Hartwick Selected to Take Top Spot in Empire 8 Field Hockey
August 13, 2008
ROCH
ESTER, NY – Three-time Empire 8 champion Hartwick College is the preseason favorite to capture the conference title this season in a poll of the coaches. The Hawks received two first-place votes in the very close poll after finishing fourth a year ago. This season marks the first time that the Empire 8 champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.
Almost the entire team returns for Hartwick, including three all-conference players. Senior Annie Yager earned first-team honors a year ago, while senior Danielle Greene and junior Samantha Galm garnered second-team recognition.
Stevens Institute of Technology, which tied Hartwick for fourth place last season and missed the conference tournament, is the coaches’ selection to place second this year. The Ducks, who received three first-place votes in the polling, return three first-team all-conference selections. Senior midfielder Hillary Paul earned a spot on the first team for the second consecutive time last season. Junior forward Kara Borzillo led the conference with 40 points and senior goalkeeper Stephanie Smith set an Empire 8 record with a 0.87 goals against average. Forward Lauren Griggs was named Rookie of the Year last season.
Defending Empire 8 champion Nazareth College, picked to tie for last place in last season’s poll, is picked to finish third this year with two first-place votes. Junior Kelly Flanagan earned second-team all-conference honors in 2007 and led the Empire 8 in goals. The Golden Flyers must replace Empire 8 Player of the Year and tournament Most Valuable Player Kelly Miranda.
Washington & Jefferson College, which earned the top seed in last year’s championship, is the coaches’ choice to place fourth this season. Senior forward Laura Peery was named to the all-conference second team and scored five game-winning goals last season for the Presidents, who set a school record with 15 wins.
Ithaca College, which tied Nazareth for second place in 2007, is predicted to finish fifth this season. Senior back Marisa Frank earned first-team all-conference honors for the Bombers, who were undefeated at home in Empire 8 play.
Utica College and Elmira College were picked by the coaches to finish sixth and seventh, respectively. The Pioneers earned a win at Hartwick last season and all five of their conference losses were by one goal, two of which came in overtime. Utica sophomore Tiffany Bichrest earned second-team all-conference recognition in her rookie season. Junior Chelsea Jipner of the Soaring Eagles was also named to the second team in 2007.
To illustrate the competitiveness of the conference last season, Stevens played its final regular season game against Washington & Jefferson. With a win, the Ducks would have been the top seed in the Empire 8 tournament, but they lost 1-0 and ended up failing to qualify for the conference tournament. Fifteen of last season’s 21 games were decided by one goal and eight games went into overtime. The conference tournament was no different as all three games were decided by one goal.
2008 Empire 8 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Hartwick College (2 first-place votes) 31 points
2. Stevens Institute of Technology (3) 30
3. Nazareth College (2) 26
4. Washington & Jefferson College 20
5. Ithaca College 18
6. Utica College 16
7. Elmira College 6