North Penn Field Hockey Preview

NORTH PENN FIELD HOCKEY PREVIEW

Coach:  Shannon McCracken (5^th year)

Assistant coaches:  Carolyn Edwards, Heather Mellow, Beth DeFeo

Last year’s record:  9-9 overall, 8-6 SOL, lost to Methacton in opening round of District One playoffs

Key losses:  Jenn DeLongis (midfield, all-league second team, Lafayette), Emma Herb (forward, all-league second team), Sophie Kim (back, all-league honorable mention, Johns Hopkins), Abbie Roberts (forward, Ursinus)

Returning starters:  Mikayla Barrow (Jr., forward), Amber Blackshear (Sr., midfield, all-league honorable mention), Erica Kelly (Jr., back), Brianna O’Donnell (Jr., forward, all-league first team, all-state first team), Seema Sajjan (Sr., midfield, all-league third team), Brynne Schoppe (Sr., GK, all-league third team)

Others to watch:  Tori Bickel (Sr., forward), Emily Crawford (So., forward), Alli Dickinson (Sr., back), Lauryn Fahey (Jr., midfield/back), Karli Marger (Sr., back), Morgan Rees (Jr., midfield), Julia Scanlon (Jr., midfield), Madison Stotler (So., forward), Jenna Whitman (Sr., back)

Strengths:  Experience, work ethic, speed of play, forwards are dynamic, team chemistry.

Question marks:  How quickly the defense can gel (new players in the backfield)

Outlook:  “The 2016 team is looking forward to competing in the strong Continental Conference and playing several non-league games against many top teams in the Suburban One League. The team has come into preseason excited and in great shape. Senior captains Amber Blackshear, Seema Sajjan, Brynne Schoppe look to lead this team to success.”