Field Hockey Sets Sights on Defending Empire 8 Title

The Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team is coming off the most successful season in the program’s five-year history as the Ducks went 19-4, won the Empire 8 Championship, made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, and ended the season ranked 16th in National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Top 20. Head Coach Jessica Reed (Hoboken, N.J.), the 2008 Empire 8 and NFHCA North Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, lost a great deal of talent and leadership to graduation but has set the bar high for her current group of players and has the team’s sights set on another run to the NCAA’s.

In 2008, two players were named All-Americans by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). The team also broke into the national top 20 for the first time, appearing in the NFHCA Division III National Coaches' Poll for the last eight weeks of the season. Six different players received all-conference recognition as three were named First-Team All-Empire 8.

The team accomplishments were the most impressive for the Ducks. They finished the year ranked sixth in the country in goals- against average, and the Duck "D" earned shutouts in 11 of their 23 contests, good for eighth in the country. Stevens was also eighth in the nation in winning percentage (.826).
 
Statistically, the Ducks led the Empire 8 in almost every category, at or near the top in goals, points, and assists. A huge part of Stevens’ success was due to the midfield players who consistently dominated the middle third of the field and always kept the ball in the opposing zone. The field position and possession domination enabled the Ducks to outscore their opponents 61-20. They took 351 shots while only allowing 151 to be taken. Furthermore, Stevens worked very well as a team, assisting on 44 of the 61 goals scored.

The 2009 Ducks, picked to win the Empire 8 by the conference’s coaches, lost tri-captains Allison Shields (Mahopac, N.Y.), Hillary Paul (Concord, N.H.), and Casey Scherck (Virginia Beach, Va.) to graduation, and all three were tremendous players and leaders. Shields and Paul were both All-Americans who have cemented their names in the program’s record book, and Scherck was a three-year captain and the glue that held together one of the best defenses in the nation over the course of the past two seasons. In addition, midfielder Kerri Polidore (Garwood, N.J.), and goalkeeper Stephanie Smith (Hockessin, Del.) graduated and both were four-year contributors and key components to last season’s success.

“Casey, Hillary, Alli, Kerri, and Steph helped lay the foundation for the team that exists today,” said Reed. They set the standard for success, work ethic, and attitude.  Always striving for excellence and never being satisfied, they pushed their teammates and themselves to reach their full potential. Their contributions as leaders on and off the field will be missed. They have left their mark on this program and will be a tough act to follow.”

Despite the losses to graduation, Stevens is ranked 15th in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Preseason Poll, and a big reason for that are the returning seniors. Highlighting that group of seniors are captains Kara Borzillo (Mount Laurel, N.J.), Erin Broderick (East Setauket, N.Y.), and Elizabeth Zmijewski (Oaklyn, N.J.).

Borzillo, a forward and three-year starter, is a two-time all-conference selection and the program’s leader in goals (42), assists (23), and points (107). She was also a 2008 NFHCA All-North Atlantic Region 1st team performer. Last season, she scored 19 times and had 10 assists to lead the conference, and this season she is sure to be relied on to shoulder the scoring load and create opportunities for her teammates.

Broderick has seen a great deal of playing time since arriving in 2006. A central part of the Stevens defense a year ago, Broderick will be asked to be more of a force in the midfield as well this season as her tremendous instincts and stick skills will be an asset all over the field. A member of the corner unit, Broderick scored four goals and had five assists last year and could see those numbers increase.

Zmijewski is a stalwart defender that started 21 games a season ago. An unheralded star, she has an uncanny ability to stop the opposition’s attack and immediately get the ball to midfielders and forwards. Zmijewski is described as a gamer and was a huge reason the Ducks pitched 11 shutouts in 2008 and were ranked fourth in goals-against average (0.86) and seventh in shutouts per game (0.48).

“Kara, Erin, and Liz are primed and ready to lead the team. They have been major contributors for the past three years and have always stepped up to the challenge. They lead by example and accept nothing but the best from their teammates and themselves which has earned them the respect they deserve from the team. Their talent level, determination, and attitude will be powerful tools as they take the captains’ reigns this season.”

There are two other seniors on the squad in midfielders Jessica Ablonczy (Shady Side, Md.) and Megan Clifford (Poguoson, Va,). Ablonczy started all 23 games last year as a defensive midfielder and should see a similar role this year. She has great anticipation and a knack for getting in passing lanes, and is expected to take more of a leadership role in ’09. Clifford, who has suffered medical setbacks in past seasons, is healthy and will via for minutes in the midfield this season.

Forward Lauren Griggs (Hillsborough, N.J.) is one of several very strong juniors on the team. Griggs earned Empire 8 Rookie of the Year honors in 2007 after scoring 12 goals. Last year, she scored six goals despite a changed role and field position. Griggs has a nose for the goal, has improved her speed through a great deal of hard work, and will be expected to take more of a leadership role as an upperclassman.
 
Fellow junior and sister Ellyn Griggs (Hillsborough, N.J.) will return at the goalkeeper position after earning the starting spot for much of last season. Griggs was ranked fourth in the country in goals-against average (0.81) and was an all-conference performer.  She is ready to improve last year’s performance thanks to arriving to preseason with quicker feet, in better shape, and with the poise necessary to command the goal.

Midfielder Melanie Richards (Jackson, N.J.) is another player that has come into camp ready to go. Richards saw action in 14 contests last season and will see an increased role in 2009. A game-savvy player, she is yet another player Coach Reed will look to challenge for playing time after working extremely hard all offseason on her game.

