The American University field hockey team, currently ranked 10th in the country, will open its 2011 season this weekend with a pair of games versus William and Mary and No. 12 Old Dominion. The Eagles will first face William & Mary on Friday, August 26 at 5:00 p.m. in Williamsburg, Va. before taking on the Monarchs at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 28 in Charlottesville, Va.
American was picked first in the 2011 Patriot League Preseason Poll after putting together one of the best seasons in program history in 2010. The Eagles finished the campaign ranked ninth in the nation with an 18-4 overall record, including a 12-match winning streak. American reached the NCAA Tournament for a seventh time in eight seasons, falling to No. 5 UConn 3-2 in a stroke off, after capturing its eighth straight Patriot League Championship. The team's 18 wins in 2010 were the third most in program history and included victories over five top-20 teams.
American returns 10 student-athletes from last year's squad including All-Region selections Gina Hofmann, Tatum Dyer and Shelly Montgomery. Hofmann, Dyer and Natalie Ellenberger will again be looked upon to anchor a defensive unit which ranked fifth in the nation with a 1.11 goals against average in 2010. The trio also helped American to six shutouts while allowing just 5.05 penalty corners per game.
Montgomery is the team's top returning goal scorer after registering 10 last year as a freshman. She will be joined in the attacking third by Melissa Casale who has 20 career tallies and notched three game winners a year ago. Jaclyn Anspach and Alex McMackin will also lend support to American's attack with Jenn Bradley pushing forward from the midfield.
Sophomores Stephanie Burry and Ashley Dalisera are competing for the starting spot in the cage. Burry appeared in three games last season and notched a 1.69 gaa while Dalisera saw time as the team's stroke specialist.
American has welcomed seven freshmen to this year's team who have added talent and depth to the roster at all levels. The recruiting class includes forwards Canon Hirschler, Courtney MacPherson and Kati Rothenhoefer, midfielders Carly Atchison, Rebecca Treharne and Grace Wilson and defender Erica Binzer.
William & Mary is coming off a 4-14 season but returns 17 letterwinners from last year's squad including five starters. Leading scorer Ashley Kyle will lead the Tribe on the attack again after scoring three goals and one assist in 2010 while Leah Zamesnik, who missed the entire 2010 season due to an injury, returns to lead the midfield. Maria Caro is the Tribe's lone returning starter in the defensive third. Goalkeepers Camilla Hill and Elizabeth Frey split time in the cage for William & Mary last year, notching goals against averages of 3.92 and 2.48, respectively.
American and William & Mary last meet on October 2, 2005 when the Eagles earned a 6-1 victory over the Tribe. That win improved the team to 10-0 as the Eagles began the season with 15 straight wins.
Due to this weekend's forecasted weather, Friday's game between the Eagles and William & Mary has been pushed up to 5:00 p.m. Live stats will be available during Friday's game by clicking here.
The Monarchs posted a 13-11 record in 2010, including a 7-1 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. ODU captured its 14th CAA championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The team welcomes back 14 letterwinners and five starters from last year's squad, including all-conference selections Kathryn Kirk and Maartje van Rijswijk at forward. Rijswijk is the team's top returning goal scorer after notching 16 in 2010 while Kirk contributed four goals and five assists. Paige Clutter tallied 34 points on seven goals and 20 assists in the midfield a year ago and Christy Longacre is the team's lone returner defender. Devon Seifert started 18 games in the cage for the Monarchs, finishing the year with a 12-6 record and a 2.10 gaa.
American and Old Dominion also met the first weekend last year with ODU coming away with a 2-1 victory. Prior to that, the last meeting between the teams came in that same 2005 season with the Eagles picking up a 3-2 win for their second victory of the year.
Due to this weekend's forecasted weather, Sunday's match between American and Old Dominion has been moved to the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. Gametime is now set for 4:00 p.m.
