Dartmouth Field Hockey Readies For 2019 Campaign

Even Chase Field has a new look in 2019.

Photo by: Pat Salvas

Dartmouth Field Hockey Readies For 2019 Campaign

8/28/2019 10:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Big Green kick off 2019 season next Friday (Sept. 6) at Northeastern

By: Pat Salvas

HANOVER, N.H. – With the end of summer, comes the start of teams returning to campus for preseason training. The Dartmouth field hockey team is one of those groups matriculating back to Hanover to begin preparations for the upcoming 2019 season.

With the 2018 campaign in the rearview mirror and the spring exhibition season past, the attention turns to the fall season where a complete roster that includes the Class of 2023 will all be together for the first time in more than nine months.

Starting a week later than the past two seasons gives the Big Green more time to hone their skills as a new unit, while also playing in two preseason games that can serve as an even greater teaching tool than just practice can provide.

A veteran team looking to leave their mark and move out of the middle of the Ivy League pack, this year's team boasts 14 returning letter winners. The aforementioned Class of 2023 includes six new names to the mix as Hatley Post, Amélie Perrier, Margaret Barnes, Holley Cromwell, Lauren Devletian and Myah Pease are all set to make their Dartmouth debuts.

Amy Fowler begins her 20th season as head coach of the Big Green this fall. The longest-tenured coach in program history, she is also the winningest and captured her 150th victory on the team's sideline last year in a thriller at Columbia. Fowler is once again joined by longtime colleague and associate head coach Pattie Gillern as well as Taylor Rideout for her second year as an assistant.

The 2019 season gets started on the road at Northeastern on Friday, Sept. 6 in a game that will be carried live on NESNplus. Dartmouth plays its home opener two days later at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8 against UMass, debuting the program's new turf field.

"Expectations are high for this squad. They have diligently worked to prepare themselves physically and have prioritized a 'no-excuses' mentality," Fowler said. "Their energy is infectious, and we're all eager to get started!"

COACH FOWLER'S KEYS TO SUCCESS:
1. Being finishers with and without the ball. We need to capitalize on our scoring opportunities and to be stingier on defense.
2. Retention of tactics and strengthening our hockey IQ
3. We will "Embrace the Chase!" The DFH19 squad is motivated to achieve something we haven't in the recent past. We will attack this season with a renewed commitment to be the best we can be every day.

CAPTAINS
The 2019 team will be led by seniors Katie Spanos and Jocelyn Wulf. Spanos will serve as the captain, while Wulf assumes the role of assistant captain. There have been 79 individuals who have served in the role of captain in program history, making Spanos and Wulf, 80th and 81st, respectively in 48 years of Dartmouth field hockey.

POSITIONAL BREAKDOWNS

FORWARDS
Holley Cromwell (FR), Tatum Schultz (JR), Katie Spanos (SR), Jocelyn Wulf (SR), Kira Koehler (JR), Lia Constantine (JR), Gracyn Campbell (SO), Carmen Braceras (SR)
Front and center when it comes to the offense, the forward group features seven players dedicated to the position and Carmen Braceras, who can play on the front line or in the midfield. Spanos is the unquestioned leader of the group, having posted team highs in goals and points in each of the last two seasons and earning All-Ivy League First Team honors last year and Second Team recognition in 2017.

Coach Fowler says: "Our forward line returns seasoned veterans and adds a couple new faces to the group. This line has speed, creativity and depth. We're super excited to see how effective these guys can be this season!"

MIDFIELDERS
Amélie Perrier (FR), Taylor Hantman (JR), Margaret Barnes (FR), Katie Persin (SR), Maddie Donahue (SR), Cecelia Monnin (SO)
In the midfield, a lead-by-committee group will be the way in the early season. Hantman and Persin provide the veteran presence to complement rookies Perrier and Barnes. Both returning players started in all 17 games a season ago and added depth to the scoring attack as Hantman tied for second on the team in assists and Persin was third on the team in scoring. Both Donahue and Monnin can play well at both midfield and defense and are expected to contribute in both areas of the field.

Coach Fowler says: "The midfield also showcases a handful of returning starters, along with a high level of talent in our rookie group. Our expectations are for this unit to become a more significant threat on attack as well as helping us to anchor our team defense."

DEFENSE
Lauren Devletian (FR), Bee Hollyer (JR), Myah Pease (FR), Jensen Palmer (JR), Sara Falkson (SO), Maddie Donahue (SR), Cecelia Monnin (SO)
The previously discussed Donahue and Monnin will also be slotted in here. Of the returning true-defenders, sophomore Sara Falkson played the most last season, starting in 16 games and playing in all 17 and finishing third in the Ivy League with five defensive saves. Palmer will look to add more minutes on the backend in her third season with the Green and White.

Coach Fowler says: "Our deep defense is youthful and ready to step up to the challenge of proving themselves. The returning upperclassmen group developed nicely last spring and we'll inject a couple rookie options into the mix as well. We're anxious to see how quickly this group can establish themselves as a force on the pitch!"

GOALKEEPERS
Isabella Santucci (SO), Hatley Post (FR)
There will be a new name and number in the cage this summer with two players vying for time. Santucci played just a handful of minutes in the second game of the season in her first year behind Hailey Valerio. The sophomore will battle incoming goalkeeper and Texas native Hatley Post for time as the duo will make up Dartmouth's defensive anchor.

Coach Fowler says: "Between the pipes, Bella and Hatley will take over the reins left with Hailey's departure. Bella had a very strong spring, and Hatley's coming off an excellent high school and club career, with experience at the junior national level. Across our deep defense, we'll need to embrace our youth and step up our communication to be able to organize early and effectively this year."

PRESEASON POLLS
The 2019 Ivy League preseason poll was announced on Wednesday, August 28. The BIg Green were slotted sixth in a vote conducted by league representatives and media members.

2019 Ivy League Field Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. Princeton (9)      121
2. Harvard (7)         118
3. Penn                    93
4. Yale                     70
5. Columbia             63
6. Dartmouth           47
7. Cornell                34
8. Brown                  30