A New Era Begins - August 31, 2016

A new era is dawning for the Moravian College Field Hockey team in 2016.  Betty Prince Field had been our home for 47 years and served us well over the years, but now it is time for us to embrace the brand new turf on John Makuvek field and leave a legacy that those ‘Hockey Hounds who came before us will be proud.  

Preseason has ended and we are about to start our season.  The student-athletes worked hard during two-a-day sessions and are eager to get on the field and show their skills.  This year’s roster is filled with local talent as well as a wealth of youth with 13 underclassmen making up a majority of the team.  

Our leadership will come this year from 5 seniors who have been with the program for four years.  Christina Duddy, Megan Kanyuk, Shauna Poling, Kyla Rodrigues, and Erin Tiwold have been integral parts of our team and they have all improved their skills over the years.  I am so happy that they will be leading this team as the first to play on the new turf field.  The underclassmen are lucky to have such good leadership both on the field and in the classroom.

We welcome to our staff this year, Phil Danaher who has a wealth of experience on every level of field hockey including international play with USA Field Hockey.  We are lucky to have him on our sidelines teaching and guiding our team.  Emily Marley ‘15 returns as our graduate assistant and her work in the office and on the field is invaluable.  The staff is certainly ready to begin this new era.

Many thanks to our alumni who continue to support our program and stay connected.  I look forward to seeing many of you at our alumni event on September 17th.  The bonds that we share as ‘Hockey Hounds run deep and they can never be broken and it is something that I hope you cherish.

Please remember to follow us on social media and I hope to see you all at a game very soon.

Amy Endler’ 93

Head Field Hockey Coach

Spring Non-Traditional Season Update - April 2, 2015

Well the calendar says it is spring, but Mother Nature has not received the memo yet!  Spring practices have begun and we are eager to get back out on the field after the long winter. The spring season always goes by very fast, but it does give us plenty of time to work on skills that we may not have a chance to improve upon during the regular season. Individual skills will get better through repetition of stick work, passing, shooting, and defensive drills and therefore the team will see improvement come August. We all look forward to our one play day that we have in April over in Allentown as a chance to compete against teams we may see in the fall. The players have been working hard with our strength and conditioning coach since January so I am expecting our fitness level to be much improved. 

Our fall season ended on a high note as we won our final game of the season against conference opponent Drew in OT. It was the first time we had beaten Drew since the conference formed in 2007. It was a great way to send our 6 seniors out with a bang! Senior Catherine Duffin made it 4 for 4 by being selected to the All-Landmark Conference 2nd team in the fall to go along with her 1st team honor in 2013, and 2nd team honors in 2011, & 2012. She finished her career first all-time in assists, second in goals, and third in total points. The team also did a fantastic job in the classroom by having 11 players selected to the Landmark Conference All-Academic team. We also had three players, Taylor Holly, Rebecca Hamel, and Kyla Rodrigues, achieve NFHCA Distinguished Scholar accolades for maintaining an overall GPA above 3.90! So very proud of the work the team does in the classroom.

We will be hosting two field hockey clinics on April 25th & 26th for field hockey players in grades 5-12. Spread the word to any and all that may be interested. You can register and find a brochure on our website. 

I thank you all for your continued support and I hope you are keeping up with the latest happenings with the Moravian Field Hockey team through social media. Like us on Facebook “Moravian College Field Hoceky”; follow us on Twitter “@MoravianFH; and now on Instagram “moravian_fh”. 

Happy Spring everyone.

2014 September Season Update - September 26, 2014

The 2014 season is well underway and we are just about to embark on the Landmark portion of our schedule.  Our non-conference games have been preparing us for what lies ahead, which is our ultimate goal of making the conference playoffs.  We have a veteran team with seven seniors leading the way.  We also have some new faces on the sidelines in two new assistant coaches, Bethany Vincent and Emily Stull.  The addition of these two women to our staff, have added enthusiasm and fresh ideas to our team. 

Last weekend we hosted our annual alumni event.  This was the first time we had the alumni game during the season and I believe the new format was well received.  It also marked the first time we played the game on the turf at Rocco Calvo field.  While many missed the close confines and grass of Betty Prince Field, it was a new experience, as all but one player ever played on the turf.  Seventeen alumni made their way to Bethlehem and 15 of us were brave enough to put on shin guards and take the field.   Following the game, friends and family, along with the alumni, gathered under the Blue & Grey Pavilion to enjoy food, drinks, and friendship.  All those in attendance were treated to a great game versus FDU-Florham where the Greyhounds shutout the Devils 2-0.  After the game, friends and family of the current team celebrated our victory with our family day festivities which included delicious homemade dishes and desserts.

