranked fifth on the squad. Junior Gray Robinson, one of just three players to start all 19 games for the 'Cats last season, will also bolster the unit.
“I see the midfield as the backbone of our team this year,” said Sutton Turner. “They have plenty of experience and will be the dominant players for us.”
Newcomers Sydney Schreiner, Brooke Osborne and Floor Wolfhagen bring solid skill sets and will challenge the returners for playing time.
Defense
A pair of juniors, Hannah Lawrence and Steph Meador, will anchor the 'Cats' defensive unit after gaining valuable experience as starters last season. Meador started all 19 games and tallied two defensive saves in 2009.
“We had a very young defensive group last season, but Steph and Hannah both stepped up,” said Sutton Turner. “They have continued to improve during the offseason, so we'll look to them to anchor the defense again this season.”
Sophomore Madison Parrish will make her Davidson debut after redshirting last season. Juniors Amanda Vredenburgh and Krista Jackson will also factor in, while freshman Kelsey Dwyer will look to compete for playing time early on.
Goalkeepers
With the graduation of Christa Goeke, sophomore Sarah Fisher will step in as the Wildcats' last line of defense. Fisher saw action in just six games in 2009, but her unshakeable confidence and strong command in front of the cage has left no doubt that she is up to the task. She saw plenty of work during the spring as the team's lone keeper.
“Sarah is a great leader in the backfield and very athletic,” said Sutton Turner. “She'll be outstanding for us as a starter.”
Freshman Carolyn Macek will give the Wildcats another talented option in the cage. Smart and athletic, Macek will challenge Fisher for playing time as she adjusts to the college game.
Schedule
The Wildcats' 12-game non-conference schedule will have a different look in 2010, as the 'Cats will face just four opponents from their 2009 season: Wake Forest, Georgetown, Sacred Heart and VCU.
The 'Cats will look to get off to a strong start in Washington, D.C. in a tournament hosted by Georgetown, challenging Bryant in the opener Aug. 27 and taking on St. Francis the following day. Davidson will open their home slate at Belk Turf Field Sept. 4 at 12 p.m. against Towson and then make the short trip to Winston-Salem, N.C. (Wake Forest) for a neutral site contest against Lafayette on Sept. 5.
Sutton Turner will look to lead Davidson to a victory over her alma mater, William & Mary, on Sept. 10 in Williamsburg, Va. The 'Cats will remain there and meet Penn Sept. 12 in what will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Davidson returns home for four of the next five games, but the stakes only get higher. Wake Forest, which finished No. 7 in the final Kookaburra/NFCHA Division I National Coaches Poll last season, visits Davidson Sept. 17. The Wildcats will then play their first NorPac match of the season at Radford before returning home for their next three contests.
The 'Cats will welcome Richmond, the 19th-ranked team nationally at the end of 2009, in the first game of the homestand Sept. 25. Georgetown visits the following day and Longwood arrives Oct. 2 for the second NorPac game of the season.
The Wildcats will spend fall break in New England, challenging Brown and Maine in Providence, R.I. The game against Maine will pit the north and south extremes of the NCAA Division I field hockey map against each other. The 'Cats will conclude the trip in Connecticut to face Sacred Heart.
VCU visits Davidson in the final non-conference tilt Oct. 16. The 'Cats will hit the road to face conference foes Appalachian State and Longwood before returning home to face Radford (Oct. 29) and Appalachian State (Oct. 31) to conclude the regular season.
The field hockey season will be far from over in Davidson though. The NorPac East and West divisions will meet for the NorPac Tournament, Nov. 4-6. Stanford will be looking to defend their 2009 title, but the Wildcats will be looking to impress on their home turf.
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