SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — Susquehanna University freshman inner Leah Bailor (Richfield/Middleburg H.S.) is a 1999 AstroTurf/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III First Team All-South Atlantic Region selection. Senior sweeper Amanda Reigle (Middleburg/Middleburg H.S.) and junior wing Ali Hughes (Reading/Muhlenberg H.S.), two of the team’s three captains, join sophomore goalkeeper Kylie Cook (Huntingdon/Huntingdon H.S.) on the All-South Atlantic Region second-team.
Selection to the all-region first-team also puts Bailor on the ballot for NCAA Division III All-American honors. That team will be announced this Friday, November 19.
Along with 25th-year head coach Connie Harnum, these players helped Susquehanna achieve the best record in school history in 1999. The Crusaders finished 15-4, 6-1 and second in the MAC Commonwealth Conference as they made the NCAA Division III Tournament for just the second time in school history and were ranked as high as eighth in the NCAA Division III STX/NFHCA national rankings. They won a NCAA Tournament game for the first time with a 6-1 first-round home rout of Gwynedd-Mercy in the first-round before falling at sixth-ranked Skidmore, 3-2, in the second-round. Along the way, the team broke school records for wins in a season (15), consecutive victories (7, twice), and goals in a season (44).
A 1998 all-state selection as a prep senior, Bailor started all 19 games and led the team in scoring this season with 12 goals and nine assists for 33 points (1.74 points per game) — marking the second-most points and assists in a season at Susquehanna, and the fourth-most goals (Records: 15 goals, 10 assists, 40 points, Cheryl Irvine, 1992). She finished second in MAC Commonwealth assists per game (0.44), was third in scoring, and fourth in goals per game (0.63 per game). Bailor helped lead the team in its NCAA win vs. Gwynedd-Mercy, notching one goal and one assist. She was MAC Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week on September 20. She also led the team in shots on goal with 79.
“Leah has the uncanny ability to control the ball in the face of a defender. Her stickhandling skills are tremendous,” said Harnum.
A liberal arts major, she is the daughter of Mark and Jane Bailor.
Reigle has been a fixture on the Crusader defensive front throughout her collegiate career. She is the first Susquehanna player to start and play every game of her collegiate career — 71 games over her four seasons. She was once again a defensive stalwart this season, leading a defense that posted a team goals-against average of 0.97. Ironically, in the last regular-season home game of her career, she scored both her first goal and her first point of any kind at Susquehanna. Reigle converted a penalty stroke against visiting Muhlenberg in a 2-1 win, allowing her to finish her senior season with one goal for two points. That converts to a season points per game average of 0.11.
“She’s a natural (on defense). She’s very coachable and I felt very confident with her on the field heading our defense,” said Harnum.
A psychology major, she is the daughter of Joseph and Debra Reigle.
Hughes was second on the team and fifth in the MAC Commonwealth Conference in assists per game with seven for 0.39 per game, also adding five goals to finish fourth on the team in scoring with 17 points (0.94 per game). She was fourth on the team in shots on goal with 44. Hughes is the school record holder in career assists, now with 15 entering her final season. She also has 17 goals for 49 points in 47 career games (1.04 points per game) — tying for third on the school’s all-time list, ranking sixth in career goals. Hughes played arguably her best collegiate game in the NCAA Tournament win over Gwynedd-Mercy as she tallied her first career “hat trick,” also adding an assist for seven points.
“Ali really helped to lead our team with her play-making ability. She is a gifted athlete who often beats opponents with her speed and athleticism,” said Harnum.
A psychology major, she is the daughter of Michael and Carol Hughes.
Cook, who never played as a goalkeeper before last season, led the conference in both goals-against average and save percentage, finishing with a 1.05 goals-against mark and .838 save clip. She made 88 saves and allowed just 17 goals in the 17 games she played this season. For her two-year career, Cook now has a 1.10 goals-against mark and .855 save percentage.
“I can’t say enough what Kylie’s been able to accomplish since deciding to help us out and become a goalkeeper. She’s obviously got some natural ability in goal, but a lot of what she’s accomplished has come through her work ethic,” said Harnum.
A business major, she is the daughter of Rodney and Pamela Cook.
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