HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team has proven to be a consistent Centennial Conference tournament threat, making it to at least the conference semifinals in each of the past five seasons. This span also includes a pair of runs to the conference final. From 1980-2009, the Fords won 10 games in a season four times total, but have since achieved that mark four straight years under head coach Jackie Cox.
Haverford will return seven starters from last year's squad that finished 11-8 and 6-4 in the Centennial Conference. Seniors Jen DiMaria and Catherine Aronowitz are the top leading scorers returning for the Fords. DiMaria led the team with 11 goals and 27 points while Aronowitz tallied seven goals and six assists for 22 points. MacIntosh Award winner and All-Centennial Conference second-team member sophomore Sarah Waldis returns for the Fords along with junior goalkeeper Lindsey Lopes.
Other returning players include senior Brooke Kelly, juniors Allison Martin, Jacque Fagan and Brenna Boehman. Kelly was a team co-captain last season while Boehman was named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll. Martin (6) and Fagan (5) finished first and second on the team in points for defenders.
Cox's team will have to replace a trio of graduates in Bryn Bissey, Megan Holt and Megan Riley that finished with a program-record 50 victories during their four seasons. Bissey tied a team-record with 76 games in her career and finished in the top five in program history in game-winning goals (8), goals (33) and points (74). Holt was a two-time team captain while Riley was a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) Academic Squad member.
Looking at the 2014 schedule, the Fords play four teams that received votes in the NFHCA Division III preseason poll. Messiah College (12th) and Rowan (24th) are two of Haverford's non-conference opponents while two Centennial Conference teams, Franklin & Marshall (8th) and Ursinus College (13th), were ranked in the poll.
Head coach Jackie Cox is very excited about the 2014 season. "Our team looks strong and our returners look confident," said the fifth-year head coach. "We have added a very-skilled freshman class who will vie for playing time and make our team that much stronger. Our non- conference schedule is very competitive in hopes to prepare us for the tenacity of our conference. I am confident in each player on this team which is a great feeling going into our season."
The field hockey team begins their 2014 campaign on Saturday, August 30 at Swan Field against Rowan at 2:30 p.m. After five non-conference games, the Fords begin Centennial Conference play at Dickinson on Sept. 20 at 11:00 a.m.