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Field Hockey Season Preview
CHESTERTOWN, MD -- Two years removed from a conference semifinal appearance, the field hockey team embarks on the 2010 season with just seven total juniors and seniors on a 20-woman roster as the Shorewomen begin a new era of sorts.
Head coach Rachel Boyle will look to guide her youthful squad away from last year's 6-11 mark, which included a 3-7 record in one-goal games, and back toward the 12-6 mark of 2008, which included a 4-1 record in one-goal games. In that quest, the Shorewomen will be without a familiar face in cage - 2010 graduate and two-time All-Centennial Conference first-team goalkeeper Elena Nicholoff, who had started the last 68 games in goal.
Senior Shannon Davis (Sykesville, MD/Liberty), who appeared in eight games in three seasons as Nicholoff's capable back-up, and freshman Steph Harryman (Churchton, MD/Southern) are the Shorwomen's two goalies on the 2010 roster.
Davis is also one of the Shorewomen's three seniors. Attack Danielle Rosato (Narvon, PA/Pequea Valley) scored seven goals and assisted on two others while making 16 starts in 17 games in 2009. She enters the season fifth all-time at Washington College in career goals (24) and tied for sixth in career points (54). Defender Sara Rutkowski (Wernersville, PA/Conrad Weiser) is coming off a two-assist, two-defensive save season during which she started every game and is tied for fifth all-time in career assists (12).
Junior defender Brittany Palasik (Severna Park, MD/Archbishop Spalding) made a team-best six defensive saves in 2009 while starting every game. Classmate Gussie Reilly (Buck Hill Falls, PA/Mercersburg Academy), a midfielder, notched two goals and two assists while also starting every game. Junior defender Emily Broomell (East Petersburg, PA/Lancaster Christian) made one defensive save while making 10 starts in 16 games a year ago, while junior attack Emily Trees (Kensington, MD/Connelly School of the Holy Child) emerged as an offensive threat off the bench, scoring three goals and recording a team-leading five assists in 16 reserve appearances en route to Team Most Improved Player honors.
Headlining the eight-member sophomore class is 2009 All-Centennial Conference second-team midfielder Kristen Wille (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island), who scored two goals, recorded two assists, and recorded one defensive save while starting all 17 games as a freshman. Two other sophomores started at least 10 games as freshmen - defenders Erin Lewns (Fallston, MD/North Harford), who had one defensive save in 17 games while making 14 starts, and Jess Magdeburger (Baltimore, MD/Friends School), who scored one goal while making 10 starts in 16 games. Attack Gabby Tarbert (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) scored one goal and added one assist in 15 games, seven of them starts. Attack Hillary Kane (Rhinebeck, NY/Millbrook School) scored one goal in 11 games, three of them starts, while midfielder Hilary Manion (Trappe, PA/Archbishop Carroll) scored one goal in nine games, and attack Melissa Rubacky (Dover, DE/Dover) scored a goal in her only game as a freshman.
Joining Harryman in the Shorewomen's freshman class are: Diane Boccella (Berlin, NJ/Winslow Township), Shannon Denno (Crofton, MD/South River), Heather Noto (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck), Angela Parreco (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island), and Cara Subasic (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights).
Boyle and second-year assistant coach Abby Cerrone welcome new assistant Lauren Leukhardt to the Shorewomen's coaching staff for 2010. Leukhardt was named the 2007 Capital Gazette Coach of the Year while coaching high school field hockey.
The Shorewomen will open the 2010 season Sunday, September 5th, with a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game at Mount Holyoke. The non-conference slate also includes road games at St. Mary's (MD) and Mary Washington and home games against Wesley, MIT, Goucher, and Christopher Newport. Centennial Conference play begins September 17th with a 5:00 p.m. game at Muhlenberg.
