DCFH to Open to Season on Saturday vs. William & Mary

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DAVIDSON, N.C. - Sparked by two-time NorPac East Player of the Year Finley Amato, the Davidson field hockey team will use confidence and experience to overcome the loss of eight talented seniors as they embark on their 2012 campaign starting this Saturday when they face William & Mary in an 11 a.m. contest at Belk Turf Field.

“Although we did lose eight seniors who were tremendous leaders and players, I am confident in the group that is returning and our incoming freshmen. We return some of our most experienced players including two-time NorPac Player of the Year Finley,” said head coach #Ginny Turner, who enters her sixth year at the helm of the Wildcats.

The Wildcats also face an exciting schedule with 10 home games on the slate, including one of the nation's top-ranked teams in UNC. Wake Forest (ACC), Richmond (Atlantic 10), William & Mary (CAA) and Georgetown (Big East) will also visit Belk Turf Field.

“I am really looking forward to our upcoming season. We have a great balance in our schedule with our NorPac and non-conference games,” said Turner. “It will be extremely competitive and it should be very exciting as we have so many home games. We will face some new teams on the schedule this year and I am thrilled for the opportunity to compete against some of the top teams in the nation.”

FORWARD

Scoring leader Amato returns for her senior season in 2012 after pacing the Wildcats with 14 goals and nine assists for 37 points last season. Entering this season ranked second all-time in points and fourth in goals, Amato notched three of Davidson's game winners last season.

“As a senior, Finley will be leading our team from the forward line,” says Turner. “Her experience and skill will be key as we look to build on the attacking success we had last season and fill the spots around her. “

Tyler McFayden will also be called upon to spark the offense. The junior forward has proven she can work under pressure, scoring the game winner in Davidson's double-overtime win over William & Mary last season. McFayden finished the 2011 season with four goals and an assist, seeing action in all 20 games.

“Tyler is one of the more experienced attackers on the team and her speed will be a great attribute to our forward line,” says Turner.

Senior Brit Donaldson, who has seen action in 22 games in her career, and freshmen Mia Kane, Anna Davis and Lucy Pidcock join the squad at forward and will be looked to immediately for contributions.   Kane joins the 'Cats as a two-time all-state selection, while Davis was the conference player of the year as a senior at Parkside High School in Salisbury, Md. Pidcock is also a player of the year winner, earning the honors from the Lehigh Valley Express Times while at Moravian Academy in Allentown, Pa.

MIDFIELD

Senior Annie Evans, fresh off of a career-best season in 2011, joins Amato as one of the leading scorers of last season. Evans tallied both goals in the 'Cats' 2-0 win over Georgetown to open the year and totaled seven on the season.

“Annie has started almost every game since her freshman year and returns to our midfield line as one of our top goal scorers and key play makers,” says Turner. “Annie's ability to play with anyone around her will allow us to work many different players into the midfield.”

Sophomore Julia Guthrie appeared in 13 games, registering a pair of assists in her rookie season while classmate Sara French also saw action in 14 games in her first season with the Wildcats. Both are expected to see in increase in action this season

“Julia and Sara could see a lot of time in the midfield,” says Turner. “As well as a few of our incoming freshmen, including Danielle King.”

King will join the Wildcats out of C. Milton Wright High School in Bell Air, Md., where she was a two-time All-Maryland State Team honorable mention. King was also a Wendy's High School Heisman Award finalist, one of just 12 in the nation.

Brooke Osborne, who has developed into a solid defensive player as she enters her junior season, will also add depth to the midfield. Osborne has started 41 games in her career, making her one of the 'Cats' most consistent midfielders.

“On the defensive side we have Brooke, a two year starter whose grit and intensity will be important as we work with a young defensive unit,” states Turner.

Also joining the midfield is sophomore Kaity Anstrom, who enters her second year after playing in 14 games as a freshman. Sydney Schreiner, who appeared in 13 games as a freshman in 2010, also returns after missing the 2011 season due to injury.

