As Washington College's women's field hockey team prepares for the start of the 2001 season, last year's Centennial Conference semi-finals appearance lingers in the back of the minds of returning players and coaches.
Incoming freshmen players hope to experience the thrill of what could be the Shorewomen's fifth post-season appearance in the Centennial Conference Tournament.
The 2000 season concluded with a conference record of 6-3, which earned the team a third place finish in a very strong conference. Overall the shorewomen went 9-9 and finished the season on Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field in the Centennial Conference Semifinals battle against Swarthmore College, ending in a tragic 2-0 loss. After the game Coach Sara Feyerherm had said there was nothing to complain about with a .500 season and a 6-3 record in a "routinely strong conference."
In addition to last year's accomplishments, Toby Wilmet, former senior goalkeeper and captain, was named the NCAA's 2001 Woman of the Year for the state of Maryland for her accomplishments at Washington College in field hockey and softball.
"The key will be how much we can produce offensively, and how much they want to win," said Feyerherm on the 2001 season. The team will be counting on one of last year's two leading scorers, junior midfielder Julie Phillips, to lead the Shorewomen offense. Returning senior forward and co-captain Lee Coulson will assist Phillips.
The defense is anchored by returning All-Conference junior defender Megan Daily and senior co-captain Jamie Thompson. All-Conference junior midfielder Jess McAdams also returns to assist with both offensive production and defensive stops.
New faces to be seen in the maroon and black are midfielder/forward Laura Scimeca, forward Christine Schmidt, midfielder Breahn McAteer, goalkeeper Erin Messer, and defender Joanna Wald.
The Shorewomen took the field for the first time this season at home against non-conference opponent Mary Washington College on August 31. The team hoped to avenge last season's opening 4-1 loss at Mary Washington. The Eagles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead but would be held scoreless over the last 44:54. The Shorewomen made a late rally, taking seven of eight shots in the final 35 minutes but just came up short.
Junior goalkeeper Christie Allebach made a commendable ten saves in the effort.
Sunday, September 2, the Shorewomen were at it again this time against the Frostburg State Bobcats. In an effort to retaliate from their first loss, sophomore forward Taneil Sisco scored two first half goals en route to victory. The first came off an assist from Phillips. With 44 seconds left in the half, Allebach made a remarkable save on a Bobcat penalty stroke to ignite a spark in the Shorewomen. The second goal from Sisco was scored off a rebound during a penalty corner just before time had expired for the half. Daily and senior forward Avery Coleman scored off assists from Phillips and Thompson, respectively, to end all Bobcat hopes of a rally.
Overall, the Shorewomen posted 27 shot-attempts to Frostburg's ten in the 4-0 win. Allebach made five saves and has not been scored on in the last 79:54 of play.
"We really communicated well on the field against Frostburg," said Allebach. "This is something we struggled with against Mary Washington."
McAdams would add, "The team that played against Frostburg State was the WC Field Hockey team I know we are and the team that played Mary Washington, they got the boot. And we left them on the field that day."
The Shorewomen take the field again tomorrow, when they play host to Juniata at 1 p.m.
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