BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Long-term goals keep athletes focused, determined and on top of their games.
For the Moravian College Field Hockey team, the goal is to take the next step and finally chase down that elusive postseason berth. Head Coach Amy Endler's squad is heading in the right direction coming off an 8-9 campaign in 2012, which included an impressive 7-1 mark on home turf.
"Our overall goal for the season is to make the Landmark Conference playoffs," said Endler, a 1993 graduate of Moravian and 11th-year head coach. "It's never happened before in any league we've played in and we have been so close the last couple of years."
The Greyhounds have had a productive preseason thus far and Endler is pleased to see her returning players meshing nicely and filling in some of the gaps left by last year's graduating class. Along with making the playoffs, the Greyhounds will be gunning to prove they belong in the Landmark title discussion. Endler feels being picked in the bottom half of the preseason poll will serve as motivation this fall.
"We have some replacing to do and we have some great returning players to do just that," Endler said. "It's motivational for us to try to prove some people wrong and surprise the conference."
One of those returnees is senior captain Chelsea Grotyohann, who will reprise her role in the Greyhound's midfield. While field vision and ball distribution are her strong suits, she also found the goal three times last season. As in previous years, Grotyohann will be a force on corner set plays for Moravian.
"Nothing rattles her," Endler said. "She's very smooth on the field and she makes people around her better. Her stick skills are excellent and she knows the game. I'm looking forward to seeing her blossom this year."
Senior defender Erin Gilbert has been selected by her teammates to serve as co-captain for 2013. While playing in 15 games as a junior, she recorded three defensive saves.
Senior Keriann Badessa and junior Catherine Duffin also return to the Blue and Grey after leading the attack in 2012. Badessa, who notched eight goals and two assists last year, will be moving to forward when the ball is dropped on the 2013 season. Duffin boasts a strong shot and will remain a force up front after registering eight goals and eight assist one year ago, when she was named to the Landmark All-Conference Second Team for the second straight year.
The Moravian goal scorers will feel more comfortable thanks to some solid goaltending behind them. Senior Andrea Eck appears to have the position won out of preseason camp with a talented freshman Megan Kanyuk waiting in the wings. Eck played in five games in 2012 and her skills have been sharpened by battling for the starting position during her career at Moravian.
"She's learned she has to work hard and fight for everything," Endler said. "She will move that attitude forward to this season."
Sophomore Kelly O'Donnell looks to build on a stellar rookie campaign in which she scored seven goals, two of which were game-winners.
The field hockey team took advantage of the ability to travel overseas during this past offseason. Endler and the Greyhounds took a trip to Bermuda, where they played a few games, spent quality time together, and experienced the beautiful pink sand and crystal-clear waters.
Endler said the best part of the trip, aside from getting some much-needed playing time, was the personal interaction between teammates. In that section of the world, cell phone service is spotty at best, so the student-athletes were able to bond and nurture new friendships.
They also learned to make the best out of a bad situation. The Greyhounds had planned to go to Elbow Beach, one of the most popular destinations on the island. The weather did not cooperate, however. Thunderstorms and a forecast of doom and gloom cancelled their plans.
"The girls were upset," Endler said. "At the resort, they had events to occupy people in events of bad weather. So I said, 'Girls, we're going to Bingo.' They weren't thrilled about it. We started playing Bingo and of course we get competitive."
At one point, the number caller asked the players to guess what the next Bingo ball would be. Duffin, who wears No. 23 on her uniform, guessed I23. To everyone's surprise, she was correct and the junior forward won a pack of cookies.
Assistant Coach Natasha Tukeva won a game of Bingo and a rum cake. The girls also had a laugh when a little boy from England would imitate the calling of the numbers in funny voices. The experience taught the Greyhounds that you can turn ruined plans into a great day, which can very well translate to the 2013 season.
Whether it's in Bermuda or on Moravian's campus, Endler wants her team to establish a sense of maturity and pride when putting on the Blue and Grey.
"When they put on the uniform, I want them to be beaming and not take it for granted," Endler said. "I want them to mingle with the alumni, I want them to respect what has come before them. There's history here at Moravian and they should be very proud. They understand they're part of something bigger than themselves."
The next chapter of that history begins Saturday, August 31 when the Greyhounds host DeSales University at 1 p.m. at Rocco Calvo Field.
