Messiah College and Eastern University have been selected by the leagues head coaches to win their respective conferences in field hockey in the annual preseason poll.
Messiah Favored in Commonwealth Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll
Annville, PA – Defending Commonwealth Conference Champion Messiah College topped the annual field hockey coach’s preseason poll, earning 48 points and six first place votes.
The Falcons, who boasted a perfect 22-0 record before falling 1-0 in the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship game to Salisbury University, cruised through the Commonwealth slate with a 7-0 mark last season, eventually defeating Lebanon Valley College by a 2-1 score in the conference championship tilt. Messiah and LVC hooked up for a single-season record third time in the NCAA Third Round, with the Falcons advancing to their 13th ‘Final Four’ via a 3-2 overtime decision.
Messiah was voted the Commonwealth’s top team despite losing seven starters off of last year’s club, though league coaches are more concerned with what returns: 2009 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Player of the Year (and Commonwealth Player of the Year) Julie Barton anchors a midfield that helped generate 111 goals last fall, while giving up just 21 in return.
Senior classmate Kourtney Ehly (29 goals, 11 assists) joined Barton with NFHCA First Team All-American honors last season, being tabbed a First Team All-Commonwealth selection as well. In all, Messiah had eight selections to the All-Commonwealth teams in ’09, with Barton (eight goals, 12 assists), Ehly and junior defender Nikki Carroll the only returnees this season.
Head coach Jan Trapp begins her 38th season at the helm of the Falcons’ program, earning 2009 Commonwealth Coach of the Year honors for the seventh time of her career.
The Falcons open their season hosting Juniata on September 1. The Commonwealth Conference Tournament begins November 3 with semifinal games on campus at the higher seeds, followed by the championship game on November 6.
These are the results of the coaches’ poll:
2010 Commonwealth Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Messiah 48 pts. (6)
2. Lebanon Valley 44 pts. (2)
3. Widener 34 pts.
4t. Alvernia 29 pts.
4t. Elizabethtown 29 pts.
6. Albright 20 pts.
7. Arcadia 11 pts.
8. Shenandoah 9 pts.
(#) denotes fist place votes
Eastern Favored in Freedom Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll
Annville, PA – Freedom Conference coaches have unanimously picked Eastern University as the preseason favorite for 2010. Coach Azzarano's Eagles captured the last two Freedom Conference Championships and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in each of the last two years.
The Eagles return significant contributors in all facets of the game, but they will have to compensate for the loss of a talented senior class that included a pair of players who earned All-American recognition in their time in St. Davids. Even so, Azzarano is confident that the 2010 group will be able to compete at the highest level.
In addition to their slate of games in the league, the Eagles will challenge four top NJAC schools (TCNJ, William Paterson, Rowan, and Montclair State) as well as Commonwealth power Messiah.
Junior forward Yvonne Herbster earned first team All-Freedom and All Mid-Atlantic Region honors as a sophomore. She led the Eastern squad with 11 goals and 11 assists in 2009. Kim Campbell returns for her final season and is looking to improve on her eight goal season in 2009. Junior back Danielle Danser and senior goalie Laura Ressler will each bear part of the responsibility of organizing the Eastern defense. Eastern gave up just four goals in league action in 2009. Several players will compete for time in a deep midfield group.
The Eagles open their season at Montclair State on September 1. The Freedom Conference Tournament begins November 3 with semifinal games on campus at the higher seeds, followed by the championship game on November 6.
These are the results of the coaches’ poll:
2010 Freedom Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Eastern 49 pts. (7)
2. King’s 42 pts. (1)
3. Delaware Valley 33 pts.
4. Wilkes 31 pts.
5. FDU-Florham 28 pts.
6. Misericordia 15 pts.
7. Manhattanville 14 pts.
8. DeSales 12 pts.
(#) denotes fist place votes