Aug. 22, 2007
When you first glance at the 2007 Old Dominion field hockey roster, the youthfulness of this year's squad may be the first thing to jump out at out. However, if you know anything about head coach Beth Anders' squad, you know they are always ready for a challenge and opponents better not take them lightly as a Lady Monarch field hockey team always take the turf prepared to win. The challenge for this year's team is certainly there. The Lady Monarchs lost five of its top scorers and have a schedule chock full of some of the nation's top teams.
Although the team is young, history has taught us is that Anders does not rebuild, she reloads. The 2007 version of Lady Monarch field hockey welcomes back nine letterwinners and five starters from last year's team that finished third in the nation in both the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) and Women's Field Hockey.com polls. Joining the team's three seniors, two juniors, and seven sophomores, will be a talented group of eight freshmen eager to learn the Anders system and continue the winning tradition of Old Dominion field hockey.
This year is especially poignant as the 2007 team will be the final squad to play at historic Foreman Field before moving into the new state-of-the-art Powhatan Sports Complex next season. Defending what has been the Lady Monarch's home for the last 27 years and proving why Foreman Field, home of the nine-time national champions, has been one of the most feared places to play for opponents will definitely be a goal of this year's team.
Forward:
The Old Dominion frontline was hit the hardest by the largest number of losses, but is ready to be filled by a talented group of underclassmen. Sophomores Titia Beek and Kathleen Shea join Alyschia Conn and Anna Kern up front as the returning members of the ODU attack.
Beek, who is among the long-line of Holland natives to don the blue and white for Old Dominion, returns to the line-up with the most experience of the forwards having garnered CAA All-Rookie honors a season ago. She appeared in almost every game, which also included nine nods to the starting line-up. Beek will look to elevate her game this season and have her numbers increase as she enters the new season as one of the Lady Monarchs' top returning scorers.
Shea is another member of the squad looking to take her rookie experience and develop further as a member of the Old Dominion roster. Last season she appeared in 12 games for the Lady Monarchs and with the youth of the forwards, could be seeing more turf time.
Conn and Kern will be looking to gain valuable playing time in 2007. Both redshirted last season, but are ready to contribute.
Also joining the mix will be newcomers Loran Hatch and Samantha Richardson.
Midfield:
In the middle of the field, senior Jo Ann van Aswegan returns as the Lady Monarchs' leading scorer and was among the leaders in game-winning goals last year. After spending her sophomore season as a limited reserve, van Aswegan had a breakout junior campaign which saw her collect six goals, two assists, and three game-winners. Her continued scoring prowess and leadership as one of three seniors on the squad will be key to Old Dominion's success in 2007.
Adding to the middle will be senior Shannon Mobley and sophomores Katie Ueberroth and Hanna Warren. Mobley will be the most veteran member of the midfield having seen a great deal of turf time as both a valuable reserve and member of the starting line-up.Ueberroth and Warren will look to parlay their successful rookie seasons into a sensational sophomore campaigns. Ueberroth started off her career on a high-note last year being featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd and earning CAA Rookie of the Week honors. She was one of the top Lady Monarchs off the bench and earned a starting role in Old Dominion's NCAA Tournament appearance. Warren meanwhile led all Lady Monarch newcomers in scoring and broke into the starting line-up on five occasions. With experience under their belt from their first seasons in the program, more can be anticipated from both Ueberroth and Warren in the upcoming season.
The Lady Monarchs will also have a host of new options to look to as Amanda Bieber, Stephanie Kratzer, and Paige Clutter are welcomed to the Old Dominion field hockey family.
Defense:
The three seniors featured on this year's roster certainly know what it takes to make an elite program. The veteran of the trio, Sami McLenegan, will lead the defense, always considered one of the toughest in the country to get past. McLenegen has been a member of the starting line-up since her freshman campaign and a vital member of the defense over the last two. Last season, she helped the Lady Monarchs post 12 shutouts, the most since the 2000 season and Old Dominion's last national championship.
Junior Katelyn Smither made a smooth transition from forward to back last season and was another big reason why the Lady Monarch defense was so tough to score on last year. However, Smither is also a big piece of the puzzle on offense as well. Smither served as last year's stick stop as a member of the penalty corner unit and will be the lone returning member of that unit that saw over 200 attempts on opponent nets.
Bolstering the defense this season will also be newcomers Lise Donkersloot and Arienna Evans.
Goalkeepers:
Kelly Driscoll will once again be the last line of defense for the Lady Monarchs and looking to continue what was a stellar rookie campaign. Her first season in the cage for Old Dominion saw her rack up 12 shutouts and at one point during last season ranked first nationally in goals against average. She finished the season second in the category and was 16th nationally in save percentage.
Sophomore Courtney Sieders and freshman Anna Cooke may see some time in a reserve capacity.
The Schedule:
Old Dominion certainly has another demanding schedule in front of them. The list of opponents include two-time defending national champion Maryland along with five other members of the nation's top ten teams featured in the final STX/NFHCA Poll. Home and home matches continue with the Terps, Duke, and North Carolina. Among the top teams coming to Norfolk this fall in addition to the trio of previously mentioned teams include Virginia, Penn State, Miami (Ohio), and Radford. Road trips out of conference this season feature Michigan and Connecticut.
Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) competition heats up in mid-September that will include defending champion James Madison along with Hofstra and William & Mary, who were receiving votes at the end of the season. The Pride along with Northeastern and Drexel will venture to Foreman Field for conference matches, while Old Dominion will be looking to bring back road wins at James Madison, Towson, Delaware, Virginia Commonwealth, and William & Mary.
It is also back to the beach and the US National Training Complex as the Lady Monarch attempt to regain the Colonial Athletic Association crown. Post-season action kicks off on Thursday, November 1st with quarterfinal action on campus sites. However Old Dominion has its sites on gaining the top seed and going directly to the semifinals at the national training center. The semifinals take place on Saturday, November 3rd while the CAA champions will be crowned on Sunday, November 4th
The Lady Monarchs hope to keep its streak of NCAA Tournament appearance going. Old Dominion is the only school to have appeared in every tournament since it began in 1981 marking a string of 26 consecutive post-season runs. The weekend of November 8th-11th will start NCAA first and second round action while this year's final four will take place on the campus of the University of Maryland.
The Lady Monarchs are ready for a new journey...get ready for the ride.