Aug. 27, 2008

2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Webguide

Center Valley, Pa. - American earned the top spot in the 2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll, which is voted on by the League's six field hockey head coaches and six field hockey sports information directors. Coaches and SIDs can not vote for their own team. The Eagles came in first in the poll with 50 total points and 10 first-place votes. Lafayette was second in the poll with 36 points and earned the other two first-place votes. Rounding out this year's poll were, in order, Colgate (29 points), Bucknell (24), Lehigh (23) and Holy Cross (18).

American has won the last five Patriot League Tournament titles, compiling a 26-0 League record over that span. Head Coach Steve Jennings' squad closed out the 2007 season with a No. 14 national ranking in the NFHCA poll after posting a 16-5 overall mark and going 5-0 in League games. Jennings was awarded the Patriot League Coach of the Year award for the fourth time in his career in 2007. While the Eagles return four All-Patriot League selections from a year ago they do lose First-Team All-American Denise Infante. Those back from the All-League list are senior Irene Schickhardt and the junior trio of Anne-Meike De Wiljes, Savannah Graybill and Alyssa Poorman. Schickhardt and Graybill tied for second in the League in points last year each with 28. Schickhardt posted nine goals and 10 assists, while Graybill had 13 goals and two assists. De Wiljes added in four goals and seven assists. Poorman is coming off a season with six shutouts to her credit and 1.21 goals against average and .720 save percentage.

Lafayette finished the 2007 season as the Patriot League Tournament runner-up under the direction of first-year Head Coach Andrew Griffiths. The Leopards have won three Patriot League Tournament titles (1995, 99 and 2002) and were crowned League champion in 1990, 91, 92 and 93 before the tournament was created. Lafayette will bring back three of its four All-Patriot League honorees from a year ago, including the 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Meghan Cicchi. Cicchi started all 20 games she played in last year and was solid on defense, while chipping in two goals and an assist. Also back are seniors Maggie Condon and Jackie DiSanti. Condon's 26 points ranked her sixth in the Patriot League, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists. DiSanti was a presence on defense as well and had one goal and four assists.

Last season Head Coach Cathy Foto led Colgate to its sixth Patriot League Tournament appearance and first since 2004. Foto was at the helm of the Raider program when they won the Patriot League Tournament title in 1996. The Raiders welcome back one of four All-Patriot League selections from 2007 in junior goalkeeper Sarah Pederson. Pederson tallied 110 saves and owned a .728 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average. Colgate will also have back four of its six double-digit point producers from last season, led by senior Lauren Carey who had a team-high 24 points on 11 goals and two assists. Senior Maddie Watrobski tied for the team led a year ago with 10 assists.

Bucknell will be under the direction of first-year Head Coach Jeremy Cook who will look to guide the Bison to their first-ever Patriot League Championship. The Bison have qualified for the Patriot League Tournament 10 times, most recently in 2006. Both of Bucknell's First-Team All-Patriot League selections will suit up again this year as Amanda Faust and Megan Krebs head into the senior and junior years, respectively. Senior Steph Graf will also return to the field after garnering second-team recognition. Faust paced the Bison with 18 points on five goals and eight assists, while Krebs recorded six goals and five assists for 17 points. Graf started all 17 of Bucknell's games in 2007 and notched a League-high five defensive saves.

Head Coach Julie Mazer led Lehigh to its fifth Patriot League Tournament appearance in 2007. The Mountain Hawks earned the Patriot League Championship title once when it won the inaugural tournament in 1994. Senior Kalynn Davies and junior Kelly Fox are both back in uniform after garnering All-Patriot League status last year. Davis was tied for fourth in the League with 27 points. Her 12 goals were the second-most in the League and she chipped in three assists. Fox collected 18 points on five goals and eight assists.

Holy Cross will also be headed up by a new coach this year with Ali Hawk taking over the reigns. Hawk served as the assistant coach the last three years at her alma mater and is a former Patriot League field hockey standout. Holy Cross has won three Patriot League Tournament titles (1997, 98, 2000) and have appeared in a League-high 12 Patriot League tourneys. The Crusaders will have two-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year back between the pipes as Erin Singleton heads into her senior campaign. Singleton paced the League with a.752 save percentage in 2007 and owned a 2.12 goals against average. Junior Courtney Callahan and sophomore Kara Gonnerman are back this season after putting up double-digit points in 2007. Callahan had 12 points on five goals and two assists, while Gonnerman had 13 points on five goals and three assists.

The 2008 season will kick off the weekend of Aug. 30-31 with all six teams playing at least one game. The Patriot League portion of the season begins on Saturday, Oct. 4. The season will culminate at the 2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship set to take place Friday-Saturday, Nov. 7-8 at the site of the highest seed.

For more information on Patriot League volleyball refer to the 2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Webguide.

2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll