Field Hockey Opens 2005 at James Madison Saturday
8/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
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THE GAME
The Kent State field hockey team begins the 2005 season on the road at noon this Saturday (Aug. 27) when they take on the Dukes of James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va. Kent State returns nine letterwinners from last years MAC championship squad, including 2004 MAC co-Player of the Year, Berber Rischen.Flashes Preseason Favorite To Win The MAC
Kent State (11-8, 8-2 MAC in 2004), the Mid-American Conference regular season co-champion and tournament runner-up in 2004, was predicted by leagues coaches to win it all in 2005. Miami and Ohio tied for second in this years preseason poll. In her final season as head coach, Kerry DeVries returns nine letterwinners and will be led by Berber Rischen (Jr.,MF). Rischen was selected as MAC co-Player of the Year last season, finishing with six goals, 10 assists and 22 points as well as earning first team All-MAC honors.DeVries Stepping Down After 2005 Season
Kent State Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy announced Aug. 15 that head coach Kerry DeVries will step down following the 2005 season. DeVries, beginning her ninth year at the helm of the Golden Flashes program, will move with her family to Belgium following the season. Kennedy also announced Helen Knull, a two-time All-American player at Kent State, will be promoted to associate head coach.Scouting James Madison
James Madison returns 15 letterwinners and seven starters from last years team that finished 4-16 and 2-5 in the Colonial Athletic Conference. They are led by junior midfielder Baillie Versfeld, a two-time all-conference and all-region selection who tallied seven goals and three assists in 2004. James Madison is coached by Antoinette Lucas who is in her second season out of Northwestern.The Series
The Flashes and Dukes have split the all-time series, 3-3, though Kent State has won three of the last four including a 2-0 victory last season in Kent.Rischen Back to Lead the Charge
Midfielder Berber Rischen returns for her junior season after a stellar sophomore campaign that earned her MAC co-Player of the Year honors. The two-time All-MAC performer scored six goals and dished out a team-high 10 assists for 22 points. She returns this year in the best shape of her career and is determined to lead Kent State back to the NCAA ranks. DeVries believes Rischen will be one of the top players in the country this season and is en route to becoming the best player in Kent State history.Markwart Anchors Defense
Junior goalkeeper Linz Markwart also returns to give the Flashes experience and consistency in goal. Markwart was third in the MAC last season with a 2.13 goals against average and was second in the conference with three shutouts. She started all 19 games and was named the MAC defensive player of the week three times.2005 Season Outlook
Coming off their seventh regular season MAC title, the Kent State field hockey team and ninth year head coach Kerry DeVries look to continue their tradition of excellence into the 2005 season.Despite the loss of six letterwinners responsible for nearly 50 percent of the teams scoring, nine ready and eager returning letterwinners are among those aiming for another MAC championship and a return to the NCAA rankings.
We are anxiously awaiting our 2005 campaign, DeVries said. This junior and senior class has grown up before our eyes into our veterans with great pride. They feel the need to win the MAC championship and the desire to make the NCAA tournament.
The Golden Flashes will face some of the nations best to prepare for the postseason as they take on a non-conference schedule laden with perennial powerhouses. Matches against James Madison, Boston College, Syracuse, William & Mary, Michigan, Michigan State, Wake Forest and Indiana will prepare the Flashes for another grueling MAC season.
The 2005 season opens a new era for Kent State as the Flashes will move into their very own field hockey complex just north of Dix Stadium.
The Golden Flashes are not the only MAC school beginning a new era as Southwest Missouri State (Missouri State effective Aug. 28) will enter its first season as a MAC participant.
Joining the Flashes this season are four freshmen who hail from high school powerhouses in Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Three freshmen bring international flair to Kent coming from their homes in Holland and Scotland. DeVries thinks this talented group of seven women is one of the best recruiting classes in recent years.
GOALKEEPERS
Consistency in goal is the key to success for the Golden Flashes this upcoming season and red-shirt junior Linz Markwart and sophomore Kara Copeland look to bring that to the turf.Markwart returns between the pipes after a successful campaign in 2004. She started all 19 games for the Flashes, recorded three shut-outs and was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week three times.
