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Empire 8 Preseason Poll HOBOKEN, N.J. (August 28, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team will open its 2014 schedule Friday night at No. 11 The College of New Jersey.
Coming off back-to-back Empire 8 regular-season crowns and a combined record of 30-15 over the last two years, the Ducks have high hopes for the 14 slate which features a pair of contests against nationally-ranked foes Friday and Saturday at TCNJ and No. 12 Messiah College.
"We couldn't be more excited for our season to get underway," commented Head Coach
Emily Beach (Hoboken, N.J.). "We worked hard in the offseason, have had a strong preseason and we have a nice blend of returners and newcomers."
The Ducks will be eyeing a return trip to the Empire 8 Tournament in 2014 and are hoping to get back to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championship for the first time since 2010.
Leading the attack…The Stevens forwards will be led by a trio of returners and a trio of newcomers. Senior
Jillian Fiebel (Roxbury, N.J.), junior
Dailyn Brook (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and sophomore
Taylor Welch (Ringwood, N.J.) will join forces with a pair of freshmen and a walk-on.
Brook started and played in all 22 games for the Ducks in 2013 after an excellent freshman season. The goal-scorer pocketed 14 tallies for 28 points, knocking in a game-winner and displaying a knack for the back of the net. An all-conference performer, Brook will be supported by Fiebel and Welch throughout the season. Welch has made great strides since arriving on Castle Point last September, and Fiebel has been a quality contributor throughout her career. Welch saw action in 13 contests as a rookie, scoring two goals and handing out one assist. Fiebel – who battled injury last year – knocked home three markers and handed out one assist for a total of seven points.
In addition to the veterans, freshmen
Victoria Alvarez (Pine Beach, N.J.),
Isabella Giordano (Exton, Pa.) and
Haines Duff (New Bedford, Mass.) have impressed in the early going along with junior
Dana Opeikun (Clinton, N.J.). Please note: Throughout the 2014 season, Coach Beach and the newcomers will be doing a "Getting to know…" series with freshmen and alums of the program. "We have some exciting athletes up front and I expect them to produce big numbers for us this year," added Beach. "Christie (Lonsky) has worked hard to get them comfortable making good decisions. Drawing penalty corners and execution on those set pieces will continue to be a priority for our group on attack."
In the midfield…Like the forwards, Stevens has a mix of fresh faces and experienced leaders in the midfield. Junior standout
Erin Silvestri (Beverly, Mass.) played in and started all 22 games a season ago after a similarly strong freshman year. In 2013, Silvestri had five goals and five assists from her defensive midfield position. Sophomore standout
Nolie Prouty (Glendora, Calif.) will continue to play the right wing after being a staple in that spot in 2013. Prouty played in and started every game for Stevens, having an impact for the Ducks on offense and defense. The then-freshman finished the year with six assists and eight points. Sophomore
Maggie Kulpa (Cheshire, Conn.) played in three games after walking onto the team as a rookie. She has worked hard in the offseason and will be in the mix for rotation time. Freshman newcomer
Marley Brackelmanns-Puig (Randolph, N.J.) will also be in the mix in the early going after a very strong preseason.
Supplementing the Silvestri-Prouty-Kulpa returning group - along with Brackelmanns-Puig - will be a very deep and talented group of newcomers in
Kendall Pelletier (Clifton Park, N.Y.),
Victoria Zanlunghi (West Nyack, N.Y.), sophomore
Meghan Reilly (Rockport, Mass.),
Emma Chick (Stockholm, N.J.) and
Katti Thomasian (Oceanport, N.J.).
"Our midfield this year is deeper than it's ever been," said Beach. "We will look to rotate a lot of different players in those positions in order to play the fast style of hockey that we are accustomed to, and we will be looking for a number of freshmen to step up and fill important roles for us."
On the defense…After graduating much of a solid defensive unit from the 2013 squad, Stevens will rely on junior
Briana DeGraaf (Bayville, N.J.), junior
Angela Bauroth (Rockville, Md.) and sophomore
Sarah Bryner (Prince Frederick, Md.) to take the reins and lead the defense. DeGraaf earned her way onto the field as a sophomore, playing in 20 games and making 15 starts. Her, along with Bryner, have displayed a great work ethic all offseason in preparation of playing a large role along the back line for the Ducks this fall. Bauroth made eight starts last year and played in 13 games. She is developing into a strong vocal leader for the squad and should continue being a key contributor to the team.
Rookies
Alana Best (New Egypt, N.J.), Cassidy O'Hearn (Silver Spring, Md.),
Drew Lustig (Newport News, Va.) and
Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) will all be working for minutes throughout the year in what has shaped up to be a quality competition along the back line.
In the cage…Goalkeepers
Emily Stukenborg (Stockholm, N.J.) and
Felicia Heard (Lebanon, N.J.) should both figure into the equation for Stevens this year. Each student-athlete brings a great deal to the table, and the duo has a nice working relationship that has developed into a healthy competition.
Last year, Stukenborg earned the starting job, making 22 starts and compiling 1,420 minutes in goal. The then-freshman had a record of 14-7 with one shutout, accumulating a .677 save percentage and 105 total denials. She had a goals-against average of 2.42 and faced 245 shots. Heard saw action in six contests, notching eight stops for a save percentage of .667 and with continued hard work will see an increased role.
"The team worked extremely hard this preseason and I feel very confident about our potential," added Coach Beach. "It's exciting to have such a young group and such widespread talent. We will have a lot of growing experiences as a team, but I can't wait to see what we are able to accomplish come November."
Roster | Complete Schedule | Game Preview Capsules
Empire 8 Preseason Poll
