Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Field Hockey Begins Preseason with Two Practices
8/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 12, 2010
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The three-time NCAA National Champion Wake Forest field hockey team opened up the 2010 season with a double practice session Thursday at Kentner Stadium.
The players and coaches were up early for their first practice at 8 am and began the second practice this afternoon at 3 pm.
Under the guidance of 19th-year head coach and 2010 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee Jennifer Averill, the Demon Deacons will be in pursuit of their 10th NCAA Final Four berth in the last 11 seasons.
The Deacs won back-to-back-to-back NCAA Field Hockey Championships from 2002-2004.
Wake Forest returns seven starters from the 2009 squad that finished the season with a 13-7 record and an exit in the NCAA Second Round.
Juniors Kaitlin Piosa, Lauren Greenwald and Cristen Atchison return after playing all 20 games last season, as Atchison was the lone Deacon to start every contest 2009. Piosa helped the team with five goals and two assists, while Greenwald recorded a goal and dished out a team-high nine assists last year.
Seniors Liza Casella and Emily Cummings also return from last year's starting lineup. Casella scored two goals and six assists, and Cummings was a mainstay in the Deacon defense.
Lizzie Rae and Kaitlyn Ruhf are two sophomore who make up the final two returning starters. In her freshman season, Rae led the team with 11 goals and added an assist on the year. Ruhf served as the team's goalkeeper, making 57 saves and recording three shutouts in 17 games played.
Wake Forest will open up its field hockey schedule on August 28 at 2 pm against Iowa in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge hosted by North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Deacs will complete the Challenge a day later against Michigan at 2 pm.
