March 15, 2007
After a much improved season and the opening of the new turf facility, La Salle Field Hockey looks towards an optimistic 2007 campaign. The signing of five new players for the upcoming season indicates that optimism is not unfounded. A strong class covering all positions on the field, Coach Catlin expects immediate impact from the class of 2011.
Starting out the class is goalkeeper Emma Ruth from Northern High School in Dillsburg, PA. A year-round player, Ruth starts for her high school team, before switching into club mode to compete for East Coast Field Hockey. She has participated in the Festival for the past two years as well as qualifying for the National Indoor Tournament as both a junior and a senior. She received the Underclassmen Leadership Award from Northern High School and captained her East Coast team in the 2007 NIT. Off the field, Ruth is a member of the Distinguished Honor Roll, DECA, and Circulo de Espanol. She is the Senior Slide Show Editor and participates in Equestrian.
Coach Bolger on Ruth: "Emma was the exact goalie we were looking to bring in to learn from our current starter Ellen Axelsen. Their style is very similar, as they are both very quick and very aggressive. I think Emma will really challenge the level of play for all goalkeepers next fall."
Adding to the backfield is defender/midfielder Alysen Larsen from Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia, PA. Larsen led her team to District and County championships in her senior year and qualified for States. A two-year captain for her team, she received All-Division and All-State recognition. Larsen also competes for her club team, High Styx, winning silver the last two years at the Hockey Festival and competing in the NIT. In addition to playing on the Keystone Gold Medal Team, Larsen was also All-County and All-Division for the Conrad Weiser soccer team. An Honor Roll student, Larsen also coaches youth soccer and field hockey teams and will pursue nursing at La Salle.
Coach Catlin on Larsen: "With our backfield containing one senior and one junior, I really was focused on brining in defenders who would challenge right away. Larsen has excellent experience in shouldering defensive leadership in post season play. I expect our team to need that in the upcoming years, and so Larsen is a great addition."
No stranger to post-season pressure, Rachel Deaner from Eastern High School in Berlin, NJ looks to jump right into the mix at La Salle. Deaner joins the La Salle program after playing for the eight-time defending state champions, Eastern High School. Earning First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State honors, Deaner was also tabbed as the Unsung Hero by the South Jersey Field Hockey Association. An excellent defender with blinding speed, Deaner also participated at the Hockey Festival with her club team, Spirit USA, wining bronze in the top pool. A National Honor Society Student, Deaner will look to pursue education at La Salle.
Coach Catlin on Deaner: "Deaner is obviously a very talented field hockey player. However I really respected her attitude and ability to overcome mono at the beginning of her senior year. She took that set back in stride and just came back an even stronger player. I look forward to having her in Blue and Gold this fall."
Beth Carey from Lebanon High School in Lebanon, PA looks to jump in where former
La Salle standout and Lebanon High School Alum Emily Simone ('06) left off. Both are feisty midfielders with excellent possession and scoring abilities. Carey holds National Festival Gold Medals from 2006 and 2004, NIT gold medals for 2007, 2006, and 2005, a Keystone Gold Medal from 2005. Her individual accolades include All-State and All-County nods, as well as Lancaster-Lebanon First Team honors for the last two years. A two-year team captain, Carey is a member of the National Honor Society, is a Pennsylvania certified EMT and Nurse Aide. While also lettering in track and bowling, Carey earned a national ranking in BMX racing for Jr. Women. Carey plans to purse nursing at La Salle.
Coach Catlin on Carey: "Carey gives us much needed depth in our midfield. Losing two starters, I needed to find a first year player with the presence to step in immediately. Carey has played at the top level in the state, and I expect the experience to go a long way at the collegiate level."
The fifth member gives the class of 2011 a little scoring power. Gabby Nolt from J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster, PA has been playing on the varsity squad since her freshman year. As the team captain this past season, Nolt was recognized as an All-League selection. Much like her fellow teammates, Nolt plays year-round. With her club team East Coast Field Hockey, she participated in the last three Hockey Festivals and qualified for the last three NITs. A four-year member of the Futures program, Nolt has also put herself on the Distinguished Honor Roll for the past two years. Nolt is considering a major in psychology while continuing her advanced knowledge in art and music as potential minors.
Coach Catlin on Nolt, "I love to watch Gabby play because she always looks to put the ball in the best scoring position possible. If that means she needs to take it and challenge one on one or if that means she needs to thread the needle to her teammate, consider it done. I think she will be a real threat early on, and make the rest of the scoring line even more dangerous."
