The Shippensburg University’s field hockey team has been putting on a clinic in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference the last few years and this year proves to be no exception.
The field hockey team had a solid season last year, finishing with an undefeated 10-0 record against the PSAC and finishing 17-4 overall. SU’s record impressed voters and has propelled the team to No. 4 in the NCAA Division II rankings.
This year, the team returns with 24 of its 28 players, but must replace Kristina Taylor who led the team with 23 goals, five of which were game-winners, and eight assists.
SU will rely on Bre White this year, who finished the 2011 season with 19 goals and a career-high 15 assists.She was the catalyst to the office.
Last year, White was one of the best players in the country. She was named to the Western Division First Team and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-American Squad and was ranked second in Division II in assists per game, fourth in points per game, and sixth in goals per game.
This year, SU will face some very tough opponents, including Bloomsburg University, West Chester University and University of Indiana at Pennsylvania. Last year, the Raiders fell to BU twice including a 3-1 loss in the PSAC Championship. SU will try to avenge its loss to West Chester in last year’s NCAA playoffs when they meet on Sept. 8.
SU’s begins the season at the Doubletree Fall Classic, Sept. 1-2, in Colchester, Vt.
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