Off the field our team has been busy in the community as well.  We have partnered with Broughal Middle School's 7th and 8th grade field hockey team for the season.  The team was our guest at our first home game where we got to know each other after the game.  We have since attended several of their practices helping them with their stick work, passing, and overall play.  We also attended one of their games to cheer them on.  It is great to see our current players helping to grow the game with the younger generation.  We also participated in the Lehigh Valley Heart and Stroke walk, a cause that is very important to me.  At Moravian College we truly believe that it is important to give back to the community that we are a part of and instill these values to our student-athletes.

With ten games remaining in our season, there are still plenty of opportunities to come see our team play.  I believe that this team has what it takes to reach our goal.  The players are working hard and are an exciting group to watch.  I thank you for your continued support and hope to see you at a game soon.  Go ‘Hounds.

Coach Endler

2014 Spring Update - May 20, 2014

Happy Spring everyone, although as I sit here watching a torrential downpour outside and see my winter coat in the corner of my office, it is hard to believe it actually is spring!  Despite the cold weather and the frequent days of rain, we were able to have a productive spring field hockey season.  I saw improvement in all of the players who are returning for the 2014 season.  They have been working hard off the field getting stronger and faster with our strength and conditioning Coach Spencer Brown.  In our annual 7 v 7 tournament over at Muhlenberg College we competed against several teams that we will face in the fall.  With two teams entered, everybody received plenty of playing time and it was an opportunity for me to see players performing in pressure situations.  It was a beautiful day and a complete success in my mind.  I believe that the players left the field with high energy and ready to continue their offseason training in order to compete at a high level during the fall.

Many thanks go out to Stacey Cupples ’05 who stepped in to serve as my assistant coach this spring.  She provided enthusiasm for the program and knowledge of the game that the players really respected.  With the departure of Coach Tasha in December, the field hockey intern position had been vacant.  After a search and interview process I am happy to say that Franklin & Marshall College 2014 graduate Bethany Vincent will be stepping into that position this summer.   A Centennial Conference first team member and South Region First Team All-American, Bethany won a Centennial Conference Championship and reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament while at F&M.  She will bring championship experience, love for the game, and a desire to help us achieve our goals, both on and off the field.  I look forward to her joining our Greyhound Family.

Our hopes are high for the fall with a strong class of rising seniors, most of whom who have been playing together for four years, leading the way.    The junior class will provide experience and toughness.  And with a season under their belt, the sophomores are eager to challenge the upperclassmen for playing time.

Attention all alumni: the alumni game this year will be in early to mid-September.  I will finalize the date in the coming weeks, so be on the lookout for information on our website and Facebook page.  Speaking of Facebook, if you have not liked our page yet, please do so.  We are also on Twitter @MoravianFH, so follow us throughout our season.  I wish everyone a wonderful summer and hope to see you at a game or two in the fall.

Coach Endler

2013 Season Review - November 26, 2013

It seems like just yesterday that it was August and we were returning from our preseason trip to Bermuda to embark on our 2013 season.  Now the wind is blowing and the temperature has dropped and another season is in the history books. This year’s team made its mark in several ways:  We had a 5 game winning streak, the longest streak since 1992.  After 11 games our record stood at 8-3, the best start since 1996.  Catherine Duffin became the first Moravian field hockey player to be named 1st team All-Landmark Conference.  

Overall, I am pleased with the progress that we continue to make on the field.  While we did not achieve the ultimate goal of reaching the Landmark playoffs, we are certainly getting closer and know that it is within our reach.  Our goal will continue to strive for playoffs, as well as turn those five one goal loses into wins.  The players will be working hard in the off season with our strength and conditioning staff to get stronger and faster.  We have a good nucleus returning and with the addition of a good recruiting class the future looks very good for Moravian Field Hockey.

We are graduating four seniors who have certainly made their mark on our program over the last 4 years.  Their leadership, dedication, and hard work, have turned this program around from winning just 5 games in their freshman year to finishing the final 3 years over .500.  Kerri Badessa, a second team All-Landmark Conference member for 2013, only played 2 seasons for us, but her 16 goals and 4 assists during her time, certainly made an impact.  A two year starter in goal, Andrea Eck has left her mark in the Greyhound record books.  She finished her career 4th in goalie shutouts with 6, 4th in goals against average with 1.76, and 5th in career goalie wins with 18.  Andrea is also in the top 10 in the following categories: goalie save %, career saves, and career minutes played.  She is also a three-time member of the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll. 

