Aug. 23, 2004

A new era begins in Loudonville this fall, as the Siena field hockey program attempts to build on its initial postseason appearance. Head Coach Lynda Lareau saw six key seniors graduate in May, yet remains optimistic that the glory days of the field hockey program are in the not-so-distant future. "We got to experience what postseason play is all about last year, and our players really learned a lot from the experience," Lareau said. "This season, we understand there may not be that much respect for our program since we lost our top four scorers, but our expectations remain the same." Gone is Lacee Iselo who finished her career as the program's second all-time leading scorer, as well as All-NEC selection Michelle Dorscheid who anchored the Saints defense the past four years. It will be difficult to replace the remaining quartet also, as each played a key role in the Saints attack last fall. "This season will provide a great opportunity for our younger players to step up and show what they can do," Lareau said. "I am confident we will be an even more productive team when the dust settles this fall." Any improved success will no doubt start with the Saints revamped forward line. Forwards Lareau has restructured her rotation to better utilize the team's projected strengths this fall. In lieu of the traditional attack, the Saints will rotate attackers into the game two at a time. This will allow for an expanded midfield and a fresh set of forwards to keep the defense off guard. Senior captain Jessica Peluso is the most seasoned returnee up front, and she figures to see the majority of action leading Siena's attack. Peluso is a creative player with good speed. She has the ability to lose defenders in the open field and is very efficient with her scoring opportunities. Junior McKenna Smith appeared in eight games last season and will accompany Peluso up front initially. Smith is described as a deceptive player who positions herself well. She is also effective with her touches and creative in distributing the ball. A pair of highly touted freshman will see quality playing time spelling the projected starting duo. Ashley Pereira (Junior) adds a great deal of speed to the left side of the Saints attack. She is a resourceful passer who has a solid field hockey upbringing. Classmate Traci Baldwin possesses all the intangibles and demonstrated a great work ethic in camp this summer. Lareau feels her ceiling is unlimited as she becomes acclimated to the intricacies of the college game. Seniors Kaitlin Auciello and Janelle Jorczak studied abroad last spring, and both are recovering from injuries. Each could play a major role in the rotating forward scheme, but their playing time will depend on how quickly they round into top form. Auciello sat out last season with a foot injury, and Jorczak (who appeared in just three games) is recovering from a slipped disk in her back. Completing the Siena attack is another pair of newcomers. Alicia Reagan and Danielle Weill will gain valuable experience this season contributing to Siena's offense. Reagan is another player with a tremendous upside who figures to get better each day as she becomes integrated into the system. She is an unselfish player who is always looking for the open teammate. Weill brings a great deal of leadership to the program after emerging as the top scoring threat on her high school team the past two seasons. She is a very coachable player with a great knowledge of the game. In addition to fresh bodies, Siena's young and relatively inexperienced front line will be able to lean on a talented veteran midfield to spark several scoring chances. Midfield Talent and experience abound in Siena's established midfield. Leading the way is All-NEC candidate Kathleen Brennan, who has been rock solid in the middle since her decorated freshman season. Brennan is a bruising athlete with great reach and a strong drive. She is one of the league's most resilient players, and has greatly improved her ball control the past two seasons. She will start many of the Saints possessions, and put a stop to opposing counters. Sophomroe Lindsay Foltz made great strides last season, and if she can improve upon where she left off, the Saints figure to have one of the most dynamic midfield duos in the NEC. Foltz is one of the team's top finesse players. She has refined stick skills and a great sense for the opening on the field. She is also a selfless player who improved greatly on her passing in spring workouts. Lareau also predicts a breakout season for three-year starter Kate Karoglanian. Karoglanian has been overshadowed for much of her career by the aforementioned graduates, but this year she will have the opportunity to take her game to the next level. One of the fastest members of the team, she will be one of the primary shooters on the much-improved left side of the Saints attack. Karoglanian's competitive fire and powerful drive compliment the inexperience of the Siena forwards nicely. The Saints are pleased to welcome junior Lori Barletta back to the program after a year off last year. Barletta used the time off to refine her knowledge of the game, coaching a junior varsity program near her home in Mahopac. Lareau was impressed by Barletta's improved sense of the game in preseason works, and expects her to regain her starting spot from the get-go. Barletta is a defensive specialist who will take the hit-outs on penalty corners. Her maturity and leadership fit well with Lareau's team-oriented style. Freshmen Hanna LaStrange and Meredith Borrell also will see playing time in the middle as warranted. LeStrange has the ability to evolve into one of the league's top players in Lareau's estimation after a championship high school career. She is a superior defender, clever passer and more than capable scoring threat. Her strong field hockey background and mental disposition will have her ready to contribute from the start. Borrell is a versatile talent who also comes from a strong program. She has good speed and size and is expected to be part of the rotation when camp breaks. If the opposition clears the Saints midfield, a potent defense anchored by one of the top goalies in the league awaits. Defense Co-captain Tricia Eldred will be called upon to lead Siena's young and talented defense. Eldred has improved her game each season and provides a great example for the underclassmen with her approach to practice and games. She marks very well, and has developed some of the top stick skills on the team. Eldred is complimented by Lauren Mecchella who emerged as the team's top newcomer last season. Mecchella stepped in and solidified a back row starting spot three games into her freshman season, and enjoyed a stellar season. She was named NEC Rookie of the Week after making key defensive saves to preserve a pair of victories. Her aggressive approach to oncoming attackers will again be a key to any success the Saints attain. Classmate Carly Demartis is asked to fill the large void left by Dorscheid's graduation. In her first year with the Saints, Demartis flashed all the skills necessary to match that task. She has an extremely hard drive and strong tackle, but her most improved attribute is her quickness to the ball. Demartis rounds out the certain starters on defense. A pair of freshman will battle for the vacant fourth starting spot when the ball is first dropped in late August. Anne Linley has proven to be a capable option, as she breaks down the attack, and controls the ball extremely well. Linley is a strong and versatile player who will only get better as her career moves on. Webster's Emily Winslow is an intelligent player who could see action at defense or midfield. She has the fortitude to step in and break up the passing lanes, and can maneuver out of trouble with her exceptional footwork. Any chinks in Siena's defensive armor have been offset for three years by brilliant play in the cage. Goalies Senior captain Kristen Heyde will be in the cage for the fourth straight fall in Loudonville, and that is no doubt comforting knowledge for Lareau. Heyde has ranked nationally in saves throughout her career, and figures to be among the league's top keepers this year as well. Heyde possesses all the qualities one looks for in a great goalie: vision, lateral movement, instincts and poise. Her on-field presence will be as important as her leadership in practice and off the field this fall. First-year player Jamie Moller will apprentice Heyde this season, gaining valuable experience in the process. Moller uses her size to cover the cage very well, and is a diligent worker in practice and in the weight room. She has the maturity and potential to develop into an elite goalie with just two years of eligibility remaining. Schedule While graduation did its damage to the program in the spring, a restructured Northeast Conference featuring three new teams, figures to make a repeat trip to the four-team championship even more of a challenge. Fairfield, Lock Haven and Robert Morris join perennial power Rider, defending champion Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, Monmouth and St. Francis (Pa.) in the now nine-team league. An August 31 date at Holy Cross begins a five-game non-conference stretch to open the season. Road dates at Albany and Bucknell bookmark home games against Rhode Island and Colgate, accounting for the remaining four dates in early September. Those challenges should have the Saints prepared for the start of conference action at Robert Morris on September 19. The non-conference docket concludes a week later at Ivy League member Columbia. "The NEC expansion brings additional respect to the league and our program," Lareau said. "We anxiously await all the challenges the new schedule brings this year."