By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The 2013 season was a turnaround year for the Juniata College field hockey team. After not making the Landmark Conference postseason for the first time last season, the Eagles rebounded by going 4-2 in league play and competing tough in the tournament semifinals where they fell to eventual champion Catholic University 1-0.
"It was certainly a great feeling to come out strong early on in the season and in conference play," said Eagle head coach Caroline Gillich. "Just a really great team this year. Good chemistry. Stronger connections on the field and off the field."
Juniata (9-11) started the year 3-0 for the first time since 2006, outscoring opponents 9-3. The momentum continued into conference. Juniata went 4-0 against Landmark opponents to open conference play, the best showing since going undefeated in 2010.
The Eagles faced four ranked opponents in 2013. As a team, Juniata ranked nationally in 11 different categories. But it was the defense that stood out, ranking top 45 in three categories: defensive saves, goals against average, and save percentage. Their performance through tough battles proved how talented the team was and earned individuals much deserved recognition.
Senior Emma Dahmus (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) earned First-Team All-Landmark Conference honors, was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Region Second Team and was an Eastern College Athletic Conference and NFHCA Senior All-Star. It was the third all-conference selection of her career. Dahmus excelled in the classroom as well and was named a Landmark Senior Scholar-Athlete, becoming only the second Eagle hockey player to receive the honor in program history.
Also picking up all-conference nods were sophomores Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) and Kelsey Leibelsperger (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) along with junior Shelby Miller (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts). The trio earned spots on second team. It marked the second all-conference selection for Bilheimer and first for Leibelsperger and Miller.
Offense
For the second consecutive year, Dahmus and Bilheimer were among the offensive leaders for the Eagles. Bilheimer started every game and finished with a team-high eight goals, five assists and 21 points. She also led the team with an .804 shots on goal percentage out of attackers with more than 10 shots. Her determination to get into the circle also earned her second-team all-conference honors for the second year in a row. Bilheimer is now among the all-time points scorers in program history.
Dahmus had a team-high 64 shots and finished second on the team in goals (7), assists (2), and points (16). The midfielder closed out her stellar career on the all-time lists for career points and assists.
Other Eagles shining on offense in 2013 were junior Kortney Showers (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville) and sophomore Steph Pagliaro (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita). Showers suffered an injury early in the season that sidelined her for several games, but she bounced back and finished fourth on the team in goals. Despite not starting, Pagliaro made her presence felt in the circle when in the game. She finished the season third on the team in goals (5) and points (11).
"When we put her in, we knew that we had an amazing opportunity to score because she is a finisher," Gillich said of Pagliaro. "She is very good at that end of the field and tenacious to score, to shoot, to get the ball back. She is relentless in the circle."
Also putting in valuable time on offense were junior Mikaela Sloan (State College, Pa./State College) and sophomore Allison Groft (Hanover, Pa./Southern Western).
Defense
Juniata's defense, anchored by a confident crew of returners, earned two shutouts and held opponents to one goal or less 10 times during the season and averaged just nine penalty corners given up per game to conference opponents.
"We, more quickly than I thought we would, formed our defensive unit," said Gillich. "Which is really helpful, because my philosophy is that's a really critical unit that has to be able to work together. I think that cohesion is critical to their success. It's them understanding where the other is and communicating."
Back with Leibelsperger was junior Tori Buser (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and sophomores Alex Stroud (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) and Cassie Clarence (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) for the majority of the season. The foursome averaged over 62 minutes per game. Like Leibelsperger, Buser and Clarence started every game.
Juniata split cage time evenly between two goalkeepers. Miller swapped off with fellow junior Julianne Jones (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West) and the pair combined for 135 saves and a .789 save percentage.
"One of those amazing opportunities for a team to have two great goalkeepers who at any point you feel completely confident putting in," Gillich added. "This year Shelby rose to the occasion in stats and Julie saved us too. She played amazing in the conference semifinal against Catholic."
