LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Lock Haven University field hockey enters the 2007 season as the favorite in the Northeast Conference (NEC), but they are looking to take a much bigger step in the ranks of Division I field hockey.

Last year marked the first year since returning to NCAA Division I that the team was eligible for post-season play and they made the most it by claiming their first NEC Tournament Title and earning a spot in the NCAA’s tournament play-in game.

Before claming the NEC tournament title the Haven won their third consecutive NEC regular season title in 2006 and have gone an impressive 47-16 in their three seasons of Division I play. That 47-16 record of the last three seasons includes a remarkable 21-3 run within the conference.

In last year’s NCAA play-in game the Lady Eagles fell to Richmond University 4-2, but that experience of being back in the NCAA playoffs should pay big dividends for LHU.

LHU head coach Pat Rudy was pleased with reaching the NCAA tournament last year, but knows her team is hungry to take a step forward in national competition.

Rudy certainly has the tools to do so as she returns plenty of talent along with a notable group of newcomers.

A big portion of the Lady Eagles talent returning comes in the form of a six-member senior class that Rudy speaks very highly of. According to Rudy the seniors will be a huge reason as to why this team will be successful this year.

“They are very goal-oriented,” Rudy said. “We knew when they came in as freshmen that we had a special group.”

Another big strength of this team is its versatility and depth which Rudy feels will pay big dividends because she has talent in every position and on the bench.

As in any strong field hockey squad this team has solid players at every position starting with their goalies.

Goalkeepers:

According to Rudy the goalkeeper position will be a strong point for the Haven as they return senior Ali Harris (Maine, N.Y./Maine Endwell) who is looking to make her mark this season after playing behind Becca Yerkes in each of the last two seasons.

Harris played in 12 games last year including five starts. She made 20 saves while allowing just six goals in over 500 minutes of action.

Harris is aggressive, explosive, smart in the cage and communicates well with the defense says Rudy.

Freshmen Heather Brandt (Millerstown, Pa./Greenwood) and Erin Terreson (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Wiser) will both join the team looking to push Harris and add depth to the goalie position.

According to Rudy, Terreson has the talent to push for time during her rookie year and is one of the Haven’s top recruits making the future of LHU’s goalies a bright one as Brandt also has a lot of potential.

Defense:

The Haven’s defensive unit returns six players with plenty of experience and talent in the back.

Leading the way will be seniors Abigail Cerrone (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Ketcham) and Megan Bullock (Meshoppen, Pa./Elk Lake) along with sophomore Alana Lewis (Trinidad & Tabago/Southeast Port-of-Spain).

Rudy speaks highly of all three players and thinks each will play a valuable role in leading the defense.

Lewis is a composed and sturdy sweeper who plays very smart according to Rudy who calls both Cerrone and Bullock “great players.”

Lewis also posses good stick skills and is excellent tackler.

Rudy calls Cerrone the total package saying she is fast, aggressive, strong and athletic. She could also push up into the midfield while Bullock could also see time in the midfield.

Bullock is a tough, hard-nosed player who doesn’t shy from the physical play and leaves it all on the field according to Rudy. She adds experience, confidence and leadership to the back.

Also adding depth to the defense will be a trio of sophomores including Emma Wessner (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), Megan Armstrong (Hunt Valley, Md./Dulaney) and Amanda Hordendorf (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights).

Wessner is a good athlete, marks well, tackles well and brings speed to the back. Armstrong is one of the most improved players on the Lady Eagles roster and helps strengthen the defensive unit. Amanda Hordendorf has also improved tremendously and is smart, communicates well and is a good passer.

Midfield:

One of the strongest aspects of the Lady Eagles game will be their midfield play led by 2005 NEC Player of the Year and 2006 First Team All-NEC selection Blair Wynne (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago/Sangre Grande).

Also looking to help Wynne direct to the midfield play will be senior Renee Kemmerer (Nineveh, N.Y./Afton) who earned All-NEC Second Team honors last season.

