WESTON, Mass. – Entering the 2019 season with experienced leadership and several talented newcomers, the Regis College field hockey team is aiming for improvement, especially within the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.
Annie Villare is in her second year as head coach of the Pride and comes into the season with a better handle on the program after taking over right before the start of the 2018 campaign. She has brought in Maria Krull, the 2017 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year while a senior at Colgate, as an assistant coach.
Krull's experience in the net should do nothing but help junior tri-captain Hope Winkin (Winslow, Maine), who will have the goalie duties all to herself after sharing the job last season. Winkin posted a .680 save percentage in 2018 and received GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors after making 14 saves in a 1-0 victory at Rivier.
"The newcomers have made strong strides in practice. Right now we are focusing on our play, and I am looking forward to everyone playing together this season," said Winkin.
In front of Winkin, junior Joslyn O'Brien (Petersham, Mass.) and sophomore Sarah Tetrault (North Easton, Mass.) will lead the Regis defense as they look to prevent the opposition from creating too many scoring chances. Another returning defender to watch is sophomore Bridget Pope (Concord, N.H.), who appeared in all 14 matches last season.
Tri-captain Sidney Lowe (Lancaster, Mass.) will anchor the Pride midfield as she remains a consistent presence in the lineup. Fellow senior Mary Costantino (Abington, Mass.) dished out two assists last season and brings energy to the squad.
At forward, senior Ashley Chipman (Stoughton, Mass.), the third captain this year, is the team's leading returning scorer with six goals in 2018. Jamie Juskiewicz (Gorham, Maine) has provided another scoring option off the bench in each of her first two seasons with the Pride, while Hope Celli (Pembroke, Mass.) showed her offensive ability during the second half of last season with four goals and one assist.
In the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Regis finished seventh with 32 points, but just one point behind sixth place Anna Maria with 33 points. With the top six teams qualifying for the GNAC Tournament, the Pride's match at Anna Maria Saturday, Oct. 5, may prove to be pivotal. Saint Joseph's College and Lasell were the unanimous choices to finish first and second, respectively, in the league this year.
Regis opens the regular season at Becker Tuesday, Sept. 3, starting at 4 p.m. The Pride look to avenge a double-overtime 2-1 loss to the Hawks last season. The home opener for the Pride takes place Saturday, Sept. 7, against Western Connecticut State beginning at 12 p.m. at Regis Stadium.