Field hockey opens 2010 season with three games in New England this weekend

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Published: September 3, 2010

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The Mansfield University field hockey team will open its 2010 season with a three-game road trip to New England starting at third-ranked UMASS-Lowell today, followed by games against St. Michaels and Southern Connecticut at the Southern Connecticut Tournament Saturday and Sunday.

Head coach Diane Monkiewicz enters her 13th season at the helm of the Mountaineer program with eight returning starters from last year's team and a host of talented newcomers. Monkiewicz is confident the team will be more balanced from last season and be in the hunt for a playoff spot in the tough Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division.

"We're going to be young but we also have a solid nucleus of experienced players," Monkiewicz said. "We've had a very positive and productive preseason camp and I believe we've improved overall as a team with more depth and increased speed."

The Mountaineers, who have no seniors on the roster, return their top three scoring leaders from last season along with five of the top six scorers. Together the group accounted for 45 of Mansfield's 55 goals in 2009.

Monkiewicz doesn't expect the offense to slow down in 2010 with junior All-PSAC West selections Jaimie Purdy and Jess Wolski returning along with sophomores Kristyn Grunza and Kristy Tutorow, who earned All-PSAC West and national All-Rookie team honors, respectively, last season.

The foursome combined for 88 points on 32 goals and 24 assists last year. The offense becomes even more potent with the return of junior Danielle Hackenberg, who scored seven goals last season, and sophomore Alycia Pici who had six goals as a freshman.

In addition to all that firepower, add a talented incoming freshmen class to the mix that effectively increases team speed and depth in forwards Taryn Schawillie, Brianna Velepec and Victoria Watkins you can appreciate Monkiewicz's confidence in her offense, which ranked among the PSAC and NCAA Division II leaders in 2009.

Defensively is where Monkiewicz expects to see the most improvement anchored by the return of two-year starting back Jillian Richard along with sophomore Talena Truitt, who started all 18 games as a freshman. Freshman Ashley Bronston, Kylie Davis, Emily Heinaman and Sarah Zwick should have an immediate impact on solidifying the defense.

One of the big questions is who will emerge from preseason from a group of four talented goalies. Sophomore Jamie Twist started nine times as a freshman last year recording 114 saves. Junior Liz Phillippy played in eight games in 2009 including three starts recording 65 saves. Also in the mix are sophomore Marissa Bonnell and freshman Kristie Rollman who earned All-State honors as a high school senior.

Following the trip to New England the Mountaineers will have a 10-day break before traveling to East Stroudsburg on Sept. 15.

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