8/26/2003
Head Coach Laurie Carroll and the Georgetown Field Hockey team enter 2003 in search of the program?s fourth consecutive winning season, and with eight returning starters, and the addition of seven newcomers, the team aspires to improve upon last year?s 9-8 record and create opportunities for the postseason.
The graduation of 2002 Co-Captain and Regional All-American Jessica Herring will test the defense, but a packed offensive lineup returns mostly intact, including last year?s high scorer, Jessica Quinn (Cumberland, R.I./ Lincoln School), and career assists leader, Co-Captain Leeanne Rizzo (Walpole, Mass./ Walpole). Quinn, currently a sophomore, broke into the collegiate ranks last season with a goal in each of her first eight games. She ended the year with 11 goals and an assist for 23 points. Rizzo?s 11 points, off four goals and three assists, moved her into ninth place on Georgetown?s all-time scoring list.
Along with Quinn and Rizzo, seniors Dionna Jordan (Portsmouth, R.I./ Portsmouth Academy) and Beth Gagnon (Springfield, Va./ Georgetown Visitation) will look to lead the offense this season. Jordan tallied three goals and an assist last year, and also competed on Georgetown?s track and field team. Gagnon recorded one goal and one assist last year, and this season is expected to make additional contributions at midfield.
To compensate for Herring?s absence in goal, senior defenders Nora Mirando (Walpole, Mass./ Walpole) and Lauren Galbally (Malvern, Pa./ Villa Maria Academy) will look to pressure opposing offenses, and protect Georgetown?s freshmen goalkeepers, Abby Winer (Rising Sun, Md./ Rising Sun) and Caitlyn Faller (Fredericksburg, Va./ Stafford). Galbally will serve alongside Rizzo as Co-Captain, and after playing in all 17 games last season, juniors Meghan Leahey (Windham, N.H./ St. Paul?s School) and Caroline Cole (Boston, Mass./ Buckingham, Brown and Nichols) will provide additional veteran leadership on the defense.
Sophomore Molly Ahearn (Baltimore, Md./ St. Paul?s), who also saw action in every contest last year, anchors the midfield this season, while 2002 NFHCA Division I National Academic Team selections Caitlin Bump (Barrytown, N.Y./ Emma Willard School) and Megan Carroll (Massapequa, N.Y./ Massapequa) return this season to vie for additional minutes on the defense.
Newcomers on the offensive unit include Alex Kern (Shaker Heights, Ohio/ Hathaway Brown), Jen Kosloski (Drexel Hill, Pa./ Cardinal O?Hara) and Bridie McCulla (Richmond, Va./ St. Catherine?s), while Megan Cellucci (Malvern, Pa./ Villa Maria Academy) and Natalie Sisto (Drexel Hill, Pa./ Cardinal O?Hara) round out the incoming class on defense.
Erica Chan (Reisterstown, Md./ Garrison Forest), Meghan Devaney (Larchmont, N.Y./ Mamaroneck), Tara Mead (Wellesley, Mass./ Noble and Greenough School), and Casey Rock (Smithtown, N.J./ Smithtown) will compete for more playing time this year after seeing limited minutes last season.
The team opens its 2003 campaign on Aug. 30 with a home match against Longwood, followed by another home game versus St. Joseph?s the following day. The schedule is highlighted by a mix of contests against both local schools, such as American University, Towson and UMBC, and first-ever meetings of long-distance opponents, such as the University of Maine and Pacific. The 17-game schedule culminates with a three-game home stand against Appalachian State, Temple and Radford.