Co-captain Erin Gilbert showed her skills on the defensive end with her intensity and aggressiveness.  She too left her name in the record book with her second place position in career and season defensive saves.  Chelsea Grotyohann, a four year starter at midfield and a captain this year, helped elevate the level of play of her teammates.  A tireless worker, Chelsea always held herself and her teammates to a higher standard.  She was named to the inaugural Landmark Conference Sportsmanship team.  We wish the class of 2014 all the best in their future endeavors.  They can move on to their next stage of life confident in the fact that they left the Moravian College Field Hockey program in a better place then they found it. 

Thank you to our fans who supported us throughout the year.  It was always a great feeling to know that we had so many people behind us pushing us through the tough times.  I wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season. 

Coach Endler

Summer Update - July 12, 2013

Happy Summer Everyone,

As usual the summer is flying by.  In one month the team will once again take to the skies and head to beautiful Bermuda for 5 days of sun, sand, and skilled field hockey.  The team is excited for the trip and the opportunity to bond and get in a few more days of preseason.  Be sure to follow our trip on our Facebook Page and the blog that we will have chronicling our adventures that will be on our website.

Even with the departure of 4 very talented seniors, we are looking forward to the 2013 season.  We want to break that playoff drought and I think with the returning players and the addition of 6 skilled freshmen, we will have what it takes to get over that hump.  We are also excited to be playing 5 of our home games on the turf at Rocco Calvo Field.  The venue is perfect for watching field hockey games, so I hope you can make it out to a game or two.

Saturday August 24th is a big day as it will be our annual alumni game.  Mark your calendars now for 1pm on Betty Prince Field for an afternoon of fun and camaraderie.  Come on out to see what the 2013 version of the hockey hounds is all about and reconnect with teammates and friends.  Details will be forthcoming, so be on the lookout for it.

That’s all for now, check back in a month or so to read about our Bermuda experience.

Coach Endler

Previewing 2012 & Annual Alumni Game - August 30, 2012 

Preseason is over and school has started and our first game is three days away.  I am very excited for the 2012 season.  This year we have less than 2 weeks to prepare for our first game.  Preseason was fast and furious with a scrimmage against East Stroudsburg University on only the fourth day of practice!  Despite the short amount of time, our team is progressing very well.  Battling ESU to a 2-1 loss boosted our confidence as they are going to be one of the best teams we play all year.  The fact that we have 14 returning letter winners has also helped in our transition to the new season.   Our five freshmen and two transfers have been great additions to our team and are fitting in very nicely.  We have our top 6 scorers back from last year, so we are looking for an explosive attack on the offensive end of the field.  Our seniors, Catherine Gottlieb, Stephanie Pezzello, Tori Poliskiewicz, and Briana VanBuskirk, are providing great leadership to this relatively young team, and want to build on our success from last season. 

A highlight of the preseason was our annual alumni game.  We had a fantastic turnout this year with 19 alumni returning to Betty Prince Field, with 16 actually playing in the game.  It was great to see so many faces and watch their families cheer them on.  The picnic afterwards was a fun time to mingle with the current team and exchange stories of our time at Moravian.  I hope that the game continues to grow and more alumni come out to experience this event.

Thank you for all of your support.  I hope to see you at a game or two this season, as I think we will be an exciting team to watch. 

Alumni who participated in our game August 25, 2012:

Bev Bell ’56, Bertie Francis Knisely ’69, Wendy Novak ’89, Amy Endler ’93, Audrey Weaver Sparks ’98, Amy Kranchalk ’05, Stacee Cupples ’06, Amanda Gaun Miller ’07, Kim Gialanella ’07, Laura Boyd ’09, Julia Garofalo ’09, Samantha Bell ’10, Julie Bisci ’10, Sarah Carman ’11, Alexandra Lopez ’11, Becky Renaldo ’11, Vita Ranella ’11,  Maureen Helfers ’11, Selena Agnor ‘12

Coach Endler

A Look Back at 2012 - January 30, 2012

The 2011 field hockey season was one of the best in recent memory.  With 10 freshmen on the roster, it looked in August that this may be a rebuilding year, that was certainly not the case.  The players accepted the challenge to be competitive, work hard, and grow as teammates and their efforts proved dividends in the end.  Our 9 wins were the second most in program history and was the first winning season since 2004.  Two players, junior forward Briana VanBuskirk, and freshman midfielder Catherine Duffin were named to the Landmark Conference 2^nd team.  Also GK Andrea Eck finished the season ranked 33^rd in Division III in goals against average with 1.58. 

The spring season is less than 2 months away and we are eager to get back on the field and continue where we left off.  The Muhlenberg 7v7 tournament in April will be a good test for us as we prepare for our 2012 season.  It should be a good one and we hope you can come out and support our team.

Coach Endler