WASHINGTON - After posting its most wins since 2002, including the most home wins since 2010 last season, the Georgetown field hockey team looks to continue its recent turnaround. The Hoyas begin their stretch of four-straight road games to open the 2016 season at Davidson on Friday before heading to Appalachian State on Sunday.

Head Coach Shannon Soares returns for her third season on the Hilltop in 2016 after having led the team to 14 wins over her first two seasons, the most in a two-year period in school history since 2002-03. Georgetown also posted the team's first BIG EAST victory since 2011.

The season begins Friday night on Belk Turf field in Davidson, N.C., for a 6:00 p.m., contest against the Wildcats. Coming off its first Atlantic 10 Tournament appearance last season, Davidson posted an 8-11 record last season, including a 1-0 victory over the Hoyas at Cooper Field. The two teams have opened the season against one another every year since 2012.

On Sunday at noon, the Hoyas will face Appalachian State at the Brandon & Erica M Adcock Field Hockey Stadium in Boone, N.C. The contest will mark the fifth of the season for the Mountaineers, who went 4-13 last year. In addition to exhibitions against Liberty, Newberry and Limestone, App State opens the season at home on Friday versus Ball State. The Mountaineers scored two goals in the final 2:25 to take a 5-4 victory over Georgetown in the last meeting between the two schools on Aug. 29, 2014.

Forwards

The Hoyas return 76 percent of their goal scoring and 72 percent of their points from a year ago losing just one starter up front in Callie Hiner who appeared in all 19 games in 2015 while making 13 starts.

Leading the team will be senior and two-time All-BIG EAST selection Aliyah Graves-Brown (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg Academy). She was the first Hoya in Georgetown's 12 season in the BIG EAST to earn first team all-conference honors a year ago after leading the team with five goals and 11 points.

"Aliyah Graves-Brown is no doubt a dynamic player," said Soares. "She's someone who has been dangerous for us on the striker line and always wants the ball when the game is on the line. She's definitely gained the attention of our opponents and she'll have her work cut out for her this season as she looks to continue to be a threat for us."

Joining Graves-Brown on the front line will be the sophomore Sam Hickey (Coatesville, Pa./Villa Maria) who played in all but one game in her first season a year ago while scoring twice.

"We're excited about our striker line this year," said Soares. "Yes, we return Aliyah Graves-Brown, but we also welcome back a much stronger and more confident Sam Hickey who I've been very impressed with this preseason."

Senior Maria McDonald (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh), who has appeared in 54 of the team's 55 games in her career with 48 starts, and freshman Lindsay Getz (Northfield, Ill./Loyola Academy), the 2015 Illinois Field Hockey Player of the Year who set a school record with 30 goals as a senior at Loyola Academy, are also expected to factor into the offensive output this season.

"We've moved Maria McDonald to the striker line and she's welcomed the change and adapted very well to the new role," said Soares. "We've seen great shot selection and communication on Maria's part and we're looking forward to watching her progress. Lindsay Getz also joins us up top and has found the back of the net with consistency throughout all of preseason. Getzy is athletic, long and we feel her ceiling is extremely high. We're very excited about her future with us."

The offense should also benefit from the addition of freshman Jordan Sweeney (Clarksville, Md./Good Counsel) who was the 2015 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year at Good Counsel.

Midfield

The Hoyas lost three of four starters in the midfield from last year with the graduation of Sarah Butterfield, Emily Weinberg and Louise Chakejian. The three combined for 17 points with six goals and five assists last season. Butterfield started all but one of the team's 55 games over the last three years and finished her career with 38 points, 16 goals and six assists.

The lone returner is junior Joanna Hawkins (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) who started all 19 games last season, but did not register a point.

Helping to offset the loss offensively will be the move of junior Megan Parsons (Chester Springs, Pa./Villa Maria) and sophomore Helena Masiello (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) from forward. Parsons had three goals and tied for the team lead with two assists a year ago while Masiello led the team with five goals after making just seven starts.

"We're excited about having Helena and Megan in our midfield this year, they both bring great speed and a willingness and ability to generate attack for us.," said Soares. "We've seen real growth on Helena Masiello's part and we're excited about watching her develop into a key central midfielder for us. Additionally, Megan's ability to change speed on the ball in one on one situations will certainly help us as we look to generate attack up the right side of the field."

Also factoring into the mix will be junior Mackenzie Schneider (Norfolk, Va./Maury) who has 31 games of experience in the midfield. She will also be joined by newcomer Michaela Bruno (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) who was a three-time all-state selection at Garden City High School who won back-to-back state championships and led Nassau County in points as both a junior and senior.

