Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Field Hockey Prepares for Season to Start as Home Opener Draws Near
8/24/2005 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 24, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bison enter the 2005 season with a foundation centered on the promise of their talent and on their collective faith in one another as teammates.
A team that returns 16 letterwinners, including seven starters, is set on redeeming itself, following a disappointing 2004 campaign that saw it left out of the Patriot League tournament.
The Bison look only to move forward and learn from 2004 as their season opens this Saturday at home versus Vermont. In a preseason poll of Patriot League head coaches and sports information directors, Bucknell is picked to finish fifth, while Lafayette was pegged for the number six slot. Ahead of Bucknell, American was picked to finish first, with Holy Cross, Colgate and Lehigh predicted to finish second, third and fourth, respectively.
"While all of us can admit last year was very disappointing, in some ways it has opened our eyes to where we are as a program and as team members," comments head coach Heather Lewis. "As a result of last season, I believe we, the coaches and players, are all more invested in one another and have a shared vision of how to reach our goals, which include a Patriot League championship."
No one can doubt the promise of this year's team, a squad that will return three all-league performers, 75% of its scoring and a three-year starting goalkeeper. The pieces are in place for Bucknell to once again sit at the top both offensively and defensively in the Patriot League.
ATTACK
Leading the way offensively will be senior Kelly O'Brien and juniors Alex Kyzmir and Katie Urosevich. O'Brien, a team co-captain, will look to return to her scoring habits of her sophomore year when she was named second-team All-Patriot League. Her five goals and three assists in 2004 placed her fourth in team scoring.
"I feel quite confident that Kelly will once again be among the league leaders in scoring this season," predicts Lewis. "She's a very motivated and competitive athlete and I know Kelly is anxious to get out on the field and prove her merits in her final season."
Kyzmir was one of four Bison honored as All-Patriot League in 2004 and she is the team's leading returning scorer. Last season Kyzmir recorded seven goals and eight assists, both team highs, for a total of 22 points. She will be counted on for increased scoring output, a challenge that is well within her talents and expectations.
"Alex has to be considered one of the key returning players in the Patriot League this season," comments Lewis. "She is tremendously gifted as an athlete in her speed and acceleration. Equally important, and sometimes overlooked, is her vision and distribution skills. I've actually had to plead with Alex to start shooting more - she's that unselfish of a player."
A newcomer to the starting lineup in 2004, Urosevich brings a dimension to the field that is tough for opponents to defend, pure speed. According to Lewis, Urosevich does not need to score plenty of goals to be an effective attacker.
"I have never coached a player as fast with the ball as Katie," says Lewis. "And, given her speed, it allows us to play a very up-tempo game and create havoc for opponents in transition," says Lewis. "By virtue of her athleticism and ability to get to any ball, Katie is a very effective forward for us. She can have a significant effect on a game's outcome without entering the scoring column."
One of the fastest players in the league, if not the fastest in possession of the ball, Urosevich is instrumental in drawing defensive attention away from her teammates and creating numerous scoring opportunities.
Sophomores Katie Leinen and Lindsey Weller will provide the depth necessary for the Bison to play an up-tempo, attacking style. Leinen is coming off surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will be seeing her first varsity action in nearly 18 months. If the spring season is any indication, Leinen will be capable of stepping on the field and making a significant contribution in 2005.
One of the biggest surprises of 2004 was the development of Weller, a speedy forward with an innate touch around the goal. Midway through the season Weller was thrust into the regular playing rotation and responded immediately and positively with three goals, including two against league rival Colgate in a 4-2 victory.
MIDFIELD
Perhaps the deepest unit of the Bison in 2005 will be their midfield line consisting of two seniors in Carli Cataldo and Katie Watt, two juniors in Callista Costopoulos and Anne Lutz, and sophomore Kelly Hoffman. All five were either starters or key reserves last season and are expected to provide the leadership instrumental in distribution of play and successful team defense.
Cataldo is blessed with the unique combination of exceptional vision and creativity in distributing the ball and tremendous defensive awareness off the ball.
"Carli is perhaps our best defender in terms of off-ball awareness and decision-making," comments Lewis. "In addition, her creativity in developing attacking hockey is a talent I'd like to take advantage of. Given these strengths, she makes an ideal midfielder with the flexibility to drop back in the defensive end if warranted."
Watt, a transfer from Northwestern in 2004, might possibly be the team's most athletic performer in terms of speed, agility and strength. Watt provides energy and assertive on the offensive end and her continual pursuit of the play can be quite disruptive for opponents.
Says Lewis, "Katie was such a pleasant surprise for our program last year after transferring. I think, with a year of hockey now under her belt, you'll see greater goal-scoring production from Katie and a higher confidence level. She just needed a year to acclimate herself to Bucknell and 2005 is when you'll see her true talents emerge."
Costopoulos, another All-Patriot League performer in 2004, will be expected to lead the team as one of its field generals and primary scoring threats. A dangerous penalty corner, Costopoulos scored five goals and assisted on four others for a total of 14 points - third highest on the team in 2004. Perhaps Costopoulos's greatest strength lies in her field vision and passing skills, both crucial in the role of a midfielder.
"While Callista is certainly earning her reputation as a potent penalty-corner specialist, even more important to our team is her ability to initiate transition quickly and accurately," says Lewis. "Callista has precision on her hitting and, combined with her vision, she can assist us in a `quick strike' mentality in terms of transition."
Perhaps the team's most versatile player, Lutz affords Lewis flexibility in her systems of play and potential line-ups. She has developed her game to the point where she can provide significant contributions in both the midfield and attacking lines.
