Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Wildcats Open Field Hockey Season Saturday
8/27/2021 11:57:00 AM | Field Hockey
Win the moment, win today.
That's been the mindset of the Davidson field hockey team's preseason, and now it's time for the Wildcats to step into the 2021 campaign.
Led by third-year head coach Zoe Almquist, Davidson opens the season Saturday at 1 p.m. against Big Ten foe Indiana, in a three-team event hosted by Central Michigan.
"The team is really excited about it," said Almquist. "To play a Big Ten opponent is a unique opportunity. They're excited to show our staff what they've got. They've been preparing really well and are ready to go."
The Wildcats, 4-7 during the 2021 spring, will play Central Michigan Sunday afternoon, and in all, Davidson will play its first four games away from Belk Turf Field, with its home opener set for Sunday, Sept. 12 against Bellarmine at 1 p.m.
Key Pieces Return
Three returners started all 11 games a year ago — junior Caroline Wack and sophomores Charlie Kabelac and Cato Roell.
Wack returns for her second season at the center back position, and Almquist said she has grown into the role as a vocal leader.
Kabelac is back at defensive center mid, where she earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors a year ago. Almquist praises her hockey IQ, steadiness and decision-making.
Roell played more than 586 minutes in goal a year ago, making 39 saves.
Julia Smith, a senior, is a multi-year starter who returns to outside back this year after playing up last season, and Almquist said outside midfielder Izzy Moody, a senior, has taken her game to a new level with offseason work.
Junior Amy Worscheh is the lone Wildcat returner who scored multiple goals a year ago, having totaled two goals and two assists.
"This group has made some really special strides the last couple of years," said Almquist. "I'm really proud of the foundation, in terms of our team culture and the strides we've made to get where we want to be."
Davidson has added a class of seven, including three international freshmen (Argentina, England, South Africa). The Wildcats now have players from five foreign countries, also including Germany and Netherlands.
Big Ten Ties
Almquist and assistant coaches Stephanie Hussey and Jenny Rizzo all played in the Big Ten.
Almquist (Northwestern '11) started the final 60 games of her career as a defender and scored 10 goals, including four game-winners as a senior. She was a three-time Big Ten All-Academic pick.
Hussey, in her third year at Davidson, graduated from Penn State in 2016 after also playing at Syracuse. She scored six goals as a Nittany Lion senior.
Rizzo, who overlapped one season with Hussey at Penn State, became a four-year starter in-goal for the Nittany Lions, graduating in 2019. She returned to Davidson as a full-time assistant this summer and was recently named to the U.S. National Team, which practices in Charlotte.
That's been the mindset of the Davidson field hockey team's preseason, and now it's time for the Wildcats to step into the 2021 campaign.
Led by third-year head coach Zoe Almquist, Davidson opens the season Saturday at 1 p.m. against Big Ten foe Indiana, in a three-team event hosted by Central Michigan.
"The team is really excited about it," said Almquist. "To play a Big Ten opponent is a unique opportunity. They're excited to show our staff what they've got. They've been preparing really well and are ready to go."
The Wildcats, 4-7 during the 2021 spring, will play Central Michigan Sunday afternoon, and in all, Davidson will play its first four games away from Belk Turf Field, with its home opener set for Sunday, Sept. 12 against Bellarmine at 1 p.m.
Key Pieces Return
Three returners started all 11 games a year ago — junior Caroline Wack and sophomores Charlie Kabelac and Cato Roell.
Wack returns for her second season at the center back position, and Almquist said she has grown into the role as a vocal leader.
Kabelac is back at defensive center mid, where she earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors a year ago. Almquist praises her hockey IQ, steadiness and decision-making.
Roell played more than 586 minutes in goal a year ago, making 39 saves.
Julia Smith, a senior, is a multi-year starter who returns to outside back this year after playing up last season, and Almquist said outside midfielder Izzy Moody, a senior, has taken her game to a new level with offseason work.
Junior Amy Worscheh is the lone Wildcat returner who scored multiple goals a year ago, having totaled two goals and two assists.
"This group has made some really special strides the last couple of years," said Almquist. "I'm really proud of the foundation, in terms of our team culture and the strides we've made to get where we want to be."
Davidson has added a class of seven, including three international freshmen (Argentina, England, South Africa). The Wildcats now have players from five foreign countries, also including Germany and Netherlands.
Big Ten Ties
Almquist and assistant coaches Stephanie Hussey and Jenny Rizzo all played in the Big Ten.
Almquist (Northwestern '11) started the final 60 games of her career as a defender and scored 10 goals, including four game-winners as a senior. She was a three-time Big Ten All-Academic pick.
Hussey, in her third year at Davidson, graduated from Penn State in 2016 after also playing at Syracuse. She scored six goals as a Nittany Lion senior.
Rizzo, who overlapped one season with Hussey at Penn State, became a four-year starter in-goal for the Nittany Lions, graduating in 2019. She returned to Davidson as a full-time assistant this summer and was recently named to the U.S. National Team, which practices in Charlotte.
Players Mentioned
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