Shippensburg field hockey delivered the school its first ever national championship in any sport in 2013, and hopes to build off of an incredible season. After an offseason which saw nine key seniors graduate, the Lady Raiders are set to get back to business with a young but talented team.
The Lady Raiders have become a Division II field hockey powerhouse. This season they will not only defend their title, but will look to return to the national tournament for the seventh consecutive season. But keeping up the success will not be easy, as opponents are sure to bring their best against Shippensburg every time they face off.
Despite the youth at some positions the Lady Raiders will return 16 players from last year’s championship team, including a pair of talented seniors in Lucy Kauffman and Ari Saytar. Kaufmann was part of the 2013 NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association) All-America Second Team and Saytar was part of the All-PSAC (PA State Athletics Conference) Second Team.
The voters in the PSAC preseason polls were not very kind to the defending national champions, selecting the Lady Raiders third in the preseason behind Millersville and West Chester. Millersville handed the Lady Raiders their only loss of the 2013 season but Shippensburg got its revenge in the national semifinals.
Returning to lead the Lady Raiders for her 16th season is head coach Bertie Landes. Landes is the reigning NFHCA coach of the year and enters the season as the winningest active Division II field hockey coach.
The Lady Raiders begin their championship defense Doubletree Fall Classic in New Haven, CT, when they face St. Michael’s University on Saturday, Sept. 6, beginning at 11 a.m.
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