DEFENSE

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Fisher will bolster the Wildcat defense in her final season after spending the past two seasons as their primary backstop. Fisher finished 2011 ranked in the top 30 of the nation in saves per game and in the top 50 in save percentage, and will continue to be one of the team's defensive leaders.

“Sarah returns looking to defend her starting role as our goalkeeper from the past two seasons,” says Turner. “She has been the backbone of this team and the team will look to her passion and desire to win as we face some tough opponents this fall. Sarah will be challenged by Carolyn Macek and our two freshmen Connie Cape and Emily Leytham.”

A junior, Macek saw action in five games, including one start last season, and came away with nine saves for a 1.39 goals against average. Newcomers Emily Leytham (two-year letterwinner at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va.) and Connie Cape (All-Southwest Preparatory Conference out of Episcopal High School in Houston, Texas) will also compete for time in net after stellar high school careers.

Madeline Herder gained valuable playing experience as a freshman, playing in 17 games as a freshman in 2011. Herder, along with senior Madison Parrish, will be counted on as leaders on a young defensive unit.

“Madeline made impressive improvements throughout the spring and Maddie is one of our best vocal leaders on the team,” says Turner. “We will look to newcomers Melissa Funsten and Lauren Yarkony to make an impact on this end right away.”

Funsten is a three-time all-state and all-conference midfielder out of Ravenscroft High School in Raleigh, N.C., where she departs as the school's all-time scoring leader. Fellow newcomer Lauren Yarkony helped Lake Forest (Ill.) High School to the Illinois State Tournament finals for three seasons, earning all-state honors as senior.

SCHEDULE

The Wildcats will kick off the season with the first of 10 home games on August 25^th at Belk Turf Field when they welcome William & Mary to town. They will then host Georgetown on August 26 before heading to Kentucky to face Louisville (Sept. 1) and Ball State (Sept. 2).   A trip to Harrisonburg, Va., for a tilt at James Madison (Sept. 9) will finish off the first road swing of the season.

“We start off right away with heavy competition hosting William & Mary and Georgetown. These two games are always challenging and I look forward to putting our team to the test right away,” said Turner. “The weekend in Louisville will be a great rematch against the Cardinals after a close game last year.”

Back in Davidson, the 'Cats will host VCU (Sept. 14) and Richmond (Sept. 16) before opening NorPac play in Boone, N.C., against Appalachian State (Sept. 23). They will then return to Belk Turf Field to host one of the nation's best teams in UNC (Sept. 25) before immediately returning to conference play on Sept. 28 at Radford.

“With strong nonconference games right from the start I think we will be well prepared as we head into our conference play. We are determined to excel in our NorPac games and it will be good to get some of the away matches over first,” said Turner. “Ending the season at home with Radford and Liberty will undoubtedly prepare us for the NorPac tournament where we could see any of our East Coast teams in the 2nd game.”

Another tilt with App State (Oct. 2) will kick off a three-game homestand for the 'Cats, with Longwood (Oct. 5) and Wake Forest (Oct. 9) following the Mountaineers into town. The squad will then hit the road for four games, starting with a trip to New York where they will take on Colgate (Oct. 14) for the first time in school history. The squad will face Cornell the following afternoon before heading to Virginia a few days later for a second go-around with Longwood (Oct. 20) as part of the NorPac schedule. An October 21 contest at Liberty, also in Virginia, will wrap up the road trip.

The 'Cats will then wrap up the regular season at home, hosting Radford on Oct. 26 and Liberty on Oct. 28.   The team will then take part in the 2012 NorPac Tournament to be hosted by Longwood in November.

“We have a lot of talent in the group and a great combination of returning players plus incoming freshmen,” said Turner. “This team has heart and is willing to work together every day to reach our potential and exceed all expectations.”

Schedule

DCFH to Open to Season on Saturday vs. William & Mary

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