2007 Team Preview
After finishing the 2006 season with an overall record of 9-8, the 2007 Swarthmore field hockey team is prepared to challenge for the 2007 Centennial Conference championship. The Garnet were picked to finish seventh in the annual Centennial coaches' preseason poll. See complete poll
With only two seniors returning to the squad, forward Abigail Fischer (Sudbury, Mass. / Lincoln-Sudbury) and defender Rachel Turner (Summit, N. J. / Summit) the Garnet hopes rest on a talented group of young athletes. Since losing eight remarkable seniors, including All-Region midfielder Summer Spicer '07, from last season the team welcomes a strong freshmen class to help fill the large void.
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| Abbie Fischer '08 is the top returning scorer. |
The 2006 offensive leader in three categories, Fischer finished the season with 20 points on nine goals with two assists. The senior listed in a tie for 13th in the Centennial in points and hopes to get offensive help from Alex Gilbert-Bono '10 (Wellesley, Mass. / St. Mark's), Abbe Muller '09 (West Hartford, Conn. / Conard) and Hoa Pham '10 (East Lansdowne, Pa. / Penn Wood).
Midfielder Ashley Gunter '09 (Crisfield, Mary. / Worcester Prep) returns as the major force on the Garnet offensive attack after finishing second on the team with eight goals in 2006 and making the top-15 in the Centennial with 1.06 points per game. Sarah Reynolds '09 (Potomac, Mary. / Holton-Arms), Natalie Stone '09 (Philadelphia, Pa. / Friends Select) and Joslyn Young '10 (Ann Arbor, MI / Community) all saw significant time in 2006 and will be looked to provide Gunter with support in 2007.
Defender Anna Baeth '09 (Frederick, Mary. / Frederick) had a breakout season in 2006, earning second-team All-Centennial. After starting in all 17 games for Swarthmore in 2006, Baeth will again be asked to anchor a Garnet defense that let in just 1.61 goals per game in 2006, good for third-best in the Centennial. Fellow returning defensive contributors Turner, Jordan Schmidt '09 (Houston, Tex. / St. John's School) and Maryanne Tomazic '10 (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) will also called upon to aid sophomore goalie Gina Grubb '10 (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Oakland Catholic) on the back line.
2007 will mark the final season on the sidelines for Swarthmore head coach and alum Kelly Wilcox '97. Wilcox has been at the helm of the field hockey program for the past five seasons, posting an overall record of 39-47 and 17-32 in the Centennial Conference with the Garnet. She has accepted the position of Assistant Director of Student Life and Academic Advisor in the Dean's Office at the College. The Swarthmore hockey players look to send Wilcox off with a successful 2007 season, starting the season on the road at Centennial Conference rival Bryn Mawr on September 1, and then kicking off the home slate on September 8 against Neumann 12:00 p.m.