By Tim Marcin
Elm Sports Editor
The women’s field hockey team is primed to have another great season. After advancing to Centennial Conference semi-finals for the second time in three years, their sights are set high. The Shorewomen won a thrilling overtime playoff game against Gettysburg to advance to the semi-finals, and they hope recreate some of that magic this season and perhaps do even better. While they dropped their two first games to #13 ranked Lynchburg and DePauw, they played well in both games. The final scores were 4-0 and 2-1 respectively.
The team is sure to bounce back from the two tough losses. Leading the charge will be team captains Emily Trees, Gussie Reilly, Emily Broomell, Kristen Wille, and Erin Lewns. Trees, Reilly, and Broomell are all seniors, while Wille and Lewns are juniors.
Twelve players are returning from last year’s squad, including seven starters. Along with the captains, juniors Hilary Manion and Hillary Kane are both returning starters. Junior Gabby Tarbert, and sophomores Angela Parreco, Heather Noto, Shannon Denno, and Steph Harryman return as well. Harryman is stepping in as starting goalkeeper, after backing up Shannon Davis last year. The team also added seven freshmen to the mix, four of whom have already registered playing time in the first two games. Claire McAuliffe, Meredith Andrews, Grace Phillips, and Kate Duggan are the freshman who have already made their WAC debuts.
Emily Trees is the top returner as far as goals go, registering nine goals in the 2010 campaign. Gussie Reilly led the team in assists (8) and points (24). Reilly, Trees, and Kristen Wille were a dominant trio offensively in 2010, combining for 22 of the Shorewomen’s 47 goals, and 15 of 26 assists.
Captain Gussie Reilly is excited about the team’s chances this year stating, “We’re coming off a really successful spring season with a starting lineup comprised solely of returning players.” This experience, Reilly believes, “is providing a really solid core of leaders”, doling out guidance for the younger freshman who have already “made an immediate impact out on the field”.
Not only is the team experienced, so is the coach. Rachel Boyle is heading into her 10th season at the helm of the Shorewomen and is assisted by Courtney Seiders and Kaitlyn McEnroe, two new additions to the staff. They hope to lead the Shorewomen even further this year, and with the team the have in place—anything is possible.