© 2011 Yuchen Nie
from obscurity and others have slipped from the top, but - regardless, beware: Albany, Boston University, Drexel, Kent State, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.
Finally, we will highlight the ‘Fallen Heroes’. Many have asked, “Where did they go?” It’s teams like Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, James Madison, Miami and Northwestern who have experienced a steep drop in the last few years and will no doubt look to 2011 as a chance to rise again.
The battle for the Division I National Championship will undeniably be an interesting one as teams ride the regular season rollercoaster and look to November for a chance at history.
Bloomsburg. Bloomsburg. Bloomsburg. The hope of other Division II teams will be to follow in the steps of 2010 Division II National Champions, U-Mass Lowell and put the Bloomsburg supremacy to rest. Of the past nine years, seven of those championships were claimed by the Bloomsburg Huskies. Shannon Hlebichuk’s U-Mass Lowell team, after losing in the title game for the past three years, went a perfect 24-0 last year. Watch out for their high octane offense, which averaged 4.9 goals a game, to help the River Hawks repeat success. Naturally, the former champs at Bloomsburg will clearly hope to continue their high level play and reclaim the spot at the top.
Another to watch for is Shippensburg who will welcome back four first team All-Americans. Combined with twelve incoming freshman, the Raiders should have a chance to repeat with an undefeated regular season and vie for the Championship. Sandy Miller’s East Stroudsburg squad will have to step up to the challenge with the loss of ten seniors.
The dominance in the Division III realm exists between Bowdoin and Salisbury. 2010 Division III Coach of the Year, Nikki Pearson, and her Bowdoin Polar Bears will return as defending NCAA Champions. The loss of six seniors will be an obstacle, leaving the race for the title up for grabs.
Janelle Benner, was announced as Ursinus’s head coach for the 2011 season and hit the recruiting trail immediately in an attempt to bring home the first title since 2006.
Messiah has played the role of bridesmaid an unprecedented nine times. That means nine Division III NCAA runner-up finishes, including the 2010 match ending in penalty strokes. The young, but resilient, squad will look forward to breaking the streak and finally putting a ring on their finger.
Other teams to note are Middlebury, who brings back a young team after graduating only three seniors and Salisbury, a traditional powerhouse, who will attempt to get back to their winning post season play.
As the season begins, we will look to see how first year coaches adjust to their new schools and how the loss of talented players, as the USA National Team prepares for a hopeful London qualification, effects NCAA outcomes. But regardless of all the variables, it’s still anyone’s game on any given day. Many will try, but that primal joy of hearing the final whistle blow, jumping into the arms of your teammates and knowing you are a National Champion will be reserved for one. Nothing is impossible. Good Luck!
fhlife@usafieldhockey.com
19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60