2012 Field Hockey Preview
Coming off a 10-10 campaign in 2011, the 2012 Geneseo women's field hockey team looks to return to 2010's SUNYAC championship form for fifth year coach Jessica Seren (Cortland '06). Seren returns nine starters from last season and should battle perennial national power Cortland for SUNYAC supremacy.
The Blue Knights should be tough to score upon as the team returns all five starters in the back, including 2011 SUNYAC Player of the Year, Bridget McGovern (Yorktown Heights/Lakeland). A second team All-North Atlantic Region defender, McGovern is also a cog on Geneseo's offensive corners as she collected six goals and three assists. Senior 2011 second team All-SUNYAC choice Rachel Atkins (Clarence) and 2010 first team All-SUNYAC pick, senior Katie Gallo (Sayville), lead the remaining defensive starters, which include senior Aly Tarney (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and senior goalie Caitlyn Dowell (Massapequa), who posted a 2.26 goals against average in 2011.
Seren expects first year Dayna Mercer (Katonah/John Jay) to battle Dowell for the starting spot in the cage, while sophomore Alyssa Jerge (Lancaster), sophomore Cathryn Menarchem (Shoreham/Shoreham-Wading River) and first year Pam Emengo (Holtsville/Sachem) bolster the back line.
Junior first team All-SUNYAC forward Kayla DeAngelis (Liverpool) leads the attack after setting a school record with 17 goals and adding seven assists for 41 points in 2011. Junior Kerry Hosford (Garden City), who scored 12 points on three goals and six assists, returns to the starting group, while senior Chellie Johnson (Rochester/Webster Thomas) joins the first line.
Sophomore Brianne Campagna (Red Hook), junior Margaret Gerardi (Glenville/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and first year Kailey Suhr (Webster/Thomas) will see significant time on the front line, while sophomore Emily Topping (Webster/Schroeder) and first years Sarah Malinak (Fairport), an All-Greater Rochester pick, and Hope Andrascik (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) provide support on the attack.
Junior Katie Farley (Scotia/Niskayuna), who scored five goals and five assists for 15 points at forward last season, moves back to the midfield and joins returning starter Kim Sherman (Dix Hills/Commack). First year Lorelei Morrow (Pittsford/Sutherland), who was the Monroe County Division II Player of the Year, an All-Greater Rochester and All-State selection, joins the pair as a starter.
Junior Abby Klutts (Harpursville) is back as the top substitute in the midfield and Seren expects junior Alyssa Smith (Delmar/Bethlehem), sophomores Ashley Fillmore (Getzville/Williamsville North), Ashley Favada (Amherst/Williamsville North) and Katie Gaus (Wexford, PA/Vincentian Academy) and first year Elena Hingston (East Amherst/Williamsville North) to compete for playing time.
Geneseo opens their season at the Wilkes (Pa.) Tournament on Friday, August 31 with the home opener coming on Friday, September 21 versus Brockport at 4 p.m.