Lehigh University Athletics
Season Preview: Lehigh features mix of youngsters and veterans in 2015
8/25/2015 1:30:00 PM | Field Hockey
The Lehigh field hockey team showed flashes of brilliance last season, highlighted by one stretch in September. The Mountain Hawks went 4-1 and defeated Towson, Georgetown, Holy Cross and Sacred Heart, all in a two-week stretch.
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Both individually and as a team, the Mountain Hawks have the talent to compete against (and beat) the best. The 2015 Mountain Hawks look to win… as a team.
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"This team really puts the we before me," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "They play as a unit, with speed, discipline and positive attitudes. The returners have done a great job acclimating the freshmen to our program and style of play. The team as a whole had a very competitive and upbeat preseason."
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The current Mountain Hawks feature a true mix of talent. Lehigh features seven seniors, seven freshmen, five sophomores and six freshmen with significant contributions expected from each class. One of the leaders offensively is junior Gabby Tofig, who broke out with a team-leading 17 points (eight goals, one assist) in 2014. She earned All-Patriot League honors after the season and preseason All-League honors this year.
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In total, Lehigh's top six scorers from a season ago all return. Senior Lindsey Schott tallied 11 points (four goals, three assists) last year while junior Amanda Granger posted eight points (three goals, two assists). As a freshman, Marissa Glatt had 25 points (12 goals, one assist) to become the only rookie named first team All-League. She added eight points (three goals, one assist) last season and looks poised for continued success in 2015.
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"Our forwards are looking to score early and often," said Eversley. "They all possess great speed and are creative in their own way. They are shooting to score."
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A theme across the roster is depth.
"We have a lot of experience and depth on this team," said Eversley. "On any given day it can be any student athlete on our team who steps up."
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As part of the depth is an impressive freshmen class, who look to contribute as well. Â
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"I couldn't be happier with the freshmen," said Eversley. "They have stepped right in ready to play."
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Lehigh doesn't just return offensive players, but also several experienced players in the midfield and defense. Seniors Zoey Pacheco, Kat Kneizys and junior Janelle High each started all 18 games last season in the midfield and defense. Ricker played all 18 games, with 13 starts, as a leader in the midfield.
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"Our midfielders really possess strength, hard work and distribution skills," said Eversley. "They are looking to create scoring opportunities for themselves as well as the forwards. We are looking for our defense to be a wall back there. In our first scrimmage, they played well as a unit and were very disciplined. A few of them can score as well."
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The last line of defense is two-year starting goalkeeper Julia Ward, a two-year starter who owns a career save percentage of 3.09 and goals against average of .725.
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The Mountain Hawks open their season on Friday at Rider before hosting Davidson on Sunday. Lehigh is looking to take one game at a time, with hopes of advancing to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2012.
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"We have several measurable goals that as a team, we look forward to accomplishing," said Eversley.
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Among the team's strengths are intangibles, which could prove to be the difference between winning or losing, postseason or no postseason.
Â
"Some of this team's strengths are experience, knowledge, heart and speed," said Eversley.
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Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Both individually and as a team, the Mountain Hawks have the talent to compete against (and beat) the best. The 2015 Mountain Hawks look to win… as a team.
Â
"This team really puts the we before me," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "They play as a unit, with speed, discipline and positive attitudes. The returners have done a great job acclimating the freshmen to our program and style of play. The team as a whole had a very competitive and upbeat preseason."
Â
The current Mountain Hawks feature a true mix of talent. Lehigh features seven seniors, seven freshmen, five sophomores and six freshmen with significant contributions expected from each class. One of the leaders offensively is junior Gabby Tofig, who broke out with a team-leading 17 points (eight goals, one assist) in 2014. She earned All-Patriot League honors after the season and preseason All-League honors this year.
Â
In total, Lehigh's top six scorers from a season ago all return. Senior Lindsey Schott tallied 11 points (four goals, three assists) last year while junior Amanda Granger posted eight points (three goals, two assists). As a freshman, Marissa Glatt had 25 points (12 goals, one assist) to become the only rookie named first team All-League. She added eight points (three goals, one assist) last season and looks poised for continued success in 2015.
Â
"Our forwards are looking to score early and often," said Eversley. "They all possess great speed and are creative in their own way. They are shooting to score."
Â
A theme across the roster is depth.
"We have a lot of experience and depth on this team," said Eversley. "On any given day it can be any student athlete on our team who steps up."
Â
As part of the depth is an impressive freshmen class, who look to contribute as well. Â
Â
"I couldn't be happier with the freshmen," said Eversley. "They have stepped right in ready to play."
Â
Lehigh doesn't just return offensive players, but also several experienced players in the midfield and defense. Seniors Zoey Pacheco, Kat Kneizys and junior Janelle High each started all 18 games last season in the midfield and defense. Ricker played all 18 games, with 13 starts, as a leader in the midfield.
Â
"Our midfielders really possess strength, hard work and distribution skills," said Eversley. "They are looking to create scoring opportunities for themselves as well as the forwards. We are looking for our defense to be a wall back there. In our first scrimmage, they played well as a unit and were very disciplined. A few of them can score as well."
Â
The last line of defense is two-year starting goalkeeper Julia Ward, a two-year starter who owns a career save percentage of 3.09 and goals against average of .725.
Â
The Mountain Hawks open their season on Friday at Rider before hosting Davidson on Sunday. Lehigh is looking to take one game at a time, with hopes of advancing to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2012.
Â
"We have several measurable goals that as a team, we look forward to accomplishing," said Eversley.
Â
Among the team's strengths are intangibles, which could prove to be the difference between winning or losing, postseason or no postseason.
Â
"Some of this team's strengths are experience, knowledge, heart and speed," said Eversley.
Â
Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Players Mentioned
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