1999 STX/NFHCA Division III Poll
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — Ranked 12th in the latest STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll, the 14-2 Susquehanna University field hockey team will begin play in the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs for just the third time in school history (previously 1986, ’93) Wednesday in a 3 p.m. semifinal game at Freedom Conference champion and 10-7 Wilkes University.
The Crusaders were runners-up in the Commonwealth Conference with a 6-1 record. They can break the school record for wins in a season (Record: 14-5, 1993) and take a step closer to earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The NCAA Tournament provides for an 18-team field. Third-ranked Lebanon Valley (15-1) was winner of the MAC Commonwealth Conference and has already received one of the eight automatic NCAA bids from winning that title. Susquehanna needs a good showing in the conference playoffs to secure one of the 10 remaining at-large bids. The NCAA Division III Tournament field will be announced this Sunday, October 31, with first-round games slated for Wednesday, November 3.
The winner of Wednesday’s MAC semifinal at Wilkes will play the winner of the other semifinal that day featuring Freedom Conference runner-up Scranton (10-7) at Lebanon Valley. Susquehanna would have to travel to either Lebanon Valley or Scranton for Saturday’s MAC Championship game if it wins Wednesday, while Wilkes would host Saturday’s final with a win Wednesday.
Both Susquehanna and Wilkes are hoping to rebound from losses Saturday in their regular-season finales. The Crusaders saw their school record-tying seven game win streak end with a 4-2 loss at York (Pa.), while Wilkes dropped a 2-1 decision at Elizabethtown. Susquehanna is 2-1 against the other playoff teams, winning 2-0 at Wilkes on October 12 and also beating Scranton (2-0) while losing to Lebanon Valley (3-0). Wilkes has lost to all three MAC playoff teams — dropping games to both Lebanon Valley (2-1) and Scranton (1-0, 2OT) in addition to the earlier loss to the Crusaders.
SCOUTING SUSQUEHANNA
Head coach Connie Harnum has made her silver anniversary season her best thus far as her team has already broken the school record for consecutive wins (7, twice) and tied the record for wins in a season. The team also achieved its highest national ranking ever as it climbed to as high as eighth on September 21 in the NCAA Division III poll.
The best news for Harnum is she’s done it with a starting lineup which features just two seniors, with four freshmen, three sophomores and two juniors. She believes this team will be focused for tomorrow’s game, in spite of its youth.
“I know Wilkes will be looking for a little redemption (from the earlier loss), but I really feel this team has the ability to pull together and accomplish the task at hand. They do it every day of the week,” said Harnum, who brings a 163-135-22 record (.526) into the contest, including a 1-2 (.333) MAC playoff mark. “I’m betting that they’ll be mentally tough and ready for tomorrow.”
Offensively, all four starters along the front line have been effective. 1998 all-state selection and freshman left inner Leah Bailor (Richfield/Middleburg H.S.) leads the team and the Commonwealth Conference in scoring with 10 goals and seven assists for 27 points (1.69 ppg). She also tops the conference in assists per game (now 0.44) and is second in goals (now 0.63 per game). She had a goal and an assist in the earlier Wilkes win.
Fellow freshman Katie McKeever (Worcester/Methacton H.S.) has nine goals and and three assists for 21 points and is third in both conference scoring (now 1.31 points per game) and goals per game (now 0.56).
Junior tri-captain and right wing Ali Hughes (Reading/Muhlenberg H.S.) is a returning MAC Commonwealth League All-Star who is the school record holder in career assists with 14. Also a returning member of the MAC Field Hockey All-Academic Team, Hughes has two goals and six assists for 10 points this season (0.67 ppg).
Sophomore inner Jeannie Yarrow (West Amwell, N.J./South Hunderton Regional H.S.) is the playmaker and has scored seven goals and four assists for 18 points (1.13 ppg). Yarrow was the scoring leader a week ago with three goals and two assists for eight points, and has had many of the team’s biggest goals this season.
Junior tri-captain Danielle Wenger (Hamburg/Hamburg H.S.) is the center midfielder and has provided the perfect link between offense and defense. Wenger is just behind Hughes for the school record for career assists with 13, and has scored a goal and five assists for seven points (0.44 ppg) this season. Wenger has also been a key to the team’s 0.79 goals-against average.
She is flanked by a pair of freshmen at the other two midfielder positions in Lindsay Barr (Emmaus/Emmaus H.S.) and Megan Patrono (West Milford, N.J./West Milford Twp. H.S.). Of the two, Barr has two goals this season.
The team’s only two senior starters have been the leaders back deep in tri-captain Amanda Reigle (Middleburg/Middleburg H.S.) and Taryn Moser (Lewistown/Lewistown H.S.). Reigle has started all 68 games of her collegiate career and scored her first goal last Thursday off a penalty stroke in the team’s 2-1 win over Muhlenberg. Moser opted not to play field hockey her first two seasons, but has started all 32 games over the last two seasons she has played.
Sophomore Sara Fuller (Mountaintop/Crestwood H.S.) is also a returning starter who rounds out the backs.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kylie Cook (Huntingdon/Huntingdon Area H.S.) has taken over the MAC Commonwealth Conference lead in both goals-against average (now 0.81), and save percentage (now .863). Cook, who was never a goalkeeper before last season, has made 69 saves and surrendered just 11 goals this season. She has a career 0.98 goals-against average and .867 save percentage. She made nine saves while earning the shutout in the earlier win at Wilkes.
SCOUTING WILKES
Wilkes won its fifth MAC Freedom title in its 11 seasons under head coach Addy Malatesta, but its first since 1996. Malatesta, who is now 106-84-9 (.555), guided the Lady Colonels to four-straight MAC Freedom League titles between 1993 and ’96, and also had them in the playoffs last year where they lost to eventual champion Messiah.
The Lady Colonels are led offensively by the Freedom Conference scoring leader in senior forward Sara Clause, who has 14 goals and nine assists for 37 points (2.18 ppg). Clause also leads her conference in goals (now 0.82) and assists per game (now 0.53).
Sophomore forward Jill Henry is also fourth in the Freedom Conference in scoring with 11 goals and two assists for 24 points (now 1.41 ppg), also ranking fourth in goals per game (now 0.65).
Senior defender Suzanne Fisher leads the defense as a returning MAC Freedom League First Team All-Star. She has been the primary line of defense for senior goalkeeper January Johnson, who is first in MAC Freedom goals-against average (now 1.32) and second in save percentage (.862).
1999 STX/NFHCA Division III Poll
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