Field Hockey Ready for 1999 Season
8/27/1999 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 27, 1999
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The 1999 field hockey season is one that is met with great excitement and anticipation by the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Coach Jennifer Averill. One of the reasons for the excitement is the way the Deacons ended the 1998 season.
"We were really playing our best field hockey at the end of last season," Averill said. "I really liked the way we finished last season, and we just hope we can carry that over to the new season."
The Deacons started off slowly in 1998, but finished the season strong, upsetting the Duke Blue Devils 3-2 in double overtime in the first round of the ACC Tournament before ending the season with a hard-fought 1-0 loss to host Virginia. The loss left Wake Forest with a final record of 11-9 and 1-3 in ACC play.
The strong finish gives Averill and her team something to build on. "We are very optimistic about this team," Averill said. "We have more depth this year than we have had in the past. We have a good nucleus coming back and our players are more mature."
Averill was also encouraged by the team's spring workouts. "I am excited about the enthusiasm we had during the spring," Averill said. "This team has a great attitude."
Backfield
The Wake Forest backfield will be anchored by two seasoned veterans in 1999. Juli Lignelli returns for her senior year after starting all 20 games last season.
Also returning is senior Lizzy Hechenbleikner who started nine of the 15 games she played in as a junior. Both are strong defenders who will help the Deacons contain opposing attacks.
The backfield will benefit from the addition of two freshmen signees. Both Lynn Shenk and Elizabeth Hynes should contribute to the Deacon defense.
Midfield/Forwards
Explosive forward/midfielder Jenny Everett returns for her junior season after an impressive first two years. As a sophomore, she started all 20 games and was named a first team South Regional All-American. She was second on the team in goals scored with 12 and points with 27.
Senior Amy Marchell could see action in either the midfield or the backfield. As a junior, she was selected to the All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament teams. She was also named a second team South Regional All-American. Marchell recorded six goals and five assists last fall.
Senior Samantha Rush, who was second on the team in assists last year with six, and junior Erin Mooney, who scored three goals last fall, will provide added scoring punch up front.
Sophomores Jennie Shelton (two goals, four assists) and Katie Kubic (one goal) also both return. In addition, Carrie Neidhardt is back as a redshirt freshman after missing the 1998 season due to injury.
Newcomers should also help at the midfield/forward positions. Freshmen Heather Aughinbaugh, Maria Whitehead and Marlena Reese will all compete for time in the offense.
In addition to the freshmen coming in, Averill also signed a transfer from Southwest Missouri State. Jemima Cameron comes to Wake as a sophomore after one season at SMS. She is a player that has proven her ability to score and should be an assett to this year's team.
Goalkeepers
The Deacons will be solid in the cage again in 1999 as All-ACC goalkeeper Meaghan Nitka returns for her senior season. In addition to being named All-ACC, Nitka was also second team South Regional All-American and led the ACC in saves (138), goals against average (1.30) and save percentage (0.84).
Backing up Nitka at goalkeeper is junior Jamie Tressler. Tressler played in five games as a sophomore and had a goals against average of 0.80.
The Schedule
In addition to the always tough ACC schedule, the Deacons will also play top competition in their non-conference schedule.
"I feel that we have really got a great schedule this season," Averill said. "There is plenty of talent in all of our opponents. We are going into the season looking at our first opponent and are just going to take it from there.
"There is a lot of parity in the ACC this year. The league has tremendous talent."
The schedule starts off with home games against Radford and Louisville before the first road game of the season at Appalachian State.
Following the trip to ASU, Wake will host the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC opener.
After completing their grueling schedule, the Deacons will return home for the ACC Tournament which will be held in Kentner Stadium November 4, 5 and 7.
"We are very excited about hosting the ACC Tournament," Averill said. "A lot of people would rather go on the road for this type of tournament, but I am looking forward to hosting."
