Stevens Selected as Empire 8 Field Hockey Favorite
August 12, 2009
ROCHESTER, NY – Stevens Institute of Technology, which went undefeated in conference play last season en route to its first title, is the unanimous preseason favorite to repeat as Empire 8 field hockey champions in a poll of the coaches. The Ducks received the conference’s first automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship and earned a victory in the first round.
Senior forward Kara Borzillo has earned first-team all-conference honors each of the past two years and led all Empire 8 players last season with 19 goals and 48 points as the Ducks finished the season 19-4 overall. Stevens won all eight conference games, including two in the postseason tournament, outscoring opponents by a combined 25-4.
Washington & Jefferson College, which has finished as conference runner-up in both Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship tournaments, is picked by the coaches to place second again this season. Junior forward Julianne Zackey garnered first-team all-conference recognition last season, finishing second on the team with eight goals and 20 points.
Hartwick College, the coaches’ choice to finish third this season, tied for second last year and made its second consecutive appearance in the conference tournament semifinals. Senior Jennifer Murphy and junior Amanda Barton each earned first-team all-conference accolades in 2008.
Ithaca College advanced to the conference semifinals last season and has been selected by the coaches to finish fourth this season. The Bombers graduated two first-team all-conference selections, while senior Annie Onzik received second-team honors last season.
Nazareth College, which captured the 2007 Empire 8 title, is picked to finish fifth this season. Senior Kelly Flanagan and junior Emily Conway were named to the all-conference second team last season.
Utica College nearly qualified for the conference tournament last year, tying Ithaca for fourth place after winning its first three Empire 8 games. The Pioneers have played 11 one-goal games in 12 conference contests in the past two seasons. Sophomore Rebecca Corsones was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and was named to the second-team all-conference unit after finishing second on the team in goals, points, and game-winning scores.
Senior goalkeeper Jalene McCulloch of Elmira College led NCAA Division III in saves per game last season, totaling 314 saves and averaging 19.63 per game.
Five different schools have won or shared the Empire 8 Field Hockey title in the last four years. Stevens will attempt to become only the second team to win back-to-back titles with Hartwick accomplishing the feat in 2004 and 2005. In the past two seasons, 24 of 42 conference games were decided by one goal and nine games went into overtime.
2009 Empire 8 Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Stevens Institute of Technology 36 points
2. Washington & Jefferson College 30
3. Hartwick College 25
4. Ithaca College 22
5. Nazareth College 15
6. Utica College 13
7. Elmira College 6