Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Inks Four Signees For 2001
3/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
March 23, 2001
Winston-Salem, NC - Four freshmen will join the Wake Forest field hockey team in the coming fall head coach Jen Averill announced today. Kelly Dostal, Claire Lawhon, Claire Laubach and Merrilee Robbins signed with the Deacons and will begin competing next season.
"I think we're extremely pleased and honored to have such a quality group of individuals join our program. It's a reflection of their commitment as well as our continued progress," Averill said. "With each recruit, we're adding variety to our program. They are a talented group of student-athletes and we are excited about them joining our program."
Kelly Dostal, a 5-3 forward/midfielder from Hatfield, MA, comes to Wake as the youngest member of the US National Team. She also earned spots on the Under-21 and Under-18 teams. At Smith Academy, Dostal scored 28 goals and added 14 assists during her senior campaign in helping Smith to a 22-0 record and a Massachusetts state championship. She was a four-time All-Western Massachusetts selection, as well as being named a first team All-American last season. As a junior, Dostal was picked second team All-America.
"Kelly is, without a doubt, a very skilled and perceptive player. She has great vision on the field and is very explosive and noticeable," Averill said. "Her skill, vision and passion will be great additions to our squad."
The Deacons also signed Claire Lawhon, a 5-4 midfielder/defender out of Fort Worth, TX. Lawhon was coached at Trinity Valley High School by former Wake Forest field hockey player Amanda Janney. Lawhon's accomplishments include team MVP honors, as well as being named to the All-Southwest Preparatory Conference team and to the All-Metroplex Independent School Conference squad. At Trinity Valley, Lawhon was part of Metroplex championship squads as a junior and senior, captaining the team in her final season.
"She's the type of player who is only going to get stronger and more efficient by playing at this level. She has great potential and isn't intimidated by any situation," Averill said. "She's really hungry for competition and we're looking for her to contribute a great deal to our backfield."
Claire Laubach, a 5-8 midfielder/defender from Centreville, VA, will be added to the Deacon lineup in the fall. Laubach, whose Centreville High School team reached the Virginia AAA semifinal game last season, scored seven goals and added seven assists from the backfield as a senior. She was named first team All-State, as well as a south region All-American. Laubach was part of a select group to try out for the US National Team, participating in the "A" Camp last season. She was selected as captain for her high school team, and also played lacrosse and basketball at Centreville HS.
"Claire is an outstanding midfielder/defender. She has good discipline and is a real force in the backfield," Averill said. "Although she's young, she has great demeanor over the ball, as well as great size, speed and agility. We look for her to make an immediate impact."
Goalkeeper Merrilee Robbins, a 5-6 All-State goalkeeper in Pennsylvania as a senior, will also join Averill and the Deacs in 2001. Robbins, from Chester Springs, PA, compiled 48 shutouts in 92 games at Villa Maria Academy. As a senior, she recorded over 210 saves and was named first team All-League on three different occasions at Villa Maria. She helped her squad win three league championships, a District 1 Class AA title and three berths in the PIAA state playoffs. Robbins participated in the 2000 Philadelphia All-Star Classic and earned All-Philadelphia Area honors as a junior and senior.
"Merrilee has good quickness and great agility. She's extremely eager to make the jump to the next level," Averill said. "She complements Katie Ridd very well and they'll both help solidify our concreteness in the backfield."
Wake Forest finished the 2000 season with an 18-4 overall record and a 3-1 conference mark. The Deacs wrapped up one of their most successful seasons as a national semifinalist before falling to the eventual national champions.
