Looking back on 2003
11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Senior Blaire Goodwin was honored for her outstanding senior season, by being named to the All-Patriot League First Team for 2003. Goodwin finished this season with 11 goals and 26 points, both good for fifth in the league. For her career, Goodwin racked up 26 goals, to go along with nine assists, giving her 61 points. “Blaire is very deserving of this honor and in my eyes is one of the best attackers in the conference,” first year Head Coach Julie Mazer explains. “Blaire was a threat to every opponent we went against this season, and her hard work off of the field paid off, with this being her best season by far. She improved every season statistically and this was a nice way to end her career after making second team last season.”
The Mountain Hawks finished their season up on Saturday by dropping a 3-0 decision to Patriot League foe Holy Cross in Worcester. The loss brought Lehigh’s final record to 7-12 on the season, 0-6 in Patriot League action. The seven wins is a three game improvement over last season, in large part due to the Mountain Hawks having scored more goals than a year ago, and the defense’s ability to hold opponents to nine goals less than in 2002.
Mazer, who came to Lehigh from Roanoke College in Virginia, made a positive impact in just her first season, as she was able to improve the Mountain Hawks overall skills, defense and conditioning. “We got better each and every single day,” Mazer said. “We are much better now than when we began back in August. Everyone worked hard and stayed together.”
Lehigh started off slow, as the offense struggled to score in the first three games of the season, with the Brown and White only able to manage one goal in the first three contests, while surrendering eight. But, the team persevered and moved forward, as they continued their quest to improve.
Mazer and the Mountain Hawks then picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over West Chester in early September. The game was significant in that it was against Mazer’s alma mater, and against her former coach whom she played for in college. Lehigh then proceeded to win four of its next five contests, including a 4-1 drubbing of Longwood to move to .500 on the season at 5-5. However, the offense then went into relapse, scoring only two goals in the next three games, which wound up costing Lehigh all three matches.
The Mountain Hawks defeated the Temple Owls, a powerful squad out of the Atlantic-10, to finish their home schedule at 5-5 for the year, which is three more home wins than in 2002. This is a very encouraging statistic because it shows the team is defending its home turf and is on track to becoming a dominant home team.
Looking back on the season, one must not look past the countless contributions of Goodwin and her fellow seniors, Jenna Walsh, Emily Beil and Kirsten Wyche. Beil was a mainstay in the lineup, having started all 19 games, and always guiding the younger Mountain Hawks with her determination and leadership. Her guidance, hard work and dedication were instrumental to the Mountain Hawks improvement on the field this season, and was not overlooked by anyone, especially coach Mazer. “Emily has impressed me every day with her work ethic and positive attitude. She plays with heart and determination and I have appreciated the opportunity to work with her. Emily has contributed a great deal of time and effort not only to the hockey program, but also the Lehigh Athletics Department and has set a high standard of excellence in service for our field hockey program.”
Walsh was one of the anchors, along with Wyche on the Lehigh defense. Together, the duo has started 120 games in their careers on South Mountain. Wyche started all 64 games in her time at Lehigh, picking up four assists along the way. The Mountain Hawk defense improved dramatically from last year, and continued to get better with each passing game this season, in large part thanks to these two young ladies.
Mazer, like many others, will not soon forget her two senior defenders. “Kirsten is a great player to coach. She has an excellent work ethic and fantastic skills. She has been a fixture in the backfield for the last four years, culminating with a fantastic senior season. She has been fun to work with and has contributed greatly to our hockey program.”
“Jenna possesses great stick skills and poise under pressure,” Mazer points out. “She too has been a mainstay in the backfield for the last three years starting every game since she was a sophomore. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with Jenna and I have appreciated her contributions to the program.”
Sophomore Mary Beth Kuenne speaks for the whole team, when she says the four seniors will be deeply missed. “The seniors are going to be greatly missed,” Kuenne says. “All four of them have put so much time and effort into the program, and we have improved because of it. Blaire, Jenna, Kirsten, and Emily are leaving big shoes to fill. We hope to make them proud in the future, but we will miss playing with them. They will always be numbers 4, 7, 19, and 20 on our team.”
While it is always sad to say goodbye, the 2003 season was a chance to say hello to many others who made positive contributions to the team, and will be counted on heavily for next season. Sophomore Maureen Harrington will be looked upon to carry the scoring load, as she netted three goals on the season, good for second on the team behind Goodwin. Harrington’s speed make her a tough cover for any defender, and with the experience she has gained over the past two seasons, she will be ready to make some serious noise in 2004.
Junior Dana Griffin and sophomore Marissa Iannarone also chipped in on the offensive end with each finding the back of the net twice over the course of the season. Griffin scored her first collegiate goal against Columbia on September 26, propelling the Mountain Hawks to their first road win of the season. Iannarone contributed her own dramatics as well, when she scored the eventual game-winner against UMBC on October 12, to snap the team’s three game losing streak. Junior Sheila Clabby had one goal on the season, a tally at Patriot League foe and archrival Lafayette, and also tied for the team lead in assists with four. Her stick work and mobility will be a key factor in the offensive attack next season.
On the defensive side, sophomores Kuenne and Mel Lepko and junior Krista Jamieson all saw plenty of action for Lehigh, with Jamieson starting all 19 games, while Lepko started 18. Kuenne was proud of the team’s play, but knows that the team can improve, and become a major factor in 2004. “Our team worked hard this year to accomplish great things. We might not of
won as many games as we had hoped for, but we improved every game. We overcame obstacles along our path, but we overcame them together. I really enjoyed playing with the girls, because they all have something to offer to the team.”
Without any doubt, the one part of the team that will be the strongest for next season is the goalkeeping. The Mountain Hawks have the luxury of having two outstanding cagers, both of whom saw a great deal of minutes this year. Junior Jeanine Hoff started 17 games in 2003, and put in some very impressive performances along the way, including a 14-save performance against Fairfield and a combined 1-0 shutout of Temple. Hoff recorded 65 saves on the season, posting a 2.04 goals against average along the way.
Sophomore Meghan Gove joined Hoff as part two of the Mountain Hawks goaltending duo. Gove saw action in 17 games, starting two and sent back 60 shots on the season. Gove had a save percentage of .779, good for fifth in the Patriot League, and a goals against average of 1.67. The goaltending position is in good hands, literally, for the next few years in Mountain Hawk country.
Lehigh field hockey is on the rise, with a new coach, and a new attitude. Many of the key contributors on offense and defense will be returning next season. This team is not going to be handed anything, they will have to work for everything they get, but that is fine with them. Coach Mazer and her staff will continue to improve and demand more from their players, and the players will continue to exert the necessary effort to improve. After a year of improving and rising, Lehigh field hockey is pointed in the right direction. 2004 should be another season full of excitement, expectations and enjoyment.