"Anne had such a tremendous spring season in 2005 and really improved her defense and decision-making," explains Lewis. "I knew Anne had the physical tools to be a very good player. All that was lacking was a focused effort on a daily basis. She made that commitment this spring and has certainly been our `most improved' player since the end of last season."
The tenacity of the midfield unit might start on the shoulders of sophomore Kelly Hoffman, who will make the transition from forward to center midfielder in 2005. Hoffman, along with Costopoulos, will be one of the team's field generals and will set the tone and mentality for the Bison.
"One of Kelly's strongest attributes is her daily focus and intensity she brings to the field and her teammates," says Lewis. "There's no debating her tremendous athletic gifts; but if you ask me, Kelly's competitive `spirit' and `will to win' is of greater importance to this team."
Despite being sidelined by illness and injury for part of the 2004 campaign, Hoffman still contributed two goals and three assists.
DEFENSE
Despite losing a pair of three-year starters on the defensive end to graduation, Lewis feels quite confident the Bison defense will return to their stingy and determined ways.
"While you always miss the continuity when three-year starters graduate, I am certain the defensive unit we put out on the field this year will be more versatile and more athletic than in previous seasons," anticipates Lewis.
Leading the way will be a pair of juniors in Sheri Keener and Heather Rogers, both of whom have been waiting for this opportunity for two seasons. Keener, a former walk-on to the Bison program, has exceptional hands in her defensive skills.
"Sheri has such `soft' hands and that is so beneficial in her interception skills. In addition, she has worked so very hard at improving her tackling and is now one of the better tacklers on our team," notes Lewis. "Keener has seen limited action in her first two seasons but is expected to compete for increased playing time and possibly a starting role."
"When you see Heather out on the field, there's no denying her `presence'," says Lewis. "Some of her strongest attributes include anticipation of the play and her ability to communicate and organize teammates around her."
Complementing these juniors will be Chyncia Smith, who enhanced her game significantly during the 2005 spring season.
"I think we're very fortunate to have rising talent in Chyncia, who will be able to help off-set the loss of four seniors to graduation," comments Lewis. "Chyncia will provide us the depth necessary to improve upon our defensive performance from a year ago."
Smith approaches her game with a quiet confidence that allowed her to see action in all 19 games last year, including one start. An athletic and assertive player, Smith was able to "break out" of the defensive end and contribute three goals in her very first season.
GOALKEEPING
If one were to ask Lewis to name one strength of her team, there is no doubt that "goalkeeping" would be her answer.
"I've said this for three years now that I'm very fortunate to have two very good goalkeepers in our program," comments Lewis. "Liz (Jordan) will enter as a three-year starter and Emily (Groendyke) will be a very capable back-up expected to see more time in 2005."
Jordan, a team co-captain, is a two-time All-Patriot League selection and has ranked among the nation's best in saves, save percentage and goals-against average the past two seasons. A gifted athlete, Jordan has exceptional reaction skills and the uncanny ability to play at an elite level when presented with the opportunity. Lewis goes on to point out that Liz is at her best when playing the best.
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Groendyke, while she has not had a great deal of actual game experience, is more than capable of stepping up to the challenges of Division I goalkeeping. Coming off an injury-plagued sophomore year, Groendyke is hoping to return healthy in 2005 and ready for the opportunity to demonstrate her talents.
"Emily had a difficult sophomore season due to injury, but she has handled her adversity with tremendous maturity and courage," comments Lewis. "I truly believe that if we can keep her healthy, Emily will have the chance to get out on the field and show how deep and talented both of our goalkeepers are."
NEWCOMERS
The Bison field hockey program will welcome nine first-year players in 2005, some of whom will have an immediate presence on the field. The Class of 2009 is balanced in the attack, midfield and defensive units and includes seven products from Pennsylvania and one from Zimbabwe.
Those expected to assist the attacking unit are Trina Boyer, Sarah George and Sarah Herrmann. Each brings her own distinctive style to attacking hockey and will enhance a unit that is expected to be among the league leaders in goal-scoring production.
The midfield unit will welcome Steph Graf and Jacquie Kataneksza. Graf has been a frequent participant in the USFHA Hockey Festival, while Kataneksza is an accomplished player out of Zimbabwe. Kataneksza will actually miss part of the 2005 fall season while representing Zimbabwe in the Junior World Cup.
Defensively, Amanda Faust, Emily Hutchison and Katie Ruiz will join a defensive unit that was hit hardest by graduation following the 2004 season. Faust is athletic enough to play a midfielder but is projected as a defender and complement to Costopoulos on the attacking penalty corner unit. Hutchison and Ruiz are "cerebral" types of defenders with exceptional game sense and defensive instincts.
COACH LEWIS' OUTLOOK
"When I think of the upcoming season, two words come to mind: investment and commitment. Each individual on this team has taken steps to `invest' in one another, embracing the cliche' of `having one's back.' They have demonstrated to each other the recognition that we are all in this together and we will be at our best as a team.
Secondly and equally important, each team member has made the commitment to individual improvement and preparation. Starting in January of 2005, everyone accepted the challenges of improving their strength and conditioning while at the same time broadening their hockey skill base, field awareness and decision-making.
As a coach, to watch a team undergo this sort of `transformation' is truly a blessing. And while I'm not one big on predictions, I feel confident we have a team in place that will represent this program with intensity, poise, and undeniable unity.
The schedule is daunting but the talent on this year's team is more than capable of competing with every single opponent. And, I sense this team will welcome the opportunity to play against the nation's more formidable programs and embrace the challenge of returning to the Patriot League tournament."
