SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Susquehanna University field hockey team will face its toughest test of an already-challenging 2000 schedule when Lebanon Valley, ranked number one for the second straight week in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III poll, pays a visit on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. in a Commonwealth Conference match.
The Flying Dutchwomen (8-0 overall, 2-0 Commonwealth) are coming off a 4-1 victory over 20th-ranked Elizabethtown on Tuesday afternoon, while the Crusaders (6-2, 2-0) posted a 6-1 non-conference win over Cedar Crest on Tuesday.
The Crusaders will be looking to avenge a 3-0 loss to the Dutchwomen last September 30, one of only two regular-season losses suffered by Susquehanna last season. Lebanon Valley has posted six consecutive wins against the Crusaders since a 3-1 win by Susquehanna in 1993.
Lebanon Valley is led on offense by 1999 NFHCA third-team All-American forward Lora Zimmerman, who leads the Dutchwomen with 11 goals and 25 points this season. Senior goalkeeper Candace Miller has allowed just three goals in 466 minutes (0.45 goals against average) and has four shutouts.
The Dutchwomen, who advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals last season, defeated defending national champion and then-number one College of New Jersey 5-2 on September 14.
Susquehanna is paced by its own 1999 NFHCA third-team All-American and the reigning Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week in sophomore Leah Bailor (Richfield, Pa./Middleburg H.S.). She has scored five goals in the last three matches and leads the Crusaders with six goals and 14 points this season. Junior Kylie Cook (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area H.S.) has started all eight matches in goal and has a 1.63 goals against average and a .756 save percentage.
