2008 Field Hockey Prospectus

SUWANEE, Ga. - The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference saw a handful of firsts for field hockey in 2007. Not only did the league expand to five participating institutions but Centre College received the first ever post-season bid into the NCAA Tournament in the four year history of SCAC field hockey.

Centre College coach Tom Hobbs, the 2007 SCAC Coach-of-the-Year, will look to build off a 2007 campaign that produced the most successful year in school history. The Colonels will see four fresh faces joining a solid group of returning starters in Danville, Kentucky. The returning starters are headlined by Teresa Johnstone. Johnstone, the leagues first-ever All-American in field hockey and Co-Offensive-Player-of-the-Year led the SCAC in points (26) and was tied second for goals (10).

For the first time in school history DePauw University will start the 2008 season as the defending SCAC Champions. Second year coach Gina Preston will lead a concrete core of seven returning starters including all conference selections from a year ago Kate Dobbins, Carolyn Muller and Becca Rojek. The Tigers, with a mixture of leadership and six incoming freshman, are poised to make a run at defending their title in ‘08.

Rhodes College will enter the 2008 season as the only two-time winner of the SCAC and will look to reach the national spotlight this year. Offensively, the Lynx comes off the most productive season in SCAC history scoring 52 goals a year ago. However with the loss of Co-Offensive-Player-of-the-Year Erin Atmar, Rhodes will need to find scoring in other places this season. SCAC Newcomer of the Year Charlie Wagner will anchor the midfield with three year starter Maria Cowley anchoring a defense that only allowed 24 goals and produced eight shutouts a year ago.

In its second year of competition, Hendrix College will open up the season with a new sense of excitement under head coach Ellie Karvoskie. Five incoming freshman will join with nine returning players including sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Havens. Havens shattered the conference record for saves in a season (175) averaging just over eleven per contest. With new faces and experienced gained from an inaugural season the Warriors will look to improve in 2008.

After advancing to the championship game for the second time in the first four years of SCAC field hockey competition Sewanee-The University of the South is looking to take the next step and capture its first SCAC field hockey championship in school history. The Tigers are arguably the most seasoned team heading into 2008 with seven seniors and ten returning starters. Leading the squad will be two seniors, All-SCAC performer from a year ago midfielder Claiborne Buckingham and fellow classmate forward Lynn Hancock. Buckingham needs just seven assists this season to become the leagues all-time assists leader while Hancock finished last year second in the conference in goals (10) and atop the conference averaging 0.62 goals per contest.

For the complete 2008 SCAC Field Hockey Prospectus, click here.