Catholic Named Favorites In Field Hockey Poll

MADISON, N.J. – The Catholic University of America’s field hockey team has been picked as the favorite to claim the Landmark Conference field hockey championship as selected in the Landmark Preseason Women’s Field Hockey Poll. The head field hockey coaches and sports information directors at each institution that sponsors the sport were polled for the preseason ballot.

Catholic which finished atop the regular-season conference standings in 2007 earned 62 points to finish atop the poll. Juniata College was just a few points behind Catholic finishing with 59 points. Drew University and The University of Scranton rounded out the top half of the poll with 48 and 30 points respectively.

The Cardinals welcome back Co-Landmark Defensive Player of the Year Andrea Baick and starting goalkeeper Marian Cassilly, who were both All-Conference selections, from a team that went 5-1 in Landmark play and 11-9 overall in 2007. Catholic graduated just two players from the team that reached the Landmark Championship match last season and were also an ECAC postseason participant.

Juniata enjoyed the finest season in program history in 2007, but now must replace six seniors from that team, five of whom were All-Conference picks. The Eagles went 21-3 a year ago, won the Landmark Championship and reached the NCAA quarterfinals. This year’s team will be anchored by All-Conference goalie Abby Funk and reigning Landmark Rookie of the Year Paula Price.

Drew was also 11-9 in 2007, finished 4-2 in conference play, and earned a spot in the conference postseason. A trio of sophomores who captured All-Conference honors will be back in the fold this season, led by first-teamers Elizabeth Law and Delia Barr. The team will need to overcome the graduation of eight seniors from last year’s team.

The Scranton Royals were part of a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings with a mark of 2-4 and finished the year with a 6-12 record overall. The team had four players named second-team All-Conference last year, and Diana Rocklein and Beth McLaughlin both return. The Royals had the third-stingiest defense in the conference last season and return their starting goalie along with five other starters.

Moravian College finished in a tie for fifth place with 28 points in the voting. Four players graduated from a Greyhound team that went 7-8 overall in 2007 and was 2-4 in conference play, finishing in a tie for fourth in the conference standings. The top two goal scorers from last year’s team will be back, including All-Conference performer Kayla Carson, and the team also brings back its starting goalie.

Susquehanna University matched Moravian with 28 points in the poll to tie for fifth. The team welcomes back its leading goal scorer Andrea Fiori who was a first-team All-Conference pick and All-Conference defender Jenelle Anthony from a team that went 7-12 overall and 1-5 in Landmark competition. The Crusaders will have to replace five seniors including their starting goalie from last year’s team.

Goucher College rounds out the preseason poll with 18 points after earning the fourth seed for the conference postseason in 2007 and finishing the year with an overall record of 3-13 and a 2-4 record in Landmark play. Only two players graduated from the team, and they bring back every one of their goal scorers and their starting goalkeeper Aline Haddad who led the Landmark in saves.

Susquehanna will kick off the season with a match August 29 against Muhlenberg, while Landmark play will begin September 27 with a trio of matches.