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Field Hockey

Field Hockey Looks To Return To Postseason; Opens Season Friday At #11 Stanford


A video preview will be available via GoExplorers.tv in the next few days

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle field hockey team got a taste of the postseason last fall, earning a trip to the Atlantic 10 Tournament but falling in the semifinals to eventual champion Richmond. This year, the goal is to return to A-10s and make a run at the conference title.

Reigning Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Michelle Marks will have plenty of veterans to rely on as the Explorers welcome back 16 letterwinners and nine starters including their top six scorers from a year ago.

Headlining the charge are three-time all-conference selection Becca Chylack and two-time all-conference pick Neelam Kumar. Both players have started all four seasons on 20th and Olney and will be asked by Marks to provide leadership to a group that also welcomes five freshmen.

Chylack comes into the season ranked in the top 10 all-time at La Salle in both goals and points. A versatile midfielder/defender, the Souderton, Pa. native has a strong shot off penalty corners leading to many of her 21 career goals. She also contributes to a stingy backline in front of all-region goalkeeper Lisa Shaffer.

Kumar heads into her senior year with 13 career assists and is one of the main playmakers offensively. The Vancouver, Canada product will be counted onto set up the top three returning scorers in Mariel Papa, Olivia Shoemaker and Maddy Tettelbach.

Papa earned second team All-A-10 recognition last year after leading the team with 14 points (five goals, four assists). The speedy junior also earned all-rookie honors as a freshman from the A-10.

Shoemaker was ninth in the league with six goals and had a pair of two goal games, including the A-10 Tournament clinching win over Saint Louis.

Tettelbach came out of the gates on fire in her freshman season, scoring five goals in her first six games. She picked up A-10 All-Rookie honors for her performance.

Veteran Janel Paukovits will also contribute on the front line and has eight goals in her career. Sophomore forward Colleen Kempf scored a pair of goals in an A-10 win over St. Joe's and should see increased time this season. Senior Maddie Doub also is a veteran presence as a forward and has appeared in 33 career contests, scoring seven points.

Junior Kelly Rae Wright is another player that has seen plenty of minutes during her time at La Salle and could take an increased role in the midfield.

The defense remains intact from last season in front of Shaffer, who was fifth nationally in save percentage and 12th in saves per game. In addition to earning all-region citation, she was also A-10 All-Rookie. Senior Lauren Wright also will compete for playing time in between the pipes.

Heather Barretta, Jessica Deaner, Haley Jennings, Olivia Leaman and Kelly Meehan all are back with plenty of experience. The group has combined to start 82 games in the last three seasons.

A quintet of freshmen – Juliana Carfagno, Jenica Miller, Kaylee Taillon, Emily Vasey and Taylor Yoder—will vie for playing time.  

Marks also promoted Kristina Foster to assistant coach after spending a year as the program's graduate assistant and hired Nick Bryan, from Scotland, as an assistant coach. Both have added a new energy and perspective to the team.

La Salle was selected to finish fifth in the preseason poll, just edged out by conference newcomer VCU for the fourth playoff spot. The A-10 Tournament will be hosted by UMass this season on November 2-3.

Weekend Preview

Scouting #11 Stanford (17-4, 6-0 NorPac in 2011)
Friday, August 24, 2012 | 9 PM (EDT)
Live Statistics

La Salle will face #11 Stanford in its season opener on Friday. The Cardinal, ranked the past three seasons, won the NorPAC regular season title before falling in the conference finals to Cal, 1-0. Stanford received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and dropped a first round match to Duke.

Becky Dru, a senior from England, leads the charge after earning first team All-America honors last year following a 16-goal, 39-point season. She was the NorPAC Co-Player of the Year and West Region Player of the Year as well. Hope Burke (8g, 12a) and Alex McCawley (8g, 5a) also lead the Stanford offense.

The Cardinal also host #1 Maryland this weekend and later this season will welcome Philly rival Drexel to Palo Alto as well.

Scouting Pacific (3-14, 0-6 NorPac in 2011)
Sunday, August 26, 2012 | 3 PM (EDT)
Live Statistics

The Explorers will be Pacific's second straight A-10 opponent to start the season as the Tigers host Saint Louis on Friday. Defender Emily Tregoning and goalkeeper Ashlee Schlesier (3.66 GAA, 151 saves) each earned all-conference honors last season for Pacific, which was 3-14 last season.

Scouting UC Davis (5-12, 2-4 NorPac in 2011)
Monday, August 27, 2012 | 5 PM (EDT)
Live Statistics

UC Davis is coming off a 5-12 season in the tough NorPac Conference. The Aggies placed one player on the all-conference team in Casey Wollbrink and was led by Emily Mecke offensively with 15 points. Cloey LemMon also recorded 15 points for UC Davis.
 
 
 
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