The 2016 Shippensburg University field hockey team has enjoyed a ton of success in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in recent years, reaching the PSAC Tournament in each of the last 15 years.

The team was picked fourth in the PSAC Preseason Field Hockey Coaches Poll. The 2016 squad, however, will start the season after an emotional offseason.

On June 18, the team lost a member of the SU field hockey family. Amanda Strous, a former student-athlete and assistant field hockey coach, was killed in her Charlotte, North Carolina, apartment. Strous was 27 and engaged to be married July 30.

“Amanda Strous lived, breathed and experienced Ship field hockey as a player and assistant coach. She had a passion for the game, which drove her to excel on and off the field, and a love for her teammates, players and coaches which will live on forever in each of us,” SU field hockey coach Bertie Landes said.

This season, the team is motivated to play hard in honor of their former teammate and assistant coach.

“Our season is dedicated to her favorite saying, ‘Live, Laugh, Love,’” Landes said. “The 2016 squad is committed to leaving a legacy of love, laughter and a commitment to excellence that Amanda Strous showed us through her short life.”

A National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall-of-Fame member, Landes leads SU in her 18th season at the helm of SU field hockey. Landes has the most wins among all active Division II field hockey coaches with 466 wins, 282 of which occured at SU. In 2013, Landes coached the team to national championship.

This season, Landes expects more of the same.

“Our expectations are to win the PSAC Conference Championship and participate in the NCAA Division II Championship,” Landes said.

To accomplish that, coach Landes knows there will be adversity. Last season, the team posted a 13-5 record and reached the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament before falling to rival Bloomsburg University 3-2 in overtime.

The squad, however, was not pleased with the quarterfinal loss.

“We were not satisfied with just making it to the quarterfinals,” Landes said. “This season our desire is to make it all the way to the final game and win our second PSAC Championship in field hockey.”

The 2016 roster is full of experienced individuals, despite losing goalkeeper Taylor Webster, midfielder Molly Stuart and Ari Saytar to graduation. The 2016 roster features five seniors.

“Always when you graduate three seniors you lose their experience and maturity, but our current juniors and seniors are prepared to fill their shoes with a renewed effort and passion for the game,” Landes said.

“I believe the key is our five seniors determined to lead this game on and off the field by their work ethic, determination, passion for the game and their care and concern for each player.”

Those five seniors include Taylor Fisher, Katelyn Grazan, Suzanne Muller, Cassie Rawa and Miranda Wallace.

The seniors on the team have tasted success, being a part of the 2013 National Championship run. The program believes they have the ability to return with hard work to allow the team to reach its full potential.

SU field hockey will open its season Sept. 1 at Messiah College. The team’s first home game is set for Sept. 10 against PSAC foe Mansfield University.

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