2008 Field Hockey Season Outlook

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — The 2008 version of the Williams College field hockey will be talented, versatile and experienced. The Ephs hope to improve on and parlay those characteristics into a successful season while navigating a very difficult schedule.

“Approaching each game like it is the biggest game of the season is our main goal,” head coach Alix Rorke, back for her ninth season (97-31, .758) at the helm of the Ephs, said. “We never want to sell ourselves short, but we want to be cautious about looking too far ahead and not enjoying the journey.”

The Ephs are coming off a 9-7 season in which they failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight years. Still, eight seniors return from that team motivated to improve upon that mark.

Two of those eight are Meighan McGowan and Jess Overlander, both First Team All-NESCAC selections in ’07. McGowan, a forward, was the Ephs leading scorer with 22 points (6 goals, 8 assists) and Overlander, a midfielder, who is outstanding in all facets of the game, including as a scoring threat on penalty corners.

The Ephs allowed only 1.81 goals per game last season and have three senior defenders back from one more season; Taylor Wilson-Hill, Sarah Burleigh and Arianna Kourides. The other three seniors are forwards. Julia Nawrocki was second on the team in ’07 with five goals for 10 points, while Sally Cobb had eight points (2 goals, 4 assists). In addition, Elspeth Macmillan, who did not play last fall, returns to bolster the Williams attack.

Meighan McGowan '09

“I am really looking forward to this season,” Rorke said. “We have a very experienced group of upperclassmen returning and a large first-year class to add depth. I am anxious to see everyone’s level of fitness and how different players will gel together. With our midfield line having graduated along with one key attack player, I think some players may be shuffled around. The versatility of our returning players is a huge asset to the team and provides us with many options as well as an opportunity to try different systems.”

The junior class has four talented players who will help bring experience and depth to the squad. Rebecca Gilbert is expected to solidify the midfield, while Amy Siedlecki does the same for the back. Whitney Thayer and Anne de Saint Phalle bring their talents to the Ephs scoring attack as forwards.

Sophomores Alice Bearn and Lindsay Davies will be counted on to firm up the Ephs in the midfield. First years Lucy Rollins (Rye, NY) and Izzy Lee (Darien, CT) and Meera Sivalingham (Philadelphia, PA) are also midfielders.

Other first years on the roster include forwards Margie Fulton (Wellesley, MA), Karyn Moss (Medfield, MA), Helena Nannes (Bethesda, MD), Katie Ellis (Darien, CT) and Areil Lyddane (Greenwich, CT). In the back, Amy McLaughlin (Topsfield, MA) and Colleen Fitzpatrick (South Berwick, ME) will get a look.

“With 15 returning players — eight of them seniors — our experience is something I see as a strength,” Rorke said. “It is an advantage in many ways to have a veteran group with strong leadership skills and a group that u nderstands our league and the competition we will face all season.”

Perhaps the biggest question mark for Williams will be the goaltender position. There is no question who will play goal — sophomore Katrina Tulla is the only keeper on the roster. However, Tulla suffered through an injury-plagued first year and never saw a minute in a varsity game.

Still, Rorke is confident Tulla can fill the void in the cage.

“She is an outstanding athlete with great speed and power. She is fearless in our defensive circle and often times a big risk taker. She will work well with our returning defenders and I think she will blossom this season with all the reps she is going to get.”

Although Rorke is excited about her veterans, her depth and her first-years, she also knows that there is improvement out there to be made.

“There is no ceiling on improvement,” Rorke said. “We need to be sharper defensively in the circle. We need to improve our transition game and working the ball up the field effectively. In our offensive circle, we need to finish in front of the cage. We also need to capitalize on our penalty corners. All of these areas will be greatly improved if we concentrate on developing our communication skills.”

The conference will likely be stronger than ever. Bowdoin won the 2007 national championship, defeating conference rival Middlebury, who they also topped in the conference championship game earlier in the season.

In the NFHCA preseason polls for 2008, four NESCAC teams are ranked. Bowdoin is No. 1, Middlebury No. 6, Tufts No. 16 and Williams No. 19.

“I love our league,” Rorke said. “There certainly are no gimmes. It’s any team’s game on any day. At times it is difficult to focus on one game at a time, especially with such intense rivalries like Amherst and Middlebury. But I am committed to trying to get this team to do just that.”