SCAC releases 2009 Field Hockey Prospectus

SCAC releases 2009 Field Hockey Prospectus

SUWANEE, Ga. - The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference released the 2009 SCAC Field Hockey Prospectus today. The prospectus includes schedules, standings, statistics and a complete list of previous conference champions. The publication also includes an in depth look and preview of all 5 SCAC field hockey teams and much more.

For the second straight season the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) sent a team to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, it was Sewanee-The University of the South who advanced after winning three games in three days, including a thrilling 1-0 contest over Centre College in the conference championship match. Once again the ever-competitive SCAC is poised for another exciting year of field hockey as the conference looks to advance yet another team into the NCAA Tournament.

Two-time SCAC field hockey Coach of the Year Tom Hobbs returns to head the Centre Colonels, who despite falling just short of the program’s second conference title, are looking to build off a successful 2008 season that produced an overall mark of 12-7. Sophomore goalkeeper Patty Cowley returns as the first player in league history to be named SCAC Newcomer-of-the-Year as well as the Defensive-Player-of-the-Year in the same season. The Colonels, however, will need to find a replacement for Teresa Johnstone, who graduated as the SCAC career leader in goals (36), assists (17) and points (89).

The Tigers of DePauw University return 11 letter winners, including seven starters from a team that finished 14-4 last year and posted the highest single-season winning percentage in conference history. Third-year head coach Gina Preston has a lot of talent to work with, including 2008 SCAC Co-Offensive-Player-of-the-Year Sarah Riffle. Riffle scored the second most goals (15) in a single-season in conference history last season and averaged a conference record 1.78 points per game. The Tigers also return SCAC Co-Newcomer-of-the-Year Kimberly Trainor, who added four goals and three assists in her first season in Greencastle.

Rhodes College enters the 2009 season coming off its third straight winning season. The Lynx started the 2008 campaign with a school record 8-1 mark through nine games but went just 2-8 the rest of the way to finish 10-9. Head coach Jane Wells enters her fifth season and will have arguably her most experienced team with 21 returnees – including seven starters from the 2008 squad. The Lynx will be led by two-time All-SCAC and All-Region performer junior Charlie Wagner, who will anchor the midfield. Fellow junior Lindsey Gurkovich, who paced Rhodes with 10 goals and five assists last year, also returns as the Lynx look to post the program’s fourth straight winning season.

Head coach Ellie Karvoski looks to continue to build the Hendrix College program and has seven juniors and three sophomores to assist in the process. The 2008 SCAC Co-Coach-of-the-Year, Karvoski led the Warriors to four wins last season after suffering through a winless inaugural campaign in 2007. After scoring just one goal in 2007, Hendrix exploded offensively in 2008 to tally 23 scores – led by the 10 goals posted by returning junior Abby Coleman. The Warriors are excited about the 2009 season and are hoping to continue to build off the program’s success from a year ago.

In her first-year at the helm at Sewanee-The University of the South, head coach Jennifer Baldaccini led the Tigers to the program’s first-ever SCAC conference field hockey title as well as its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Sewanee finished the year strong, winning eight of its final nine matches including three in three days to take the 2008 SCAC title. The Purple Tigers return a strong group of players, including five starters to go along with a talented incoming freshman class. However, if Sewanee wants to return to the conference final for the third consecutive year, the Tigers will have to replace the offensive production of 2008 SCAC Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Year Lynn Hancock, who set new conference single-season records a year ago for both goals scored (16) and points tallied (34).

To view the entire 2009 Field Hockey Prospectus, click here.

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