LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – In 2008 the Lock Haven University field hockey team is looking to continue its dominating ways.

After back-to-back Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament championships the Lady Eagles will be looking for the three peat this season. They will also be looking to win their fifth straight NEC regular season title, as they have won the championships every season since returning to NCAA Division I play and joining the NEC in 2004.

LHU won the NEC regular season championship after a 17-6 overall record, capping NEC play off with a perfect 7-0 record. In four seasons Lock Haven has only lost four regular season NEC matches.

By way of winning the last two NEC tournament titles The Haven has earned its way into the NCAA Division I National Championship tournament, falling in the play-in game in each of the last two seasons.

LHU enters the season as the favorite once again in the NEC, having earned the No. 1 ranking in the conference’s preseason coaches poll, but LHU head coach Pat Rudy has her sights set on bigger goals.

Rudy and her squad would like to get within the top 16 at NCAA’s and it is certainly a possibility with the talent up and down Rudy’s roster.

Rudy will be the first to admit that she has some big shoes to fill as they graduated a very talented and decorated senior class that laid the foundation for Lock Haven’s return to

D-I play.

The Lady Eagles did bring in a very talented recruiting class and if those newcomers can make an impact, there is talent returning that could spell big things for LHU in 2008.

One major key for The Haven is the return of two-time NEC Player of the Year Blair Wynne (Trinidad and Tobago/Sangre Grande), who returns for her senior year looking to cap off her already remarkable career in sensational fashion.

Rudy feels that some of her rookies can make that jump and help the team right off the bat.

She also notes that she has a very deep team and that is a tremendous bonus.

Offense:

Leading the attack will be Wynne, who Rudy calls “the total package.”

The 2007 All-American had an amazing season.

She earned All-American honors after being named the 2007 NEC Player of the Year and the 2007 NEC Offensive Player of the Year. This came after she was named NEC tournament MVP.

Wynne led the team in every major offensive category while pacing the Lady Eagles explosive offensive attack that outscored opponents 77-32. She tallied 17 goals, 11 assists and 45 points. Wynne had three game-winning strikes and four two-goal games.

Rudy says Wynne is a game changer and good team leader. Her biggest strength may be her ball handling skills and has dangerous breakaway speed.

Also returning to pace the offense will be sophomore Amy Hordendorf (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights), who earned NEC Rookie of the Year honors in 2007 after a fantastic freshman year.

Hordendorf was impressive during her rookie campaign, scoring 14 goals and totaling 30 points, which both ranked as second best on the team.

Also returning to lead The Haven on offense is junior Suzann Hobart (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land). She was an all conference selection a year ago after scoring 12 goals.

Junior Mary Keister (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg), who missed last season returns this year and adds depth to the attack. As a freshman she played in 13 games and netted one goal.

Carly Fry (Newville, Pa./Big Spring), a redshirt sophomore is looking to be an impact player for the Lady Eagles this year.

Newcomer Kristi Shepps (Willow Street, Pa./Penn Manor) is a player that could immediately see action. Shepps was a 2007 First Team All-State selection and 2007 Lancasater Lebanon League Player of the Year

Rudy says Shepps may be her top recruit and that they were very lucky to get her. She comes from a very strong field hockey area in Pennsylvania and adds speed to the lineup. She is a forward Lock Haven should be able to count on to finish.

“She’s feisty, gutsy and strong player who is very talented,” Rudy said. “She’s a very talented scorer and will quickly battle for a starting spot as she has all the talent to step in right away.”

Senior Jill Houtz (Myerstown, Pa..Eastern Lebanon) will be looking to close out her career in a big way.

Midfield:

Leading the midfield is Tonia Marie James (D’Abadie, Trinidad and Tobago/Saint Augustine Girls High), who is the leader in the midfield for LHU. She is a highly skilled player, who works well with Wynne.

According to Rudy, she’s a smart player with great pace and speed.

James also enjoyed a very solid rookie campaign. In just her first season with the Lady Eagles, James contributed a great deal to the offense at the forward spot. She scored six times and added one assist while competing in all 23 games this season. James was named NEC Rookie of the Week once during the 2007 season.

She was recently selected to take part in the 2008 Junior Pan American Games, as part of Trinidad and Tobago’s Junior National Team.

Also returning to help the midfield is junior Meghan Albert (Liverpool, Pa./Greenwood), who is an all-around tremendous athlete and will help the midfield’s transition game. She had five goals and one assist in ’07 and will be an impact player this year.

Freshman Kaitlyn Smith (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) is going to be impact player from the start.

Smith will be a two sport athlete at LHU competing for both the Lady Eagles in field hockey and lacrosse. Rudy notes her tremendous athletic ability and says she has speed and endurance which are killer assets on the field. Smith’s high school coach was an Olympian and highly recommends her.

“She can run forever and will be strong in the midfield for us,” said Rudy who is excited to have such a dynamic and athletic force in the midfield.

Defense:

Returning to lead the defense is Alanna Lewis (Trinidad and Tobago/Southeast Port of Spain), who will join James on the Trinidad and Tobago Junior National Team at the Junior Pan-Am games later this fall.

What Blair Wynne does on the attacking side of the ball, Rudy says Lewis does on defense, calling her the key ball handler for LHU on the backline.

She brings composure and leadership to LHU’s defense.

Lewis had a strong season last year where she started all 23 games, had four goals and added six assists from her back position. It was her role in the back that proved to be the biggest strength in the Lady Eagles overall success.

Lewis led the Haven’s dominating defense that only gave up only six goals in Northeast Conference (NEC) play and was rewarded for her efforts by being named NEC Defensive Player of the Year. Along with her NEC First Team honors she was also a Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I All-Mideast Region Second Team selection.

The Lady Eagles have plenty of talent returning, all in youthful forms.

Juniors Emma Wessner (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) and Amanda Hordendorf (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) along with sophomore Casey Hughes (Schwenksville, Pa./Souderton) look to be major keys for the crimson and white.

Sophomore Talitha Jay (Myerstown, Pa./Tulpehocken) also returns while rookies Ashley Hahn (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) and Heather McHugh (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) could be immediate factors.

Goalkeeper:

Sophomore Erin Terreson (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) brings confidence and experience to the goalie spot.

She played in 16 games as a rookie and went 10-1. She made 30 saves and only gave up 11 goals. She recorded a 1.10 goals-against-average and a .732 save-percentage.

The captains for 2008 are Wynne, Lewis, Keister and Hobart.

The Lady Eagles kick off the season tomorrow Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. when they travel to Bucknell University to take on Longwood. They waste little time in getting the season started as LHU plays host to No. 2 Maryland on Sunday, Aug. 31 at the Lady Eagles brand new facility.