Linz provides extreme dedication, perseverance and leadership for this team. She has consistency in her goalkeeping and decision making, DeVries said.
Copeland, who appeared in just one game for the Golden Flashes in 2004, hopes to make an impact this season after making strides in the off-season.
FORWARDS
A wealth of experience is returning to the forward line as four letterwinners look to lead the way upfront.Juniors Kate Perry, Elizabeth Lahey and Liz Fettrow are the leading candidates at the starting spots while sophomore Libby Lame will push the trio for playing time.
Perry was second on the team in goals scored in 2004 with seven, two of which were game winners. Lahey, who also may see some time in a midfield position, had a breakout campaign in 2004, finishing with five goals and two assists. Fettrow, who DeVries describes as a savvy player with great tipping ability in the circle, spent her first two seasons playing in the midfield and will now take a stint in the center forward position. She finished 2004 third on the team in scoring with six goals and five assists. Lame played in 10 games as a freshman for the Flashes and proved to be a spark off the bench. Also looking to vie for time in a forward position is freshman Natalie Barrett.
MIDFIELD
MAC Co-Player of the Year Berber Rischen is back for her third stint as the backbone of the Flashes midfield. Rischen, who also was named to the STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I West Region Second Team, finished 2004 second on the team in scoring with six goals and 10 assists.Berber is smart, highly dedicated, fit, quick, skillful and sound defensively, DeVries said. She will be one of the top players in the country in her junior campaign.
Rischens counterparts at midfield will be up for grabs this season as the Flashes have openings at both slots. Sophomore Anna McComb and freshmen Gina Uguccioni and Britt van Pelt will vie for the starting spots. McComb saw action in just three games in 2004 but made significant strides in the spring and should see increased action at the midfield slot. Uguccioni was a three-year starter for her varsity team at Frontier Regional and led her team to a league championship, the UMASS championship and the state finals.
BACKS
Armed with three experienced defenders and Markwart in goal, the Golden Flashes backfield should prove to be the best in the MAC.Senior Carrie Rupp and sophomore Charlotte Muller return to anchor a dominate backline. Muller, who played in 17 games last year primarily as the Flashes hard-hitting sweeper, is ready for a breakout season according to DeVries.
Rupp, Kent States only senior, brings experience and leadership to the backfield. In 2004 she saw action in eight games with four starts.
Also expected to see time is red shirt-sophomore Caitlin Mackenzie and sophomore Jamie Morrow.The Flashes also look to add youth to the backfield as four freshmen are all likely candidates to add to the defensive mix.
MaryKate Hanosek, an Emmaus graduate and former teammate of Pack, is described by DeVries as quick and skillful. Emmaus players are taught exceptionally well and they understand the dedication necessary to have success at our level.
Joining Hanosek will be Melanie Bierens de Haan, a native of Bilthoven, Holland.
Sarah Nolan, the third Golden Flash from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Illinois native Stephanie Bernthal round out the freshman defenders.
No Cupcakes
Coach DeVries is a firm believer in scheduling the best possible competition for her players every year to prepare for the MAC schedule. The case is the same this year at Kent State is slated to play against eight teams ranked or receiving votes in last years final Top 25 poll. Last year the Flashes came within one goal of knocking off No. 1-ranked Michigan State and fell to No. 5 Wake Forest, 4-2, on consecutive days.International Flair
International players have been a big part of Kent States success in recent years. This year Kent State has six international players on its roster from Scotland, The Netherlands, Holland and Canada, including 2004 MAC co-Player of the Year Berber Rischen from The Netherlands. All told, the Golden Flashes have had more than 27 players from outside the United States in the last eight years.Up Next
The Flashes continue its season-opening road swing next weekend when they travel to Dartmouth and Boston College. KSU will face Dartmouth at noon Sept. 3 in Hanover, N.H. before heading down the east coast to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to face the Boston College Eagles at 1 p.m. Sept. 4.
