Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2007 Season Preview

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With 6 returning starters and the deepest and most talented incoming class of her 8-season tenure, Ohio Wesleyan University field hockey coach Marge Redmond looks for her Battling Bishop squad to have a breakthrough season.

"This is our best freshman class ever, both in quality and quantity," Redmond said.

[ Katie Jones ] The Bishops will look to bounce back from a rough end to the 2006 season. After recording a thrilling overtime win over defending North Coast Athletic Conference champion Oberlin to take control of their own destiny in the race for the NCAC tournament, Ohio Wesleyan struggled down the stretch, scoring just once while losing its last 5 games.

Senior Katie Jones (Pine Plains, N.Y./Stissing Mountain) is back in goal after earning All-NCAC honors for the third straight season. Jones ranked among the league leaders in shutouts and saves percentage last year.

Sophomore Krista Murray (Rochester Hills, Mich./University Liggett), who saw action both as Jones's understudy and as a field player last year, will play exclusively in the cage this season, and freshman Kate O'Keefe (Westport, Conn./Stoneleigh-Burnham (Mass.)) adds additional depth.

[ Diana Boryczewski ] Senior Diana Boryczewski (Kensington, Conn./Kingswood Oxford) and junior Emily Molchan (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) return on defense. Boryczewski was a second-team all-conference pick in 2006. Junior McKenzie Robinson (Takoma Park, Md./Montrose Christian) also is a returning letterwinner.

Vying for the other starting spot on defense are freshmen Erin Fleck (Columbus/Bishop Watterson), Sarah Ingles (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and Kelsey Netter (Toledo/Ottawa Hills).

The midfield should be the Bishops' strength this season, with a pair of returning starters in juniors Shannon McHenry (Powell/Rancho Buena Vista (Calif.)) and Tara Porter (North Quincy, Mass./Berkshire School). McHenry, a second-team All-NCAC choice last season, shared the team lead in scoring with 3 goals and an assist last year, with those 3 goals including the game-winner in the overtime win against Oberlin.

Senior Jenna Narwicz (Yardley, Pa/Notre Dame (N.J.)) will see time at both midfield and attack spots, and freshmen Hannah Coughlin (Dublin/Scioto), Melissa Martin (Poway, Calif.) and Jessica Wright (Lancaster) will compete for starting berths. Coughlin was an All-Ohio selection in high school, while Wright also won prep accolades.

[ Maggie Donovan ] Senior Maggie Donovan (Westport, Conn./Staples), who shared the team lead in scoring with 3 goals and an assist in 2006, leads the returnees in the Bishop attack. Junior Ruthie Goodell (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) also is a returning letterwinner.

Competition for the other 2 starting spots will be keen, with sophomore Sarah Riehle (South Burlington, Vt.), who did not play last season, and freshmen Christa Cocumelli (Dublin/Bishop Watterson), Meredith Dargusch (Columbus/Bexley), Caiti Goodman (Washington, D.C./Bethesda-Chevy Chase (Md.)), Lilly Jianas (Shawnee Mission, Kan./Pembroke Hill) and Alycia Papa (Silver Spring, Md./Einstein) battling it out.

For Redmond, the 2007 season will be a success if "we understand that playing to our highest potential in every game and every practice is our goal. We all want to win the conference and move on, but our ultimate goal is to play the best hockey we can and come off the field feeling like we've doing everything possible to meet that goal.

The Bishops open the season at Washington & Jefferson on Sept. 1, then kick off their home slate with a contest against Hendrix (Ark.) the next day. The NCAC schedule begins at Oberlin on Sept. 5. Dates with conference contenders Wooster, Wittenberg and Kenyon follow in short order, and the non-conference portion of the schedule also includes games against St. Vincent (Pa.), Transylvania (Ky.) and Geneseo (N.Y.) State.