HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Coming off a remarkable 2014 season that saw them win their first conference title in four years, what can the Juniata field hockey team do for an encore? Repeat, of course, and with 18 players and seven starters coming back, the Eagles are primed to do so.
"Last season was a battle from beginning to end," said head coach Caroline Gillich who is entering her 18th season at Juniata this year. "We were a really strong team and did a good job in general game play." The Eagles had a flair for the dramatic in 2014 with eight of their contests going into overtime and six of them extending to double overtime. For this season, "As exciting as winning in overtime and double overtime is, its not our intention to do that," noted Gillich.
The Eagles return their top three scorers from last year. Landmark First Teamer Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) led the team with 11 goals and eight assists totaling 30 points. Landmark Second Teamer Allison Groft (Hanover, Pa./South Western) was right behind her with 10 scores and seven helpers for 27 points. Sophomore Katie Alexander (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) had a solid rookie year with six goals including the only goal in Juniata's 1-0 double OT victory over Catholic in the Landmark Championship game for which she was named the MVP.
Juniata's defense earned two shutouts and held opponents to one goal 13 times in 2014. A solid group of returners include seniors Kelsey Leibelsperger (Fleetwood, PA/Fleetwood), Alex Stroud (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) and Cassie Clarence (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) who all started every game last year. "They should know exactly what we are trying to do," said Gillich. "We need to be balance our defensive unit with an attacking style and a defensive style of play."
With the departures of Julianne Jones and Shelby Miller, the goalkeeper position is an open competition among freshmen Kylie Edwards (Danville, Pa./Danville), Santana Mays (Parkton, Md./Hereford), and Jess Gray (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional). "I have known these keepers really well and I have been watching them since they were sophomores and younger," noted Gillich. "All three have grown tremendously. There are lots of opportunities when it comes to playing goalkeeper in college. We really need to give them the opportunity to prove themselves. I don't want to chose; I just want it to be apparent."
A talented freshman class further strengthens an already strong squad. "These freshmen are doing exactly what we thought that they would be doing, stated Gillich. "Lindsay Scholten (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) is a ferocious attacker that loves to shoot and so much more than that is she loves to score. Meredith Shephard (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia) is a great passer that looks to set her teammates up and is smart on defense as well. Becca Waite's (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) speed matches our attack and she can easily switch up between a back and mid."
The Eagles' schedule is stocked with tough competition including three teams that are ranked in the NFHCA preseason poll. Juniata has back-to-back contests with defending national champion College of New Jersey (#4) coming to Knox Stadium on September 12 and JC traveling to #13 Messiah on Sept. 16. Last year, the Eagles lost a heartbreaker in overtime to the Falcons 3-2 at Knox while dropping a 1-0 decision to the Lions in Ewing, NJ. Gillich said with the battling going on during preseason, there is no reason to let up which is why she tends to start the season with a stronger schedule.
The third ranked team on Juniata's docket is no stranger to the Eagles in #8 Catholic. JC won the regular season finale 2-1 in double overtime at Knox and six days later claimed the Landmark title against the Cardinals. This year's game will occur on October 31 in Washington, D.C.
Juniata opens the 2015 season this coming Tuesday in Reading, Pa. against Alvernia. The home opener will be September 4 versus Bridgewater (Va.).
