LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University field hockey team has rich tradition of pride, excellence and winning.

The Lady Eagles have a total of seven National Championships to go along with a number of conference titles and in 2009 The Haven will be looking to add one more trophy to an already decorated list.

Head coach Pat Rudy and her squad have once again been picked to win the Northeast Conference (NEC) title after winning back-to-back-to-back titles and on paper they certainly look fit to make it four in a row.

Rudy’s squad returns a number of talented players and LHU had added some decorated newcomers, whom are all looking to make their mark on the proud tradition that is Lock Haven field hockey.

In the 2009 NEC Preseason Coaches poll LHU received eight of nine first place votes and fittingly so after a perfect 7-0 mark that led LHU to its fifth straight NEC regular season crown in ’08.

The Lady Eagles will need to replace All-American Blair Wynne, one of the programs most decorated players, but looked poised to do just that and dominate the NEC again in ’09.

Speaking of dominating the Lady Eagles have been nothing short of that since returning to NCAA Division I play.

Since joining the NEC in 2004, LHU has gone 36-2, with the Lady Eagles last conference loss coming during the 2006 season.

Lock Haven went a perfect 7-0 in each of the last two seasons and has won three straight NEC Tournament titles to go along with five regular season crowns.

The Haven’s 24-game winning streak against NEC opponents is also still alive, as they head into upcoming season.

There’s a lot on the table for LHU this year, but as always the Lady Eagles will be a team ready to take it all on.

A huge key for LHU is the return of two All-Region players and three All-NEC performers including 2008 NEC Defender of the Year Alana Lewis (Trinidad & Tobago/Southeast Port-of-Spain).

Goalkeepers:

The goalkeeper position is always a key for any team to be successful and make a championship run and Lock Haven has some depth there.

Leading the way for LHU is junior Erin Terreson (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad), who started all 23 games last year. She made 83 saves a year ago while recording a 1.52 goals-against-average and .755 save-percentage. Terreson brings tremendous skill and leadership to the all-important goalkeeper position.

Backing up Terreson will be sophomore Lindsay Staufenburg (Norristown, Pa./Norristown), who is much improved and capable of stepping in at anytime.

Freshman Kelsey Moll (Newmanstown, Pa./Elco) adds depth to LHU giving them a third talented choice in the goal.

Defenders:

Leading the way is Lewis, who was the conference’s top defender and an All-Region selection a year ago. She can do it all and gives Lock Haven a dominating force on their backline.

Rudy says that a lot of LHU’s play is directed right through Lewis, calling her the “glue of the team.”

The trio of Emma Wessner (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), Amanda Hordendorf (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) and Casey Hughes (Schwenksville, Pa./Souderton) give Lock Haven a huge advantage. The three veterans will add not only an amazing talent level to LHU’s defense, but also give the Lady Eagles valuable on-field leadership.

Adding depth to the defense is senior Meghan Spittal (Sicklerville, N.J./Eastern Regional) and rookie Sarah Wilson (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin).

Rudy certainly feels her backfield is a huge key for this year’s team as they are loaded with talent and have more depth than ever.

Midfielders:

Leading the way in the midfield will be Mary Keister (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) and Tonia Marie James (D’Abadi Arima, Trinidad & Tobago/Saint Augustine Girls), both of whom have big-game experience for LHU.

Also in the mix at midfield will be sophomore Najia Hasan (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Wyoming Seminary), sophomore Ashley Hahn (Bangor, Pa./Bangor), junior Talitha Jay (Myerstown, Pa./Tulpehocken) and senior Megan Albert (Liverpool, Pa./Greenwood), who saw significant time last year.

Newcomers Alyssa Moyer (Winfield, Pa./University of Louisville), Brooke Varner (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg) and Teresa Lezama (D’Abadi, Trinidad & Tobago/St. Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain) will all look to take on key roles early in their careers.

Forwards:

Three very talented forwards return to help pace Lock Haven’s attack.

Leading the way is a pair of All-NEC selections in the form of junior Amy Hordendorf (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) and senior Suzann Hobart (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land).

Last season Hordendorf scored a team-high 20 goals and assisted six others. Hobart had 10 goals and team-high 14 assists.

Sophomore Kristi Shepps (Willow Street, Pa./Penn Manor) enjoyed a solid rookie season last year and chipped in with six goals and three assists.

Also in the mix and adding depth to the attack will be Carly Fry (Carlisle, Pa./Big Spring), Megan Armstrong (Hunt Valley, Md./Dulaney) and Leslie Ahern (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North).

Freshman Nicole Weaknecht (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) has a lot of potential to help contribute to the attack as could Kelsey Minnich (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York), who adds plenty of depth to the offense.

The Outlook:

Rudy feels this team is more team oriented than in years past and is looking forward to getting things rolling.

She also wants to take care of business in the conference again and hopes that LHU can finally get past the elusive NCAA play-in game.

Lock Haven kicks off the 2009 season on Saturday, August 29 vs. Georgetown University at Longwood. Game time is set for noon.