For the third straight year, the
University of Rochester has been selected the preseason favorite in the Liberty League Field Hockey preseason poll. The Yellowjackets (19-3, 6-1 Liberty League) will be eyeing their fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament heading into 2019 and their second league title in three years.
It will be another tight race in the field hockey standings and the results of the preseason poll reflect that upcoming battle. In a vote by the league’s head coaches (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams), Rochester received four first-place votes and totaled 46 points. The 2018 Liberty League Champions Vassar College was also recognized with four first-place votes but totaled 43 points for a second place finish. Ithaca College and Skidmore College tied for third with 34 points apiece and William Smith College was fifth with 22 points. The Herons were followed by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI, 19), Union College (15) and St. Lawrence University (11).
Despite the graduation of six players, including the 2018 Liberty League Player of the Year Nancy Bansbach (21G, 5A), the Yellowjackets are still in good hands with the return of four of the team’s top-six scorers from a year ago—Amanda Strenk, Emma Schlechter, Colleen Maillie and Maya Haigis. Strenk had a breakout rookie campaign and was named the 2018 Liberty League Rookie of the Year. She was second on the team with 22 points on nine goals and four assists. Schlechter and Maillie, an All-Liberty League first team selection both recorded 16 points. Schlechter had seven goals and two assists while Maillie handed out a team-high 10 assists and scored four goals. Her 10 assists was second among league leaders. Haigis rounds out the team’s top returning scorers as she closed out her junior season with 11 points (4G, 3A). The defensive returnees are highlighted by goalkeeper Kate Kujawa and defender Kate Tiffany, who both started all 22 games for the Yellowjackets last season. Kujawa compiled a 0.69 goals against average and 0.831 save percentage. Tiffany paced the team in defensive saves with eight. As a team, Rochester held opponents to 15 goals and posted 12 shutouts.
Vassar is coming off its most successful season in program history as the Brewers won their first-ever Liberty League title and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 2018. There will be some holes to fill with the graduation of the 2018 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year Monica Feeley as well as All-Liberty League first team selection Megan Caveny (11G, 12A). Feeley headlined a defense that allowed a league-low eight goals against and posted 14 shutouts while Caveny was the team’s leading scorer. However, a core group of players from last season’s squad return, which should bode well for the Brewers. Liz Rotolo is back in net for Vassar after starting all 20 games last season. She made 33 saves with a 0.42 goals against average and a .805 save percentage. Defender Alexandra Aquilina-Piscitello will join Rotolo on the backline. Aquilina-Piscitello was second on the team in defensive saves (3) in 2018. The Brewers will open the 2019 season with two of the team’s top-five scorers from a year ago in midfielders Cristina Lopez and Rylie Pope. The duo combined for 10 goals and nine assists. Lopez also helped on the defensive side of things with two defensive saves. Midfielder Sam Plante, who chipped in five goals and an assist last season, will also have a hand in the offense.
Ithaca had a strong campaign in its second year with the Liberty League, ending the year with a 13-7 overall record (3-4 Liberty League). The Bombers’ 13 wins matched the highest number of wins for the program since 2015. They also experienced some postseason play with spot in the ECAC tournament, where they advanced to the semifinals. All-Liberty League first team goalkeeper Savanna Lenker headlines the team’s defense in 2019. Last year, she paced the league in save percentage (.867) and ranked third in goals against average (0.89). She also recorded seven shutouts. The midfielder duo of Kendall Keil and Jackie Mirabile will lead the offense after combining for seven goals and two assists last season. Mirabile was second on the team in game-winning goals with three. Arleigh Rodgers also returns to the midfield after playing in all 20 games for the Bombers last season.
Last year,
Skidmore won eight games and the Thoroughbreds will look to improve upon an 8-11 record in 2019. Skidmore will be a young squad this season with the departure of six due to graduation. Forward Natalie Metzger will lead the offense after ranking second on the team in scoring last season. In 19 games, she recorded 14 points on six goals and two assists. She will be joined by midfielder Sarah Winters and defender Natalie Metzger. Winters, only played in eight games, where she scored a goal and recorded an assist. Metzger, a starter in all 19 games for the Thoroughbreds will anchor the defense. She had two defensive saves last season. Goalkeeping will be a question mark with the graduation of Elizabeth Coughlin, however Skidmore does have two goalkeepers that saw some action in net last year in Madeline Carre (0.800 save percentage, 0.85 GAA) and Jess Gaetgens (.750 save percentage, 3.11 GAA).
With nine returning starters from a year ago and the graduation of only two,
William Smith will open 2019 with a veteran presence in Geneva. The bulk of the team’s offense returns for the Herons this season as three of the team’s top-four scorers from a year ago are back. Forward Sophie Craig highlights the offense after leading the team with her 20 points last year on nine goals and two assists. Shannon Roycroft (3G, 1A) and Sorcha McCooey (2G, 1 A) will also be key contributors. Defensively, William Smith welcomes back midfielder/defender Kelsey Pierce and defender Bennett Tierney who were both starters in all 16 games for the Herons last season. Tierney tied for the team lead in defensive saves with two.
RPI closed out 2018 with a 6-12 overall record and a 3-4 mark in league play. The Engineers advanced to the league tournament for the first time since 2012 and they hope to build upon last season’s momentum this year. Six starters from last season’s squad are back, including Charisse Stakutis, who will pilot the RPI offense. She scored four goals and added an assist for nine points last season, ranking her third among the team’s offensive leaders. Midfielder Kaitlyn Stulen will also contribute to the offense after scoring two goals in 2018. A starter in 17 of the team’s 18 games last season, Emma Lewis highlights the team’s defensive returnees.
Union finished last season with an 8-9 overall record and with seven returning starters, experience should be on the Dutchwomen’s side this season. A pair of forwards—Charlotte Leyland and Katie Talacci will lead the team’s offense. Leyland, an All-Liberty League second team pick, started all 17 games for Union and she tallied a career-best 33 points, scoring 13 goals and dishing out seven assists. She was also tops among league leaders in shots (92) and second in points. Talacci was also a significant contributor to the offense last season. She was second on the team with 21 points (8G, 5A). Goalkeeper Heather Poisson will anchor the team’s defense after making 12 starts last season. She went 6-6 to go with her .723 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average.
A core group of players return to
St. Lawrence in 2019 and the Saints have high expectations heading into the season. Despite the graduation of seven, 12 players from the 2018 team are on this year’s roster, five of which were starters last season. Goalkeeper Sydney Giacin jumped into a starting role midseason last year and did not look back. In 11 starts, she finished the year with a 5-6-0 record, a 1.55 goals against average and a .782 save percentage. Forward Maggie Green returns for her sophomore campaign after ranking third on the team in scoring last season with five goals and two assists for 12 points. Forward Jackie Reiss and defender/midfielder Delaney Yates are also key returnees for the Saints.
The 2019 season begins on Friday, August 30th with all eight league teams playing non-conference games. RPI, Skidmore, Union and Vassar have home games while Ithaca, Rochester, St. Lawrence and William Smith hit the road.
2019 Liberty League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points (First Place Votes)
1. Rochester, 46 (4)
2. Vassar, 43 (4)
3t. Ithaca, 34
3t. Skidmore, 34
5. William Smith, 22
6. RPI, 19
7. Union, 15
8. St. Lawrence, 11