Bucknell University Athletics
Experienced Bucknell Field Hockey Team Still Searching for Title
8/24/2001 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 24, 2001
With back-to-back appearances in the Patriot League Championship game, a roster that returns 16 letterwinners, including 9 starters and a senior class of 10, the Bison of 2001 have positioned themselves for yet another run at a championship season. "Certainly, the leadership of this program rests with our 10 seniors, a class capable of extraordinary achievement. However, the success of our season will be dependent upon their ability, as a whole, to raise not only their level of play, but also their expectations," according to head coach Heather Lewis.
In a preseason poll of league head coaches and sports information directors, Bucknell was chosen to finish fifth in the eight-team field. Patriot League newcomer American University was picked to win the 2001 regular season title with 81 total points and seven first place votes. Fairfield (77 pts.) held off Holy Cross (76 pts.) to finish second in the pre-season balloting. Each team garnered three first-place votes. Lafayette collected two first-place votes and finished fourth in the voting with 69 total points, while Bucknell earned the final first-place vote and tallied 66 points. Lehigh (31 pts.) nipped Colgate (30 pts.) for sixth place and Ursinus was picked to finish eighth in the poll with 18 points.
As always, the core strength of 2001 will be a defensive unit that returns all but one starter, including two senior Mideast Regional All-Americans in Monica McCorry (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock) and Lauren Campbell (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton). McCorry, a first-team All-Patriot League selection in 2000 and arguably the squad's most talented defender, will return for her fourth season as the starting sweeper back. "Monica's defensive instincts coupled with her superior skill level place her as one of the premier defenders in this league," says Lewis. "She will certainly dictate our success in minimizing our opponents scoring chances."
Joining McCorry will be Campbell, a second team Regional All-American in 2000 and a team co-captain for 2001. Lewis applauds her determination and recognizes the mental toughness of her squad begins in the back. "Lauren is such a fierce competitor on the field. If one word were to describe her approach, I'd call her a `warrior.' She simply battles day in and day out and this infectious tenacity will be the trademark of our defensive unit this season."
Seniors Meghan Hopping (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) and Erin Plasteras (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) will once again combine to provide depth and experience as side backs. Hopping may potentially make the move to center back to replace the departed four-year starter Katie Yingling. "With Erin and Meghan, we have the flexibility to alter our defensive scheme somewhat and maximize our experience level in all defensive positions," comments Lewis. In addition, junior Kelly Burrows (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township) and sophomore Lindsey Gentel (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury) will provide necessary depth and energy to the defensive unit.
Lewis is quite comfortable with her goalkeeper situation, "Quite honestly, the talent level in front doesn't really matter if the goal cage isn't in good hands. And, I'm a fortunate coach in that I've got two trusted keepers in Mel and Sonja." While Sonja Wettergreen (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) has been the primary starter the past two seasons, senior Mel Rhoads (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) is a talented and very committed second keeper, as Lewis points out, "Mel may very well be one of our most valuable athletes on our squad. First of all her work ethic is untouchable, but more importantly, her commitment to the sense of `team' is unequaled. Sonja has thrived in this system and has raised her training to a completely different point. The two of them have demonstrated such a healthy level of respect for one another, they teach one another, they challenge one another and more importantly, they support one another. Our defensive unit recognizes their commitment."
Leading the way offensively will be two returning All-Patriot League performers in senior classmates Dena Ebert (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) and Melissa Maher (Marcy, N.Y./Whitesboro). Maher, the team's returning point scorer, is as natural a goal-scorer as this program has seen in quite some time. "Melissa has the innate ability to be in the right spot at the right time, that is not by happenstance, rather a result of intuition and determination," comments Lewis. Accordingly, Ebert's hustle and physical gifts allow her to maneuver opponents and manifest her own scoring chances. "Dena's thinking is straight for the goal, she certainly has the will to score. What's so special about her, though, is she's an ideal midfielder with vision and a feel for the game." A little bit of youth will be served as sophomore Lisa Bingaman (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) is expected to compete for more playing time and possibly a starting role. Seniors Larissa Carso (Easton, Md./Westminster School) and Suzanne Schaubert (Weston, Mass./Weston) bring experience and depth to the lineup this season, a luxury that Bucknell will certainly take full advantage of. Lewis acknowledges her 2001 squad has the potential to score plenty of goals, "With our current group of forwards, we'll be able to go six deep quite easily. With that in mind, we'll certainly press up and force the tempo a bit. We've got some speed up front and extensive experience. I would like to think our attacking unit will be quite explosive this year."
The link between defense and attack may be short on numbers but certainly rich in talent. Senior co-captain Annie Hunsicker (Bethlehem, Pa./Moravian Academy) returns along with junior Amy Marvel (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock) to anchor the midfield unit. Following a very successful spring season, sophomore Kate Ruda (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood) has established herself as one of the primary midfielders for the 2001 campaign. In addition, with the likes of Ebert and Plasteras, Lewis will have the flexibility to alter line-ups according, "Right now our midfield unit will be one of the focal points of our season. Certainly we're very experienced defensively and athletically threatening up front, the key will be how we transition through the midfield. Amy and Annie have the experience and attacking sense whereby Kate adds a certain defensive stability in the midfield."
In considering the returning unit, one must wonder how a recruiting class of nine first-year students will figure into the mix. Lewis predicts a very easy transition for those young players, "Not only are we experienced with our returning group, but our incoming first year class will add a bit of athleticism combined with exceptional talent. Certainly, I may wonder if there's enough time for everyone but this entering group will be the foundation of our program for the next four years. In due time I think you'll find them to be as equally successful, if not more so, than any other class."
The entering class includes forwards Meiko Boynton (Bernardsville, N.J./Pingry), Lindsay Knoll (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge), and Dana Panzer (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), midfielder Jenni Turner (West Chester, Pa./Henderson), and defenders Corin Inderbitzen-Brooks (Springfield, Va./Annandale), Ellen Kurkowski (North Wales, Pa./Germantown Academy), Andrea Paraud (Bethesda, Md./Georgetown Visitation Prep.), Cara Reichenbach (Richfield, Pa./Middleburg), and Cara Turner (West Chester, Pa./Henderson).
With a Patriot League schedule that now includes a perennial nationally ranked program in American University, the Bison will rely on three core fundamentals: excellent leadership, superior athleticism, and an unsurpassed desire to excel. The Orange and Blue open the season hosting Drexel on Tuesday, August 28, at 2:00 p.m.