Backs

As much talent as the Hoyas have offensively, the defense is also shaping up to be a real strength, led by the senior duo of Molly Thompson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Pioneer) and Devin Holmes (Fleetville, Pa./Wyoming Seminary). The two have appeared together in all but one of the team's 37 games the last two seasons while making 34 starts. They have also combined for 10 career defensive saves, ranking 10th and 15th in school history, respectively.

Holmes has never missed a game in three seasons with the Hoyas, totaling 55 appearances while adding four goals and six assists.

"Devin Holmes is our quarterback," said Soares. "She steers the ship in all that she says and all that she does. As a coach, it's been so special to see Devin develop into the player and the leader she is now. I look forward to watching her garner more attention, specifically in the BIG EAST conference."

Sophomore Katie Maransky (Blue Bell, Pa./Mount Saint Joseph's Academy) started all 19 games on defense in her first season a year ago, totaling one assist and one defensive save.

"We're so excited about Katie Maransky and what she brings to our team," said Soares. "Katie is probably the most versatile player we have in that we could place her in any role on the field and she would excel. She can strike, throw, eliminate and defend. She's spent some time developing her leadership abilities over the offseason and we've loved what we've seen thus far in terms of the voice she is using and the example she is setting."

Adding depth to the back line is senior Hailey Vann (Yorktown, Va./Tabb) who started all 18 games on defense as a freshman, but has been limited to just 14 games and five starts the last two seasons.

Newcomers Ashley Leverrett (Pasadena, Md./Indian Creek), Cameron Rogers (Richmond, Va./Trinity Episcopal) and Jessica Lagano (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) are also expected to see time in both the midfield and on defense. Leverrett was a two-time all-conference selection at Indian Creek where she registered 22 goals and 16 assists as a senior both school records. She also set the record with 44 career assists.

"Ashley Leverrett did a terrific job of coming into preseason ready to make an impact," said Soares. "She understands the game, she's saavy and technically sound. While we will look for her to gain strength in the coming year, we are excited about what she will bring to the back line immediately."

Goalies

The defense will be anchored by junior Rachel Skonecki (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Red Land) who has started 36 of the team's 37 games in goal the last two seasons. She ranks fifth in school history in wins (14), second in shutouts (8) and eighth in saves (274). She has also posted a .733 save percentage.

"In my first year at Georgetown, Rachel immersed herself in developing her craft and has not stopped surprising us since," said Soares. "We're excited about Rachel this year and will look for her to remain consistent as we get into the meat of our schedule, specifically in conference play."

Joining Skonecki will be sophomore Chloe Verwiel (New Hope, Pa./New Hope-Solebury) who made one appearance in her first season last year, totaling three saves in 20:49 against Connecticut in the season finale.

"There has been a high level of competition within the position of goalkeeper this preseason. Chloe Verwiel has stepped up to the plate and has done a great job this preseason. We're excited about both Rachel and Chloe and what they bring to the table for us this season."

Schedule

Georgetown competes in one of the strongest conferences in the nation, the BIG EAST. Connecticut, the 2015 BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion, reached the NCAA semifinals a year ago after winning national championships in 2013 and 2014.

The BIG EAST got even stronger with the addition of Liberty and Quinnipiac for this season. Liberty has made two NCAA Field Hockey Championship appearances in the last three seasons and was 12-6 last year. Quinnipiac went 9-11 last season and was MAAC regular season champions.

"We have the opportunity to compete in one of the strongest conferences in the country for the sport of field hockey," said Soares. "We appreciate that opportunity, we respect our opponents, and we are committed to rising in the BIG EAST Conference."

Three BIG EAST teams were ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Preseason Poll. UConn was ranked at No. 3, followed by Liberty at No. 13 and Old Dominion at No. 20.

Georgetown's 11 non-conference opponents averaged seven wins last season with five posting at least nine victories. Rider was 12-7 last year, losing to Quinnipiac in the MAAC semifinals while Saint Francis also posted double-digit wins with a 10-7 record.

In addition to Connecticut, Liberty and Old Dominion, the Hoyas will also face William & Mary and Temple who were both receiving votes in the NFHCA preseason poll.

"As a program, we talk a lot about trusting in the process," said Soares. "It takes time to build something special, success doesn't come overnight and Rome certainly wasn't built in a day. We're looking forward to a successful 2016 season with a very special group of young women."