2008 Season In Review

Head coach Anna Rogers will look to the off season to regain momentum for next fall. Having played in the strong Empire 8 Conference and facing two nationally ranked teams, the EC Women’s Field Hockey team compiled a 1-15 record, 0-7 in the Empire 8.

This years squad faced a much more difficult and demanding schedule and with only two players in their final year with the program, they would lay the foundations of success for years to come.

Providing veteran leadership for the Soaring Eagles was Courtney Ellis ’09 (Whitney Point, NY -- Whitney Point) and Casey Ross ’09 (Whitney Point, N Y -- Whitney Point). This Midfield tandem proved to be crucial in solidifying a solid midfield line for the Soaring Eagles while starting in each game for the Purple and Gold. Ross led the team in points tallying 2 goals and 2 assist for a total of 6 points in her final season.

Coach Rogers will look to the class of 2010 to pick up the slack next season and to continue the development of such a young team. At the head of the pack are Co-Captains Jennifer Heydt ’10 (Leesport, PA -- Schuylkill Valley) and Deanna Henson ’10 (Carmel, NY – Carmel). The duo started in each of the Soaring Eagles 16 games and combined for 9 points on 3 goals and 3 assists.

Rounding out the class of the 2010 were Alyssa Boutin ’10 (Rollinsford, NH -- Somerworth), Sarah Torilli ’10 (Southborough, MA -- Algonquin Regional), Veronica Fernandez ’10 (North Berwick, ME -- Noble), Myriah Fitterer ’10 (Ithaca, NY -- Ithaca) and Jessica Kischko ’10 (Springfield, VT -- Springfield).

Fitterer and Boutin will be looked to bolster and already deep midfield and attack for the Purple and Gold , while Torilli, Kischko and Fernandez will be expected to anchor the Elmira defense in front of goaltenders Jalene McCulloch ’10 (Belleville, ONT – Millbrook School) and Allison Holsinger ’10 (Denton, MD -- North Caroline).

McCulloch started in all 16 games for the Purple and Gold and compiled a 1-15 record with her lone win coming against Misericordia University in overtime. Although it was a down year McCulloch finished the season as one of the premier goaltenders in the country. Her athleticism and intelligence helped her to make a total of 307 saves on the year to make her second in the nation in saves averaging 19.27 per game. To add to that her 39 save performance against Washington and Jefferson was the best performance of any goalie in Division I, II and III.

Next fall looks promising for the Purple and Gold. With a talented group of first and second year players returning, experience should not be an issue. Ariana Farricielli ’11 (Harnden, CT -- Harnden Hall Country Day), Kelsey Burke ’11 (Williamsville, NY -- Williamsville North), Morgan Blair ’11 (Hamburg, NY -- Hamburg) and Sharon Johnson ’11 (South Portland, ME -- South Portland) will all be looked upon in their third year to play crucial roles in the success of next years squad. Burke and Blair in their second season added much needed offense tallying 3 goals combined.

In their first season the Class of 2012 made impressive strides in their development while making the change to college field hockey. Three players in the Class of 2012 notched their first career goal. These players included Sarah Thomassen ’12 (Stewartstown, PA -- Kennard Dale), Gina Sanita ’12 (Lancaster, NY -- Lancaster) and Kelli Hadley ’11 (Colmar, PA -- North Penn). Combined this trio was invaluable as starters and as impact players of the bench throughout the season.

Keisha Malone ’12 (Sherrill, NY -- Vernen -Vernona-Sherrill), Katie Forth ’12 (Canastota, NY -- Canastota) and Delaney Evans ’12 (Wayne, ME -- Maranacook) all saw valuable time in their inaugural season and will be looked upon to carry that experience into next year.

Rising to the challenge of extremely tough schedule, the Soaring Eagles Field Hockey program will look to the rest of the year to continue their development while looking for success in the 2009 season.