Both Leibelsperger and Miller were ranked nationally for their play on the field. Leibelsperger was ranked 28th for defensive saves. Miller finished the season ranked in two categories. She was 30th in goals against average and 42nd in save percentage. Also earning a place in the national rankings was Buser. She ended the year ranked 77th in defensive saves.
Newcomers
Fresh faces who stepped up when needed were freshmen Elise Onjack (Bangor, Pa./Bangor Area), Brittani LaFollette (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), and Kristen Ostrzyzek (Hope, N.J./Belvidere). Onjack took over starting duties when Showers went out with her injury and continued to play a critical role when she returned. LaFollette and Ostrzyzek each played in over half the team's games, providing valuable minute coverage.
"First game of the year, first 15 minutes, we lose a starter and Elise stepped right up," said Gillich. It was pretty difficult losing Kort, but amazing finding Elise. Brittani was playing at the end of the season, more minutes than she had played at the beginning so it was exciting to see her growth. And Kristen was steady throughout. She's just a really strong player and we're looking forward to seeing what sophomore confidence does for her."
Top Moments
Returning to the Landmark Tournament after missing the dance last season was a goal for the 2013 Eagles and they accomplished it early. With the 2-1 win over Moravian College on October 19, the Eagles improved to 4-0 and secured a postseason berth for the sixth time in seven years.
"It was different this year knowing vs. last year," said Gillich. "This year we knew were in and had conference games left. They were really focused on making sure that they wouldn't let a game slip past them that might in the end keep them out. So that was great to see that kind of determination in a team."
Once at the dance, Juniata faced a very strong Catholic team that was ranked No. 20 in the nation and had won six of its last seven contests. The Cardinals goal was scored in the 14th minute of play and it seemed they would run away. But the Eagles defense stepped up and shut Catholic down for the remainder of the game, leaving the door open. Unfortunately, the offense could not get a shot off in the circle and Catholic went on to earn its third Landmark title. Only Juniata and Catholic have won the field hockey championship and Juniata still leads at 4-3.
"That was a tremendous opportunity for the freshmen and sophomores," Gillich said of the postseason appearance. "The seniors having been in it twice and won a championship and the juniors for a second time, once as freshmen and now again as juniors and being and feeling like a bigger part of the reason why we got to the postseason."
But one of the biggest moments of the season was the 2-1 win over the University of Scranton in double-overtime. Scranton came into the game undefeated at 8-0. The contest was scoreless until late in the second half. Scranton went ahead 1-0 in the 68th minute off a scramble in front of the cage. The Eagles turned around and put the equalizer in less than a minute later off an unassisted goal from Groft.
The teams played through a scoreless first overtime that saw Scranton take two shots with Miller picking up both saves. With just over five minutes left in the second overtime, Bilheimer got a shot off that was saved by the Royals keeper. But a mistake in the circle gave the Eagles the stroke and senior Liz Slimak (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) stepped up to the line. She drilled it into the upper corner of the cage and ended the game.
"Here's a kid who was a senior, who didn't start, who had the opportunity to score the game winner in overtime, on a stroke in our first conference game on the road," said Gillich. "Earlier in the game I had looked at Liz and said 'Liz look at that goalie. Look at that corner. Doesn't that look like a great place to score a stroke.' And she just smiled at me and we nodded. And when that stroke was called, I just looked at her and she just smiled at me and walked out as confidently as an All-American. That she was going to do this. And she saved her team from anymore sprints that day. That's something you hope for every player. To have that moment. And she had hers."
With only three seniors graduating in Dahmus, Slimak, and Morgan Slovin (Hockessin, Del./Charter School), the Eagles will return a seasoned group of game tested student-athletes.
"They're pretty excited and working hard," said Gillich of the rising crew. "As the offseason hits, they want to continue to stay focused on next year. The season ahead is the season we're looking forward to. We're very excited about the opportunities that lay ahead."
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