After qualifying for playoffs for the first time since 1987, the Slippery Rock University women’s field hockey team is looking to put in another successful season.
This year, the Preseason Coaches Poll picked the Rock to place third in the western division of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference.
Head coach Julie Swiney thinks that the team has the talent to take the Green and White to the top of the PSAC western division.
Swiney says the team will have to make some minor improvements in order to be more successful than their season last fall.
“We need to generate more of an attack, score more goals, and we need to win more games at the beginning of the season in order to be where we want to be,” Swiney said.
The Rock has made great surges at the end of the past two seasons.
This year, they are looking to come out of the gates hot and meet the expectations of making the playoffs and finishing with a record above .500.
Sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Lee, who started in 12 of 15 games last season, is hoping to improve herself individually, as well as help the team move in the right direction.
“I really hope to have more shutouts this year and to keep the team’s spirit positive,” Lee said.
Senior defender Grace Bathurst is also very optimistic about this season. She has great expectations for this young team, as well as for herself.
“One of our strengths is that we all bonded quickly, which was great to see,” Bathurst said.
Bathurst is very confident in the fact that if they just play their game, they will come out successful.
With great experience coming back to the midfield and defense, along with two returning goalies that both saw quite a bit of playing time last year, the Rock is in good position to make another playoff run this year.
The Rock will open up its 2012 season tomorrow
