2009 Field Hockey Preview

The Geneseo women's field hockey team embarks on 2009 with high hopes as second year coach Jessica Seren (Cortland ‘06) builds on a 2008 season that saw the Knights equal a school record with nine wins. Geneseo posted an overall record of 9-8 with a second place finish in the SUNYAC standings.


Seren’s aggressive offensive philosophy led to a school-record 42 goals scored last season, but the Knights will have to balance the defensive end in 2009 as they also allowed a school-record 47 goals against.


Juniors Michelle Milkovich (Vestal) and Stephanie Maisonet (Pine Bush) lead the Knights attack. A first team All-North Atlantic region and first team All-SUNYAC selection, Milkovich scored seven goals and a school-record 10 assists in 2008, while Maisonet set school marks with 28 points and 13 goals on her way to first team All-SUNYAC.


Senior Jean Nolan (Montauk/East Hampton) returns to the starting forward line after missing 10 games due to injury in 2008. Seren anticipates contributions from a trio of first year players in All-Greater Rochester picks Chellie Johnson (Rochester/Webster Thomas) and Annie O’Neill (Pittsford/Sutherland) and All-Western New York selection Rachel Atkins (Clarence).


Seren returns the entire starting midfield with first team All-SUNYAC selection Libby LeRoy (Delmar/Bethlehem), who scored seven points on three goals and one assist, junior Erin Zalewski (New Hartford), who scored nine points on three goals and three helpers and sophomore Abby Sayler (Baldwinsville/Baker), who scored eight points on three goals and two assists.


First year Jill Flanagan (Fairport) and sophomore newcomer Marlie Margolis (Pittsford/Sutherland) should provide adequate substitution in the midfield.


Second team All-SUNYAC defender Katie Carrick (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse) returns for her sophomore season and will anchor the defense that includes junior All-SUNYAC first team selection Rianna Travers (Penfield) and senior Jean Danaher (Apalachin/Vestal). First year phenom Katie Gallo (Sayville) joins the starting defensive unit, while junior Meredith Stevens (Baldwinsville/Baker) provides experience off the bench.


If the Knights have a question mark, it is in goal, where first years Nicole Zito (Holtsville/Sachem) and Caitlyn Dowell (Massapequa) will compete for playing time over the course of the season.


Newcomers to the Knights include sophomore midfielders Emily Dusseau (Locke/Moravia) and Allison Sirica (West Seneca/Orchard Park), sophomore transfers Amy-Lynn Haller (Fairport), Courtney Kain (New York Mills), Nicole Lefever (Locke/Moravia), Danielle Magiera (Williamsville/Williamsville South) and Chrissy Monachino (Webster/Thomas) and first year forward Steph Coffman (Massapequa).


Geneseo opens their season at Ithaca on Wednesday, September 2, with the home opener coming on Tuesday, September 15 vs. Houghton at 4 p.m.