Aug. 25, 2009

Garden City, N.Y. -

After posting a 3-7 mark last season in its first year as a varsity sport in over 25 years, the Adelphi University Field Hockey team will embark the Northeast-10 Conference this fall. The team is made up of 12 returners from 2008, seven incoming freshmen, and one junior transfer. "The growth of the team from the beginning of the season to the end was unbelievable," said second-year Head Coach Gloria O'Connor. The women were picked eighth out of 11 teams in the preseason coaches' poll, earning 42 total points.

The Panthers open their season on August 27 with a non-conference contest at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. After the trip to Seton Hill, the team starts conference play when they travel to Worchester, Massachusetts to take on Assumption College on September 2. "The team worked so hard in the offseason both mentally and physically, which is why they came into the season in top shape," said O'Connor.

Coach O'Connor brings back second-year assistant coach Ellen Axelsen. She was a four-year letter winner in goal at LaSalle University, earning Atlantic-10 All-Conference and All-Academic honors. "Ellen is an outstanding goalie coach and has stepped up a lot this year working with the entire team," O'Connor explained.

First-year assistant Lea Schumacher comes to Adelphi from conference foe Bentley University. Schumacher was a four-year member of the team and a co-captain as a senior who helped guide the Falcons to back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances. "Lea brings great defensive knowledge and has bonded extremely well with the team, while bringing a big insight of the NE-10," O'Connor added.

Forwards

Sophomore tri-captain Julianne Gerbino returns as the team's scoring leader from last season. Gerbino posted team-highs in goals with seven and points with 17, while handing out three assists. "Julianne has such a great presence on the field and is a solid all-around player for us," O'Connor added. Sophomores Jeanette Heimerle and Jessica Mulhern return as the second and third leading scorers from 2008, respectively. Heimerle finished with 13 points (four goals, five assists), while Mulhern recorded 12 points (six goals). "Jeanette and Jessica will provide us with a dominating striker line this year along with Julianne," claims O'Connor.

Junior transfer Natasha Pedzik comes from Seton Hill University where she was a two-year starter and finished second on the team in goals and points in 2007. "Natasha has a very good sense of how to score," O'Connor stated. Freshmen Cassie Cabral and Erin Grekin will add depth to the Panthers' offense in 2009. "Our newcomers will bring a very fluid attack this year," said O'Connor.

Midfield

O'Connor is expecting a lot out of her midfield this fall and believes that the success of the team will be dictated based on their play. "We are returning a very strong midfield this season," stated O'Connor. "We need them to step up and score more goals and hand out more assists." Sophomore tri-captain Brittany Kinsley is coming off a freshman campaign where she appeared in and started every game. "Brittany is a strong leader on the field and will maintain the balance of our midfield," O'Connor discussed.

Sophomore Theresa Murphy tallied a goal last season while seeing action in all 10 games with nine starts, while junior Lindsay Williams played in eight games with seven starts. "Theresa and Lindsay bring the team quality experience in the midfield," O'Connor explained. Sophomore Michelle Maurici, who started two out of the three games she played in last year, and freshman Alyssa Conklin will be asked for immediate impact. "Michelle and Alyssa will be counted on to make noise right away in the midfield," said O'Connor.

Defense

Anchoring the defense this year will be sophomore tri-captain Crystal Gray. Gray, who started all 10 games last fall for the Panthers, finished the season with two goals and one assist for five points. "Crystal is the leader of the defense; she sees the field very well and will be useful on our counter-attack," O'Connor noted.

Sophomore Laura Stafford, who started in all 10 games last season while recording one goal, will be counted on heavily in 2009. "Laura has great field-vision and will bring a lot of leadership to the defense," said O'Connor. Classmates Alexandra Dranoff and Kelly Gorman will also be mainstays in the Panther defense. Dranoff started every game last fall, while Gorman started two out of the six games she appeared in. O'Connor had this to say on her second-year defenders: "Alexandra has tremendous speed to go along with her vision, while Kelly is extremely intense and has dominating defensive skills."

Freshmen Danielle Demola, Emilee Rahner, and Mary Navarra are coming in with high expectations. Acoording to O'Connor, "They all have outstanding skills, come from great high school programs, and will be ready to step in and become starters at some point in the season."

Goal

Sophomore Lucia Vigliotti returns after getting time in three games last year. She stopped nine shots in 87 minutes in net. "Lucia had a tremendous offseason and we are very excited to see her abilities this season," O'Connor added. The Panthers will carry one more goalkeeper this fall in freshman Kristine Puzio. "Kristine is extremely athletic with great communication skills and will challenge for the goalkeeper spot," said O'Connor.

The Panthers are continuing to grow and build their program for the future. They will be playing in a number of indoor tournaments in the offseason, as well as running a half marathon and competing in a triathlon. The women are also currently fund raising for their offseason trip next year to Holland, Germany, and Belgium.

Schedule

The women's first home game will be on September 5 when they host Bentley University. Bentley finished second in the NE-10 last year with an overall mark of 17-6 and was a game away from the National Championship. "The competition in the NE-10 will be very strong and we are up for the challenge; everyone has each other's backs," O'Connor commented.

The Panthers close out their season on October 21 and 24 with home games against Assumption College and UMass Lowell, respectively. UMass Lowell is the National Runners-Up from the 2008 season. Although it is the team's first season in the NE-10, O'Connor has high expectations for her team. "We expect to have a winning season and to make the conference finals - aim high, land high," said O'Connor.