By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.netf
Photo: JD Cavrich Photography
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College field hockey team is heading to its sixth Landmark Conference tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 6 when the face off against No. 20 Catholic University at 7 p.m. in Washington D.C. for the semifinals. This will be the 13th meeting of the two teams and their fourth postseason dance.
"Certainly excited about being back in the Landmark tournament," said head coach Caroline Gillich. "It's definitely my favorite time of year. Competing in November means that you did what you need to do throughout the season to give yourself and your team an opportunity to compete at a higher level."
The programs have been going toe-to-toe since 2004 and account for every Landmark Conference title since the league began in 2007. The last time the teams met in the semifinal round was in 2011, when the Cardinals came away with the 2-1 win in overtime en route to their first conference championship.
Juniata has won four Landmark titles (2007-10) in its history and is looking to reclaim the top spot. But the Eagles will need to get through a Catholic team that has pushed its way into the top 20 rankings after posting an 11-5 season, winning six of its last seven games.
"Our battle with Catholic isn't just like any other battle," said Gillich. "It truly is an epic one."
Both teams have won six games in the series' all-time history and are tied at 2-2 when competing in Washington, D.C. Overall, Juniata leads the postseason battle with a 3-1 record against the Cardinals. They are also 2-1 when facing a ranked Catholic team.
"We've don't it before and I would love to do it again," said Gillich of topping the Cardinals on their own turf in the postseason. "We play exceptionally well when we play at Catholic and I'm not sure what it is about how Catholic plays so well here and we play so well there. It's an oddity in a sport where so much depends on the surface and normally home field advantage is the absolute advantage."
The Eagles will be looking to offensive threats senior Emma Dahmus (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and sophomore Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) to put points up. Bilheimer currently leads the team in goals and points and has an .804 shot on goal percentage. Dahmus, who was recently selected to play in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association NCAA Division III Senior Game, leads the team in total shots and is second in goals and points. Together they combine for over 40 percent of the teams goals and points and 50 percent of the team's assists.
Defensively, Juniata has been relying on two keepers in the cage: juniors Shelby Miller (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) and Julianne Jones (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West). The pair combine for 125 saves this season and two shutouts. Miller is currently nationally ranked in goals against average and save percentage. While Jones is coming off a career performance of her own.
The last time Juniata defeated the Cardinals was for the Landmark Championship in 2010. That year also marked the last time the Eagles won against Catholic in D.C.
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