WASHINGTON, DC - The La Salle field hockey team will begin its quest for the Atlantic 10 Tournament this weekend when it visits the nation's capital to take on Davidson and Georgetown. Both games will be played on the campus of American University.
Scouting the Explorers (0-0)
La Salle welcomes back a talented and experience offensive attack led by returning all-conference performers Becca Chylack and Neelam Kumar. Senior Lindsay Fry is another veteran, having started every contest of her collegiate career.
"After a very competitive and intense preseason, I feel confident the team is prepared for opening weekend,” head coach Michelle Marks said. “The players have been working hard and we are looking forward to competing against Davidson and Georgetown. I think this weekend will be a good test for us to see what needs to be worked on for conference play and give us an opportunity to compete against two competitive teams."
On defense, the Explorers will certainly miss all-conference goalkeeper Emma Ruth and four-year starter Rachel Deaner. But several players that saw significant playing time return in the backfield and will be key to La Salle's success this season.
Head coach Michelle Marks is in her third season and welcomes two new assistant coaches to her staff in Laura Baker and Kristina Foster. Jess Balmer is back for her fourth season on the sidelines as well.
Scouting Davidson (0-0, Nor-Pac Conference)
Saturday, August 27
Game coverage: Live Statistics (coming soon)
Davidson is receiving votes in the preseason Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Preseason Top 20 Poll released on Tuesday after winning the NorPac East regular season title in 2010.
"We are very excited about traveling to D.C. to play Davidson,” Marks said. “This is the first time we will match up against Davidson. They are a very competitive team in the NorPac Conference and have continuously shown improvement over the past couple of years. Davidson has also received votes in the top 20 poll which will provide us with good competition for our first match for the 2011 campaign."
Head coach Ginny Turner is the reigning conference Coach of the Year and will welcome back 2010 NorPac East Player of the Year, Finley Amato. She led the team with 39 points (16 goals, 7 assists) as a sophomore last season. Senior Christine Rua is also back on offense after scoring 11 goals last fall.
The Wildcats were 14-8 in 2010 and 5-1 in the NorPac, falling to California in the semifinals.
Scouting Georgetown (0-0, Big East Conference)
Georgetown is led by junior forward
Catherine Shugrue, a preseason BIG EAST First Team member from nearby Episcopal Academy. The Hoyas are coming off a 6-13 season in 2010 and finished 1-5 in the Big East. GU will serve as the host for the three-team mini-tournament and play its home games on the campus of American University.
"Last year we played a very competitive and high scoring game against Georgetown,” Marks said. “Georgetown is an up and coming program that has also shown much improvement the past few seasons. With one of their players, Catherine Shugrue, being named to the Big East Preseason team it will be a good test for our defenders. We look forward to our opening weekend and are up for the challenge."
Shugrue scored 14 goals last fall, finishing second in the conference in goals per game. Junior Charlotte Tierney added nine goals for the Hoyas last season as well. Several Hoyas, in addition to Shugrue, are Philadelphia area players, including four from Montgomery County.
Georgetown holds a slim 5-3-1 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1982. The two teams met last season in Washington, D.C. in a high-scoring affair with GU taking a 6-4 victory. Georgetown scored twice in the final four minutes to break a 4-4 tie with Shugrue scoring the game-winner. Chylack and
Maddie Doub had two of the four goals for La Salle.