According to Rudy, Wynne and Kemmerer compliment and play well together.

Wynne, a senior is an all-around talent and will look to continue where she left off last season. She led the team in goals and assists with 23 and 10, respectively.

Rudy calls Wynne the “total package” and an impact player. Wynne will be looked upon to set the pace and tone of games as she will direct the flow of LHU’s play. Rudy says some of Wynne’s best skills included her vision, quickness and passing ability.

Kemmerer tallied 27 points last season including nine goals and nine assists. She works hard and brings a lot of energy to the midfield says Rudy. She will go nonstop, end to end, while scoring and playing defense. Rudy also calls Kemmerer is a “great leader.”

Five other Lady Eagles will all look to contribute in the midfield this season including sophomores Meghan Spittal (Sicklerville, N.J./Eastern) and Megan Albert (Liverpool, Pa./Greenwood) along with a trio of freshmen. Those three freshmen include Casey Hughes (Schwenksville, Pa./Souderton), Talitha Jay (Myerstown, Pa./Tulpehocken) and Lauren Scully (Lehighton, Pa./Bethlehem).

Spittal comes from a very good high school program and saw action in seven games during her rookie season with the Lady Eagles. She has good stick skills and a hard drive according to Rudy.

Albert played in six games a freshman and adds speed to the lineup. She has good stick skills and plays good defense, which when combined with her pace make her a deadly tool in midfield.

Hughes, the younger sister of former Lady Eagle field hockey and softball standout Courtney Hughes looks to follow in the steps of her older sister making an immediate impact for the Haven.

Hughes adds speed and is a smart field hockey player who could play a variety of roles.

Jay was a three-sport athlete in high school and brings that tremendous athleticism to the Haven’s midfield.

Scully has raw talent and will certainly push to make an impact on this year’s squad.

Attack:

Returning to lead the Haven’s attack is senior Samantha Stoyer (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) who scored nine goals last season.

Stoyer is a scrappy and feisty forward will be counted on to fill the cage this season.

Junior Jill Houtz (Myerstown, Pa./Eastern Lebanon) returns looking to make more of an impact this season after scoring one goal in 10 games a year ago.

She is a very smart player with strong stick skills according to Rudy.

Sophomores Mary Keister (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg), Carly Fry (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) and Suzanne Hobart (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land) all return to help strengthen the attack.

Hobart saw action in 21 games last year and scored five goals to go along with one assist.

Rudy says Hobart’s biggest strength is her tremendous acceleration and ability to carry the ball with speed.

Fry could also see time in the variety or roles and understands the game well says Rudy.

Keister will add plenty of talent to the attack.

A trio of freshmen including Tonia Marie James (D’Abadie, Trinidad & Tobago/Saint Augustine Girls High), Amy Hordendorf (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) and Hannah Wagner (McClure, Pa./Midd-West) will be looking step in right from the start and contribute offensively.

James is the Lady Eagles top recruit and will add plenty of experience and talent to the lineup. She is a seasoned-international player who brings the total package and will be looked upon to raise the team’s overall level of play.

She is a versatile attacker, a true goal scorer who will be looked upon to put the ball in the cage.

Amy Hordendorf will join her sister Amanda Hordendorf on this years Lady Eagles squad.

Amy was a three-sport athlete in high school and an all-state field hockey player. She is strong, skilled, athletic and will add a strong scoring punch to the offense which is crucial to the Lady Eagles success.

Wagner is a forward who brings speed and aggression to the attack. According to Rudy she has raw talent and still has plenty of room to develop with experience.

Making it to the NCAA tournament this year is not enough for this squad as they have a bit of chip on their shoulder after last year and certainly want to make some noise this year.

“They want to the get to the next level,” Rudy said.

The quest to climb the ladder begins tomorrow at 11 a.m. when the Lady Eagles kick off their 2007 season on the road at the College of William and Mary.