MSU Field Hockey Opens Camp

The 2008 Spartans opened camp on Thursday

8/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Aug. 14, 2008

The 2007 season brought the field hockey program back among the nation's elite. With just four seniors on the team, MSU compiled an overall record of 16-6 and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. The Green and White outscored their opponents 89-29, were second in the nation with a 4.0 scoring average, and ranked second in the nation in goals per game with 4.05 behind North Carolina, the 2007 NCAA Champions. On Thursday the Spartans began to prepare for the 2008 season with the opening of camp.

With the graduation of four high-caliber players (Becky Manning, Kathryn Elenz-Martin, Charlotte van der Laag and Amy Schneider). MSU increased its performance level in the spring and repeated as Midwest Spring League Champions.

"The team built a very strong and balanced foundation last fall and this past spring. Because of the developments and improvements of our team on and off the field in the last 12 months, we as a program can be very excited about our opportunities to dream, believe, and achieve success this season," said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "The coaching staff believes that this will be the first season that the returning group of players will be the base for on-field success, allowing new members time to adjust and contribute to our program's success."

Sophomore Jantine Steinmetz finished the season ranked eighth nationally in goals per game with .79, and was 23rd nationally in points per game (1.63). Junior Jeamie Deacon ranked 33rd in points per game (1.52) and was 45th in goals per game (.57), while goalie Elissa Unger ranked 17th nationally in goals against average and led the team to 13th nationally in shutouts per game.

"Throughout the summer I have repeatedly said `let the games begin'. I am looking forward to getting started with our 2008 campaign and, as I shared with the team, see for what medals we will compete this season."

Attacks/Forwards
With the departure of two strong, scoring forwards, Becky Manning and Kathryn Elenz-Martin, the door opens for Michelle Ciliberti, Floor Rijpma, Gwen Riley and Jantine Steinmetz to compete for starting positions. Freshmen Brae Dowling and Chantae Miller will also compete for playing time on the forward line.

"Although we graduated two high-scoring forwards in Manning and Elenz-Martin, I am confident that the 2008 team will have renewed and improved attacking powers and the ability to score field goals and goals off set plays. It is nice to know that we return All-Americans Deacon and Rijpma, the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Steinmetz, and welcome three-time high school All-American Chantae Miller to the Spartan attack unit. Also our other forwards and midfield players have become more of a scoring threat looking back at our numbers this past spring."

Midfield
A strong and balanced midfield returns for the Spartans with sophomores Amanda Huck and Angela Pagura, and juniors Jeamie Deacon and Floor Rijpma. Deacon led the team in points last season and finished third with 12 goals. She earned Second Team NFCHA All-America honors, was named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA 2008 Academic All-District Women's At-Large First Team and earned three Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors in 2007, the most ever for a Spartans in a single season.

"Last year we pretty much had a brand-new midfield. Throughout the 2007-2008 campaign they continued their individual and midfield line development."

Incoming freshmen Christie Jones, Kelly Roderick and Chantae Miller will work to adjust to the importance of midfield possession and transition. The midfield will work to build up the attack and assist in pressuring the defense, crucial elements for a successful campaign.

Defense/Backs
With the graduation of two strong full backs, Amy Schneider and Charlotte van der Laag, the unit required rebuilding. Senior Geraldine Raynor and sophomore Joelle van Ierland look to anchor the defense in 2008.

"The program invested a lot of time this past spring to put together and develop a fairly new defensive unit. Due to the graduation of both fullbacks Schneider and Van der Laag, we had to reconstruct our backfield. The spring proved to be very beneficial for players like Ackerman, Lucik, Magee, Chantae Miller, Raynor and Van Ierland to develop into their new roles. The addition of freshmen Holly Sherman and Corey Block to the defensive unit will strengthen our backfield even more."

Goalkeepers
Elissa Unger returns to the Spartans as the starting goalie after a successful 2007 campaign in which she started all 22 games. She finished the season with an overall record of 16-6, a .695 save percentage and six shutouts. Sophomore goalie Brittany Miller saw action in four games last season.

"Our goalkeepers have made huge steps forward in their individual development as goalkeepers and architects of our backfield defense the last 12 months. As a coach I couldn't be happier than when a player or goalkeeper makes a full commitment to their position and takes true ownership in their own development. Goalies Unger and Miller have done so, and have learned a lot about themselves and their role. I am also positive that with the new hire of assistant/goalkeeping coach, Molly Maloney, my goalkeepers will further develop and allow the Spartan field hockey program to compete for championships in the Big Ten Conference and qualification for the NCAA Tournament."

New Faces on the Spartan Staff
Van de Kerkhof is pleased to announce the addition of assistant coach Molly Maloney. A former goalkeeper for the University of Michigan, Maloney holds a share of six career records at Michigan. She joins MSU from Central Michigan, and previously worked with MSU assistant coach Helen Knull at Kent State.

"I'm very excited to welcome Molly to my coaching staff and the Spartan program," said Van de Kerkhof. She has been a part of Big Ten Championship teams and the 2001 National Championship team, as well as being named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in her years at Michigan. Spartan field hockey stands for pursuing excellence in athletics and academics. Therefore, I believe it's necessary to have a staff in place that has exhibited those ideals as well. In her two seasons at Central Michigan, Molly's coaching earned the Chippewa goalkeeper a spot on the All-MAC Conference Team. I'm confident Molly will bring that same coaching ability and style to our goalkeepers and help us become the best we can be."

The team also welcomes back Amy Schneider as a student coach this season. A four-year letterwinner, Schneider finished last season with a team-leading 12 assists, and added four goals. She was selected to play in the 2007 NFCHA All-Star game and earned Big Ten All-Tournament Team honors.

"What is more rewarding for a program to be able to welcome a former player back as a student coach? Amy will be a great liaison for the coaches and players this fall and she will be able to help our young back field to further develop and understand their individual and line roles. I am very happy to have Amy as part of our team and my coaching staff for another year."

Schedule
Six teams that finished in the top 20 of the final STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll highlight the 2008 MSU schedule. Four of those teams were ranked in the top 10, and three are Big Ten opponents.

The Spartans will begin their regular-season campaign in Louisville, Kentucky at the Champions Invitational Tournament on August 30 at 2 p.m. in a matchup against Delaware. MSU will face host Louisville or Duke on August 31st. Both teams were ranked in the top 20 of the final STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll.

After the Champions Invitational Tournament, the Green and White host Stanford on September 3 to open their home slate. Syracuse comes to East Lansing on September 7 before the Spartans leave on a five game road trip. MSU will take on three-time defending America East champions Boston University on September 13 before traveling to Durham, New Hampshire to take on the Wildcats. The Spartans face Miami of Ohio and Pacific in Oxford, then open conference play on September 26 at Ohio State.

The Green and White return home for three games, including a Big Ten matchup against Indiana before hitting the road. MSU travels to Northwestern for a game on October 10, and will also play Wake Forest in Evanston. The Demon Deacons finished last season ranked second, and topped MSU 3-2 in the first round of the NCAA Championship. The Spartans resume Big Ten play on October 17 with a game against Michigan.

MSU returns home on October 18 for a non-conference contest with Ohio, then finishes its home schedule with games against Big Ten Tournament champion Iowa and NCAA runner-up Penn State. The Spartans wrap-up the regular season on November 2 at Central Michigan.