2011 Field Hockey Preview
The 2011 Geneseo women's field hockey team finds themselves in a unique situation for fourth year coach Jessica Seren (Cortland '06), entering the season as the defending SUNYAC champions for the first time after the 2010 team posted a record of 18-2 with the program's first venture into the NCAA Division III tournament.
Seren's squad scored a school record 51 goals and allowed a program-least 15 markers in 2010 and the opening hurdle to repeating the conference title will be replacing graduated career and season offensive record holders Michelle Milkovich and Stephanie Maisonet, along with fellow four-year starters Erin Zalewski and Rianna Travers.
The Blue Knights should be tough to score upon as the team returns four of five starters in the back. First team All-SUNYAC pick, senior Katie Gallo (Sayville), leads three returning starters to the defense. Second team All-SUNYAC selections, junior Aly Tarney (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and sophomore Bridget McGovern (Yorktown Heights/Lakeland), return to the starting group and junior Rachel Atkins (Clarence) moves back from midfield to join the defense. Junior goalie Caitlyn Dowell (Massapequa) posted a 0.77 goals against average with a .746 save percentage in starting all 20 contests last year.
Senior Katie Carrick (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse) and sophomore Abby Klutts (Harpursville) provide experienced depth to the back line, while junior Nicole Zito (Holtsville/Sachem) and sophomore Laura Blum (Hillsborough) contend for playing time in the cage.
In the midfield, Seren returns sophomore Kim Sherman (Dix Hills/Commack), who scored five points in 18 starts and senior Abby Sayler (Baldwinsville/Baker), who collected two assists in starting all 20 contests. First year Ashley Favada (Amherst/Williamsville North), an All-State selection, joins the starting trio, with junior Jill Flanagan (Fairport), sophomore Alyssa Smith (Delmar/Bethlehem) and first year Ashley Fillmore (Getzville/Williamsville North) competing for playing time.
Geneseo's question mark is on the front line, where sophomore Katie Farley (Scotia/Niskayuna) is the lone returning starter after scoring eight goals in 2010. Sophomore Kayla DeAngelis (Liverpool), who scored four goals and one assist in 2010, and sophomore Kerry Hosford (Garden City), a transfer from Providence, flank Farley in the starting group. Junior Chellie Johnson (Rochester/Webster Thomas), junior Kelsey Horan (Endicott/Maine-Endwell) and first year Brianne Campagna (Red Hook), an All-State pick, provide adequate depth at the forward position.
Geneseo's roster includes junior forward Annie O'Neill (Pittsford/Sutherland), sophomore forward Margaret Gerardi (Glenville/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), first year forward Abby Weiss (Hamburg), first year midfielders Alyssa Jerge (Lancaster) and Emily Topping (Webster/Schroeder) and first year defenders Laura Passamonte (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and Hahna Burney (Richfield Springs/Mt. Markham).
Geneseo opens their season at the Wilkes (Pa.) Tournament on Saturday, September 3 with the home opener coming on Tuesday, September 13 versus Houghton at 4 p.m.