Season Outlook
After back-to-back seven win seasons the Haverford College field hockey team is primed to make the Centennial Conference playoffs in 2008. The Fords return seven starters from a team that went 7-11 a year ago.
The Cast
Although seven starters return this season Haverford must replace 29 goals from graduates Colleen Farrell, Sarah Walker and Meeran Ahn. Alex Waleko tallied six goals and two assists last season. The sophomore will be looked upon in corner situations in 2008. Junior Ariel Herm and senior Zoe Lloyd combined for five goals and 13 assists last year.
Senior Sarah Graves and junior Grace Bundens should both see time in goal for the Fords. Graves recorded 91 saves and two shutouts in 17 starts a year ago. Bundens suffered a season-ending injury in the 2007 preseason, but she made 74 saves and had one shutout as a freshman.
Senior Julia McGuire and sophomore Patrice Harkins are the Fords only returnees on defense. McGuire was an honorable mention All-Centennial Conference selection in 2006. Last season she made two defensive saves in 18 games played. Harkins played in 17 games and started 13 a season ago making a team-high six defensive saves.
The Schedule
Haverford opens their 2008 season with a pair of games on the road before returning home to play their first game on the newly turfed Swan Field where they will play host to Rowan (N.J.) University, a national tournament Sweet 16 squad last year and the 2002 national champion. The road does not get any easier for the Fords during the 2008 campaign as they travel to Ursinus College in mid-September to square off against the 2006 national champion and No. 3 team in the nation at the end of last season, then play host to 2007 national semifinalist Lebanon Valley in a mid-October match-up on Swan Field.