Utica Chosen to Take Top Spot in Empire 8 Field Hockey
August 14, 2007
ROCHESTER, NY – Utica College is the choice of conference coaches to place first in the Empire 8 in field hockey. The Pioneers earned their first Empire 8 title in any sport with a share of the field hockey title with Ithaca College last season. This year marks the first time the conference champion will be determined in a postseason tournament featuring the top four regular season finishers.
The close voting with four teams receiving first-place votes and three teams finishing tied for second in the poll reflects the competitiveness and parity of the conference. In 2006, only two games separated the first- and last-place teams in the final standings.
The Pioneers have posted 7-3 record in conference play over the past two seasons and made an appearance in the 2005 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship. Junior forward Katie Kutas was named Empire 8 Player of the Year last season after being named Rookie of the Year in her first year in 2005. She led the conference in goals and points a year ago.
Hartwick College, Ithaca, and Stevens Institute of Technology all tied for second place in the coaches’ poll.
The Hawks, who have won three of the five Empire 8 field hockey championships, received two first-place votes. Junior back Kelley Lindroth earned second-team all-conference recognition last year.
Ithaca, coming off a share of its second conference field hockey title, received one first-place vote. The Bombers opened last year’s conference play with three consecutive wins, including victories over Utica and Hartwick.
Stevens finished with a 3-3 record in its first season in the conference, including a season-ending win over Utica that denied the Pioneers the outright title, and received two first-place votes in the preseason poll. Forward Courtney Geddis was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and earned first-team all-conference accolades with junior midfielder Hillary Paul last season.
Washington & Jefferson College, which also recorded a .500 record in its first conference season, is the coaches’ choice to place fifth this year. Jomara Coghlan takes over the coaching duties for the Presidents, who featured the league’s top goalie in 2006 in rookie Ashley Rund.
Elmira College and Nazareth College were picked by the coaches to finish tied for sixth place. The Soaring Eagles, with first-year coach Anna Rogers, featured first-team all-conference forward Kayla Blank a year ago. The Golden Flyers won two conference games last season, including a shutout win at co-champion Ithaca.
2007 Empire 8 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Utica College (2 first-place votes) 31 points
2. Hartwick College (2) 26
Stevens Institute of Technology (2) 26
Ithaca College (1) 26
5. Washington & Jefferson College 18
6. Elmira College 10
Nazareth College 10