Field of Dreams

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Even after finishing with an 11-6 record and qualifying for the Commonwealth Conference playoffs, the Susquehanna University field hockey team felt little consolation in a winning record or a postseason berth.

While the Crusaders once again faced one of the more challenging schedules in Division III, four of the team’s six losses came by one goal and five of the setbacks came to teams ranked in the Top 20 at the time of the game.

A year older and a year stronger, and with eight starters and 14 letterwinners back for the 2001 season, the Crusaders have the experience necessary to compete with Commonwealth Conference powers Lebanon Valley and Messiah for the league crown and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Head coach Connie Harnum will begin her 27th season on the Susquehanna sidelines with the confidence that her veteran squad could be ready to turn some of last year’s heartbreakers into success in 2001.

“We have a lot of optimism coming into this season,” said Harnum. “We have never had such a large group of returning underclassmen, which is definitely a positive sign.”

The Crusader attack will be led by juniors Katie McKeever (Norristown, PA/Methacton H.S.) and Leah Bailor (Richfield, PA/Middleburg H.S.). McKeever scored seven goals and added two assists for 16 points last season while Bailor followed up on her All-American freshman season with team highs of nine goals and 22 points.

“Katie has made great strides in her game, while Leah has been a tremendous goal scorer ever since her freshman year,” said Harnum.

Bailor, a South Atlantic Region second-team All-Star selection, ranks seventh on the Crusader career goal scoring list with 21, is tied for third in assists with 13 and stands fourth in career points with 55 in just 36 career matches.

Sophomore Amy Eyster (Dornsife, PA/Line Mountain H.S.) emerged as a scoring threat off the bench in her rookie campaign with eight goals in 17 matches to finish second on the team in both goals and points (16).

“Amy did a very good job for us last season, and this year I’ve seen that she’s been a lot more vocal on the field which can only help her game,” said Harnum.

The Crusaders will need to compensate for the absence of senior Jeannie Yarrow (Lambertville, NJ/South Hunterdon Regional), who missed the entire preseason due to an illness. Yarrow started all 17 matches last season and scored five goals with five assists for 15 points to earn Commonwealth Conference second-team All-Star honors.

However, senior Lisa Palladino (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks East H.S.) and junior Kiera Scanlan (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock H.S.) may be able to shoulder some of the scoring load from their wing positions.

Palladino played in 15 matches off the bench last season and scored one goal with three assists for five points, while Scanlan scored two goals in six matches in a reserve role.

Joining Palladino and Scanlan on the wing will be sophomore Liz Harker (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata H.S.), who missed the 2000 season with an injury but is healthy this fall and ready to utilize her speed on the outside.

In the midfield, the Crusaders will count on the duo of junior Lindsey Barr (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus H.S.) and junior Megan Patrono (West Milford, NJ/West Milford Twp. H.S.). Barr started all 17 matches last fall, scoring two goals and adding one assist, while Patrono appeared in 16 matches and recorded a pair of assists.

“Megan looks as if she is really going to step up for us at center midfield,” noted Harnum.

Sophomore Jodi Dottery (Zionville, PA/Emmaus H.S.) will move into the starting lineup at left midfield after appearing in 12 games last season, scoring one goal and one assist.

On defense, a veteran unit is led by senior Sara Fuller (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood H.S.), junior Lauren Barcaro (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion H.S.) and sophomore Jodie Dagle (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove H.S.).

Fuller started all 17 games last season and recorded two assists, while Barcaro made 15 starts and Dagle five to lead a unit that held the opposition to just 128 shots on goal for the season — an average of 7.53 per contest.

In goal, two-time Commonwealth Conference first-team All-Star and two-time South Atlantic Region second-team All-Star Kylie Cook (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon Area H.S.) is back for her senior season and fourth year as a starter after recording a 1.76 goals against average and a .771 save percentage last season.

“I’m very comfortable with Kylie in goal,” said Harnum. “She does such a great job of communicating with her teammates and is a real leader on and off the field.”

Among the freshmen, Harnum expects midfielders Terri Peiffer (Sweet Valley, PA/Lake-Lehman H.S.) and Holly Holgate (Factoryville, PA/Lackawanna Trail H.S.) to make an immediate impact in their initial seasons with the Crusaders.

“Terri has been impressive in camp with her strong stick skills and field sense, while Holly is showing great promise as well,” said Harnum.

The schedule may be one of the biggest challenges that the team faces during the 2001 season. Just six of the 16 matches are scheduled for the Crusaders’ home turf, with visits to Division III powerhouses William Smith and Lebanon Valley among the road trips that the team will take during 2001.

The Crusaders open the regular season on Saturday, September 1 with a 1 p.m. home match against Western Maryland.