Eyes on the Prize: Field Hockey '07
Aug. 30, 2007
BEVERLY, MA - First-year head coach Jodi Cipolla takes the helm and looks to lead the 2006 ECAC Champion Endicott College field hockey team to new heights in '07.
A former standout and four-year varsity letter winner at Division II Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Cipolla inherits a talented Endicott squad that played their way into the Commonwealth Coast Conference title game a year ago.
Returning to the 2007 lineup is senior forward Jennifer Rheaume (Blackstone, MA/Blackstone-Millville Regional). Rheaume was spectacular in her junior campaign, as she paced the Gulls with a team-high 19 goals and six assists for 44 points. For her efforts, Rheaume was honored as the CCC Player of the Year and was also named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-New England recipient.
Junior forward Samantha Bourgeois (Gardner, MA/Gardner) and a pair of freshmen in Joanne Reid (Clarksville, MD/River Hill) and Lindsey Mills (Arlington, MA/Arlington) will also be vital to the Gulls success on the offensive end. Mills will look to use her speed and strong ball carrying skills to open up the EC attack, while poised freshman forward Joanne Reid's strong field vision and superior skills in the offensive circle should result in scoring opportunities all season long.
The Gulls will rely on junior First Team All-CCC selection Jennifer Beech (Devonshire, Bermuda/Saltas Grammar) to lead the squad through the midfield. Coach Cipolla hopes Beech's strong passing skills and tremendous shot will be beneficial in the Blue and Green's transition game. Aggressive playmaker Chelsea LaClair (Middlesex, VT/U-32 High School) will also play an important role as she will look to control the game tempo at the midfield position.
The Gulls are young on the defensive end as sophomore Sarah Holmgren (Warren, MA/Quabog) returns as the elder stateswoman in the backfield. Holmgren will be the leader in the defensive circle for Endicott. Freshman Delia McDermott (Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights) brings a solid competitive edge and excellent 1-on-1 defending skills to the Gulls side of the field.
In goal, junior Chelsea DeFeo (York, ME/York) takes over the EC net for her first full season between the pipes. DeFeo will need to be the backbone for Endicott as she brings strength and quickness to the Gulls last line of defense. Also vying for playing time in goal will be freshman `keeper Angela Ziogas (Pelham, NH/Pelham). The pair of stoppers hope to backstop the Blue and Green to their first-ever conference title in 2007.
The Gulls open their season on Sunday, September 2, 2007 as they travel to Babson Park, MA to square off with the Beavers of Babson College. Face-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
"I'm really excited to open the season this weekend," said Cipolla. "We have worked hard in the preseason and I think we have the ability to be very successful."