Coach Reed brought in a talented group of players in 2008 and as sophomores, that group should be even better. Midfielder Mallory Swanson (Princeton Junction, N.J.) was a key component to last year’s championship squad, scoring five times and assisting on two others. She played in 23 games, made 18 starts and always seemed to be in the thick of important plays. She is a versatile player that has excellent field awareness and can play all over the field. Swanson should have better offensive numbers this season playing in more of an attacking role in the midfield ’09.

Midfielder Jillian Price (West Islip, N.Y.) improved greatly over the course of last season, had a tremendous spring and continued getting better this summer. Another natural scorer, Price is an extremely athletic player and is a great distributer with tremendous stick skills. She will see more of a central role this season and should see increases in terms of goals and assists and overall minutes.

Two other sophomores that should see more minutes and greater roles are midfielder Meghan Broderick (East Setauket, N.Y.) and defender Lauren Guttierrez (Lawrenceville, N.J.). Broderick will challenge for a starting spot and more minutes as her small stick skills may allow for Coach Reed to use her at multiple positions.  Guttierez has displayed great growth from last season and should see more minutes as well

“We are returning a talented group of players.  The returners are a solid nucleus to build with and they are ready to continue to the standard of excellence set by those who graduated.”

As always seems to be the case with Stevens field hockey, Coach Reed has brought in a lot of talent as 12 freshmen join the roster this fall. Several players should contribute immediately which will definitely create better depth and soften the blow caused by graduation. Marguerite Chavez (Oceanport, N.J.) comes from powerhouse Shore Regional High School and has breakaway speed. She has a nose for the goal and should have an immediate impact. Defender/midfielder Christina Sedberry (Petersburg, N.J.) is another player from a strong high school field hockey program (Ocean City High School). Sedberry has versatility, stick skills, and instincts that will be useful in a variety of spots on the field. Defender Sam Weisman (Fairfax, Va.) is another athlete with a poised defensive stick and looks like she will fit into the Stevens system. She should challenge for minutes from the start. Forward Mary Nikish (Pittsford, N.Y.) has shown promise along the front line in camp, and transfer Samantha Moran (New Vernon, N.J.) has looked good early on and will provide some much-needed depth to the Stevens back line. Goalkeeper Erin Langan (Millburn, N.J.) also came to camp in good shape. The Millburn, N.J. native has shown a lot of talent early and will make for a healthy competition in goal.  Midfielder Nicole Pfeil (East Brunswick, N.J.), while still recovering from a spring injury, is an extremely smart field player and will contribute greatly when she is physically ready to go. Midfielder Mary A. Baldeon (Burtonsville, Md.), brings great intensity and skill to the team, and will look to see sometime as she continues to refine her skills. Coach Reed also welcomes Cathy Jaronczyk (Manhasset, N.Y.), Olivia Dunleavy (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), Samantha Rems (Metuchen, N.J.) and Laura Cerrito (Plainsboro, N.J.).

“We have talented freshmen joining the team this year; one of the largest classes in program history, “ added Reed. “It is exciting to watch them learn to play in our system and to see what each will bring to the team. As a group, they have tremendous potential and I look forward to developing them.” 

Outlook
After a great season last year, the Ducks will have a tough schedule and a target on their backs. They won the first nine games of 2008 and finished 19-4 overall. They went undefeated in the Empire 8 regular and postseason and advanced to the second round in their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Stevens will once again have a goal of winning the conference and earning the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA’s but it will definitely be a big challenge.

“Each year we have played a more challenging schedule than the previous year and have been success,” commented the head coach when asked about her schedule. “As our talent increases, we like to play tougher schedules and challenge ourselves with each opponent. You have beat the best to be the best.”

Stevens opens the year on the road with a contest against an up-and-coming program in Haverford College on September 1 before hosting its annual Stevens Invitational on Labor Day Weekend. The Ducks will welcome in Ramapo College, King’s College, and Juniata College with Stevens taking on Ramapo Saturday and King’s Sunday.

Following the Stevens Invite, the Ducks will welcome in ECAC Metro Champion Kean University and then take to the road to face New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe Montclair State University. Montclair defeated Stevens in a thriller at the De Baun Athletic Complex last season, so the Ducks will surely be out to even the score.

Next up is the conference opener as the team will head north for a September 19 game against Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. The Ducks will then travel back down to New Jersey to take on rival Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in Madison before returning to the De Baun Athletic Complex turf for a Homecoming Weekend showdown with the University of Scranton.

The first ranked opponent of the season will be Rowan University on September 30. The 10th-ranked Profs ended Stevens’ perfect 9-0 start in Glassboro a season ago. Following the tilt with Rowan is a visit to Ithaca College. Going up to Ithaca is always a challenge as the Bombers play on grass and are always a tough team at home.

The Ducks will then venture out of conference once again to visit Drew University before returning home for an Empire 8 game against Utica College on October 10. Four days later Stevens will take on NJAC foe and 20th-ranked William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J. Following the matchup with WPU, the Ducks will head to Oneonta, N.Y. for a game against Hartwick College.  The Ducks have yet to defeat Hartwick on the road.. The following day, October 18, the Ducks will venture to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. RPI is typically a very strong team and should provide a great test before Stevens returns home for its final three games of the regular season.

Stevens will host Elmira College on October 24 and a week later Washington & Jefferson College will come to Hoboken. The matchup with W&J is sure to be a big one as the two teams played for the Empire 8 Conference Championship a season ago. The regular-season finale will come against a gritty SUNY New Paltz team.

The Empire 8 Championship semifinals and finals will be hosted by the regular season champion on November 7 and 8 with the winner earning the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.