Freedom Conference Field Hockey
August 26, 2008
King’s Favored in Freedom Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll
ANNVILLE, Pa. – King’s College has been chosen as the favorite to win the Freedom Conference crown during the 2008 field hockey season by the conference coaches in the annual preseason poll.
The Lady Monarchs (15-5, 6-0) received 64 points in addition to four first place votes. King’s broke open a scoreless conference championship game with a pair of second half goals as the Lady Monarchs won their second straight Freedom Conference championship with a 2-0 victory over visiting FDU-Florham. With that win, it secured the team an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament for the second consecutive year. Springfield, who was ranked fourteenth nationally, registered a 3-1 victory over King's College in the opening round of the tournament. Christina Glenn (1 goal, 7 assists) and Debbie Wychock (15 goals, 1 assist) are the lone returning all-conference players from a year ago.
Eastern (15-6, 9-1) earns second place in the poll with 62 points and three first place votes.
Eastern will be entering their first season of competition in the Freedom Conference. They leave the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), formerly known as the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) after being one of the top teams in the conference. Eastern and Alvernia met in the conference championship and they are no strangers to each other, having met in the past three PAC finals. Alvernia edged out Eastern by the narrowest of margins, 3-2. First team all-conference selections Kim Campbell (15 goals, 5 assists) and Lindsay Moyer (14 goals, 11 assists) will lead the Eagles in their new challenge of becoming one of the top teams in the Freedom Conference.
FDU-Florham (16-8, 5-1) finds themselves in third place in the poll with 58 points and two first place votes.
The College at Florham Devils were beaten by King’s, 2-0 in the Freedom Conference finals. Not getting down, the Devils landed a spot in the ECAC Mid Atlantic Region tournament as the number sever seed. The Devils knocked off second seeded Nazareth, 3-2 (OT), in the quarterfinals. They then go on to again knock off a lower seeded team, this time number six Stevens, 2-1 in the semifinals. This win propels them into the finals where they defeated by fourth seeded Montclair State, 2-1.
First team all-conference Christina Fabian was the second leading scorer in the conference in goals with 20. Teamed with second team all-conference player Jackie Gale (1 goal, 7 assists), FDU will again challenge for the top spot.
Alvernia (16-6, 10-0) comes in fourth place with 49 points.
Alvernia, like Eastern is making the transition from the CSAC to the Freedom Conference. Alvernia leaves their old conference as the reigning champions, defeating Eastern 3-2. The final was decided by 11 rounds of penalty strokes. With that victory, that qualified the Crusaders for a spot in the NCAA tournament. The Crusaders were matched up with seventh ranked Skidmore, losing 2-0 in the first round. Player of the Year Janelle Lynch (17 goals, 8 assists) is the lone all-conference returnee. She will be called upon to lead a young Alvernia team in their new conference.
Misericordia (13-7, 8-2) received 42 points for fifth place.
Misericorida is also joining the Freedom Conference this season after coming over from the CSAC. Last season the Lady Cougars fell to Eastern, 5-0 in the PAC semi-finals. Misericordia will look to establish themselves and make a name for their team in their new conference. Leading the way will be first team all-conference player Laura Leighow (15 goals, 4 assists), and second team all-conference selections Heather DiMenno (5 goals, 8 assists) and Jamie Wargo.
Delaware Valley (12-8, 3-3) earns a sixth place mark in the poll while receiving 39 points.
The Aggies tied with two others for third place in the Freedom Conference. Delaware Valley finished tied with both DeSales University and Wilkes University in the conference standings. However, the conference tiebreakers favored the other two schools and the Aggies missed out on their second straight postseason appearance. It was still a record-setting campaign as 19 school marks (team and individual) were either tied or broken. Delaware Valley got off to a 5-0 start to tie the record for both consecutive wins and an unbeaten streak. Junior midfielder Bethany Pavlik (20 goals, 10 assists) and senior forward Michelle Cernobyl (21 goals, 5 assists) produced record numbers on the offensive end and were each selected to the all-Freedom Conference second team. Pavlik led the conference in points (50) and assists (10), while Cernobly led the conference goals (21).
Wilkes (8-11, 3-3) places seventh in the poll with 35 points.
Earning the third seed in the conference tournament, Wilkes fell to number two FDU-Florham 2-0, ending their season. Looking to make it back to post season play will be the goal for the team.
First team all-conference player Kerry Battesby is back for her senior season on defense. Teaming with her is second team all-conference player Diana Wright (7 goals, 4 assists) who will help guide the Colonels.
DeSales (8-11, 3-3) tied for eighth in this year’s poll with 28 points.
Earning the fourth seed in the conference tournament, DeSales was defeated by the number one King’s squad, 2-1. Now under the direction of first year head coach Sarah Fosdick, Coach Fosdick has her sight sets on returning her team back to the tournament. After losing last seasons conference player of the year in Ashley Sparango to graduation, the Bulldogs will call upon Rookie of the Year Amy Pulcini (7 goals, 2 assists) for production.
Manahttanville (9-10, 1-5) also placed eight in the poll with 28 total points.
Manhattanville, the conference champions in 2005, will look to get back to being one of the top teams they used to be in the conference. In doing this, second team all-conference players Kristen Spelman (3 goals, 3 assists), Allison Rogers and Lauren Gagnon (4 shut outs) will help guide first year head coach Kevin Kelly’s team.
Freedom Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. King’s 64 points (4)
2. Eastern 62 points (3)
3. FDU-Florham 58 points (2)
4. Alvernia 49 points
5. Misericordia 42 points
6. Delaware Valley 39 points
7. Wilkes 35 points
8t. DeSales 28 points
8t. Manhattanville 28 points
( ) first place votes in parentheses