By Jhett Laurie
Sports Editor
The College’s field hockey team is looking to shake up the rankings this season with some outstanding returners. The team enters this season ranked No. 25 in preseason coaches’ poll and No. 2 in New Jersey Athletic Conference rankings, only behind rival No. 14 Rowan University.
The Lions face some tough competition this season, facing off against No. 2 Johns Hopkins on Sept. 12 and No. 14 Rowan on Oct. 21.
After falling just short of the NCAA Division III Tournament last season, the Lions look to pick up a few ranked wins in hopes of securing a playoff spot this year.
Notable returners include senior Jadyn Huff, junior Rachel Tetzlaff, and graduate Brigitte Racey, all of whom picked up First Team All-Region while Huff secured All-American nods by gaining a spot on the third team.
The return of Racey for a fifth season secures the Lions the reigning NJAC Goaltender of the Year, with other accolades including First Team All-Region and two-time All-NJAC First Team. She tallied 102 total saves last season, including six shutouts. Notable performances include a 10-save game last year against Rowan in the NJAC Championship and an 11-save shutout against Marywood University. Racey looks to serve as an anchor in goal for a Lions team pushing for a deep playoff run.
Huff is arguably the biggest asset to the Lions’ offense coming into this year. Including her First Team All-Region and All-American accolades, Huff also picked up NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and made First Team All-NJAC. She led the conference in assists with 13 and ranked third with 35 points. Huff looks to make her mark on the team as a leading figure on a strong Lions offense.
Tetzlaff makes up a key part of the Lions standout defense as she returns for her third season as a starter. She became the Lions’ all-time leader in defensive saves last season with 16 career saves and only seeks to widen that gap. Tetzlaff also picked up two goals and five assists. She is now joined by her sister freshman Jillian Tetzlaff who is poised to have a breakout season in the backfield after a phenomenal high school career at Toms River North High School.
Other players to watch include senior Kara Wilson, sophomore Lindsey Hoffman and junior Prisha Dhruve, all of which had strong offensive seasons last year.
Senior captain Isabel Maher was ranked fifth on the team in points last season and had five goals to her name. Under her leadership, the Lions should be able to make a mark on the NJAC.
The team takes on Catholic University on Sept. 2 in Washington, D.C., at 6 p.m. before facing DeSales in their home opener on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.
