AUGUST 27, 2014

KING'S FIELD HOCKEY SET TO OPEN SEASON FRIDAY AGAINST ALVERNIA

WILKES-BARRE — The King's College field hockey team is set to open the 2014 campaign on Friday when the Monarchs play host to Alvernia University at 3:30 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium in the Betzler Athletic Complex.

King's is looking to rebound from a rare playoff miss in 2013 when the team finished 8-8 overall and 2-5 in Freedom Conference play, breaking a streak of eight straight years in the post-season.  With the loss of seven starters to graduation, coach Cheryl Ish's 2014 squad will feature a mixture of experience and newcomers looking to return the program to the playoffs.

 

The Monarchs will be paced by junior forward Alyssa Monaghan, a returning first-team all-Freedom Conference selection who was seventh in the Freedom Conference with 34 points on 14 goals and six assists a year ago.  Junior midfielder Courtney Schaffer was fourth on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists while senior forward Meghan Lermond was fifth with 11 points on four goals and three assists. Senior midfielder Alexandra Bolinski was sixth on the squad with five points.

The forward line will likely find sophomore Selna Malacari and freshman Brianna DiMaggio in the starting line-up while sophomore Amber Soden, freshman Chloe Borelli, and junior Samantha Raffaele and Brittany Malia competing for time.
 

In the midfield, freshman Anastasia Araviakas is expected to join Bolinski and Schaffer in the starting line-up. Also challenging for time is the freshmen trio of Katie Cross, Anna Morgan, and Emma Pitcairn.

Defensively, King's will feature senior Kristi Katra and sophomore Haley Wasaleski, while sophomore Nicole Sott, a transfer from Division I St. Francis University, will round out the final spot.  Also battling for time on defense are juniors Catherine Voegeler and Rachael Rugletic, sophomore Kaitlain Bastidas, and freshmen Sarah Zbierski, Haley Tomaszewski, Dominique Oko, and Kaitlyn Overby.

In goal, King's will see a first-year starter in net with a competitive battle taking place between junior Chelsea Blaney, and sophomores Paige Tedik and Courtney Stefanik.

After King's faces Alvernia, the Monarchs will take to the road for three straight games. King's will play at Cedar Crest College on Wednesdsay before competing in the Misericordia Invitational Friday and Saturday. The Monarchs will face Ramapo on Friday before facing Keystone on Saturday.

King's will not open Freedom Conference play until Friday, September 26 when the Monarchs host Eastern University at 7:00 p.m. on Homecoming Weekend.