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Field hockey starts year strong |
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Tuesday, 28 August 2007 |
by ASHLEY DAVIS
Intern Sports Reporter
Coach Brandi Alexander is looking at the 2007 women’s field hockey season as a way to improve Appalachian State University’s conference standings, and as an opportunity for the team to prove their abilities.
“The girls have come more prepared and mentally ready this year,” Alexander said. “We can finish the season with at least a .500 record.”
Following an impressive opening match against Davidson University, ASU managed to score three goals.
While losing the match, Alexander seemed confident that the girls were
already proving their scoring capabilities for the coming season.
The 2007 season offers the field hockey team five games at Kidd Brewer
Stadium, and also adds several teams to their schedule that they
haven’t faced including Drexel University, Rider University, University
at Albany and Robert Morris University.
 Two ASU field hockey players fight for the ball during an Aug. 23 practice.
| Trey Mahoney | The Appalachian
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With seven new players on the team, it is easy to look to the
underclassmen to provide energy on the field. Yet while ASU may appear
young with a majority of freshmen and sophomore players, it is due to
their age that Alexander has such high expectations for an improved
2007 season.
“We’re looking to our seniors to lead the team, but there are definitely younger players to watch as well,” she said.
Two freshmen join the offense at forward midfield this year, Nicole
Morgan and Christine Zanowicz. Zanowicz recorded 32 goals and 12
assists throughout her high school career, earning her the title of a
Maryland Senior All-Star, as well as first-team all-conference.
Also contributing on offense are sophomores Amanda Young, Jessie Harris, Jessica Thompson and transfer Kate Garnet.
Thompson and Young both recorded one goal last season.
Garnet, who transfers from the University of Maryland at Baltimore,
scored against Longwood University last season and was named to the
East Coast Field Hockey all-star team her senior year in high school.
In addition to the underclassmen on offense are seniors Ali Gradischer,
Jessica Harris and Alicia Larkins. Both Harris and Gradischer scored
two goals in 2006, each recording a goal against Pacific in the NorPac
Tournament.
Larkins meanwhile aided the team with two goals and three assists from 16 shots on goal.
On defense a platoon will start at goalkeeper.
Sophomore Denise Adams and junior Sabra Holt will be depended on to
guard shots, with the help of new goalkeeping specialist coach Carrie
Hanshue.
“At this point it isn’t a battle between the two,” Coach Alexander
said. “It will simply come down to each game who I think will be best
in the goal for that match.”
Holt recorded 36 saves for last season while Adams was redshirted.
The field hockey team will be looking at freshmen Jenn Heiss and
Caitlin Counts to step up at midfield, while freshmen Katie Price and
Lindsay Carman will be watched at back.
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