Field Hockey searches for answers to graduation

Penn field hockey coach Val Cloude will need to find a way to replace two All-Ivy honorees and several other graduates. After ending 1997 with a 10-8 overall record and a 3-4 Ivy League finish, the Field Hockey team looks to be a legitimate Ancient Eight contender this season. However, Penn has one major obstacle to overcome -- the loss of all its starting forwards. The Quakers new starting forward crew will be on display tonight at Villanova in its first game of the regular season. The Red and Blue finished last fall with a fourth-place standing, tied with Harvard and Yale in the Ivies, and earned a post-season berth as a fourth seed in the ECAC tournament. They played the first-round versus the No. 1 seed and eventual ECAC champ, Rutgers, falling 3-2 in the last few minutes of the game. While most of the same defense will take the field at Villanova, the Quakers find Maureen Flynn and a host of freshmen trying to match last season's scoring output. Flynn moves into the first-place position as chief scorer with the graduation of Tara Childs and Emily Hansel. Also returning for Penn is senior Sarah Dunn in her third year as a starting goalie. She did not play with the team in the spring off-season due to her study abroad in the Czech Republic. She did keep her mind sharp for the game, however, by coaching in youth field hockey leagues to prepare for her spot at the net. Dunn only missed one game in '97 and enters this fall with an .858 overall save percentage and 1.48 goals allowed average. While Dunn has created some impressive numbers, sophomore Alison Friedman may compete for playing time. "She's challenging Sarah." said Penn coach Val Cloud "We have two legitimate Division I keepers. I do not expect to rotate [goalkeepers], but I do expect Alison to get time." Flynn and Dunn received numerous accolades last season for outstanding play, with Flynn receiving Ivy Player of the Week awards and being named to Mid-Atlantic Regional All-American's first team and Dunn named to second team with graduates Tara Childs, Emily Hansel and now sophomore Cindy Quinn. Dunn and Quinn also received Ivy League honorable mentions. Penn field hockey also returns a strong defensive unit led by senior Audrey Heinel who was named to tri-captain along with teammates Flynn and Dunn. Heinel returns for her third season after suffering injury last season versus William and Mary, while junior Jen Murray adds additional depth as starting left back. While the graduation of the starting offense has left a big hole in the team, Penn coach Val Cloud has looked to the junior class to fill these gaps. Cloud will rely on a proven Flynn plus up-and-coming sophomore Cindy Quinn. Additional offensive power is provided with Courtney Martin moving from defense joining Leah Bills at midfield. "I was questioning our attack because we lost our front line," Cloud said. "But I think this line is much more aggressive and has the potential to score more than last year's group." The Quakers added to Cloud's assertion when a combination of renewed offense and a stable defense shut down opposition in two preseason scrimmages this past weekend. Penn field hockey faced a local club team and faced off against recent alumna, walking away with 4-1 and 3-1 wins respectively. Several freshmen have joined the Red and Blue ranks, including Nicole Battiste, Maria Karas, Ursula MacMallan, Hillary Mendillo and Aparna Wilder, and are expected to add some depth to the team. However, the pressure is primarily on the upperclassman to produce with the junior presence at midfield.