2009 Season Outlook

            Baby steps.

            When Head Coach Jackie Kane saw an opportunity to join America East, she embraced the challenge with the expectation that her program would evolve over the course of a few seasons. She knew that it would be difficult at first, but with patience, hoped that her team would be able to make a mark on the league.

            After going winless in America East in 2007, the Stags made strides in year two which included a shot at one of the coveted four conference tournament slots going into the final weekend. Although the Stags came up short, Coach Kane realized that her team was on the precipice of becoming a more consistent competition in America East.

            With that in mind, Fairfield field hockey fans look forward to the 2009 season with great anticipation, knowing that a more experienced team waits to take the field in early September. And with that experience comes expectations which the 2009 edition proudly accepts.

            Three of the team's top five scorers will return for the upcoming campaign, starting with last year's leader Marit Westenberg. As a freshman, Westenberg registered 15 points with six goals and three assists. She was second to Molly Byrnes for the most goals, as the senior tallied seven goals for 14 points. Byrnes returns as a graduate student this year, which should provide the Stags with a solid one-two combination up front that will cause concern for both America East and non-conference opponents.

            Carly McCullough comes back for her fourth season as a starter, spending most of her time as a midfielder. She played in all 18 games last season, extending her streak to 55 straight games played as a Stag. She enjoyed her best season offensively in 2008, netting three goals and an assist for seven points, more than tripling her career point total.

            Seniors Sarah Borton and Katherine Donovan will have supporting this year as they come back from injuries during the 2008 campaign.

            Jill Piacquadio rounds out the senior class, offering her teammates a legitimate threat around the goal. The forward picked up an assist last season in the Sacred Heart game. She was one of eight student-athletes to appear in all 18 games last season, which included three starts.

            The junior class also gives Coach Kane many options on the field. Anne Nieuwenhuis provides support around the goal, contributing primarily as a defender. She  netted a goal and an assist for three points a year ago. She has the ability to find open space inside the circle which allows her to apply pressure, and has the traits to shutdown the opposition's top offensive threats..

Michelle Onofrio Alexandria Hein, Justine LeBlanc, and Amanda Sullivan will contribute at the midfield position. Hein picked up an assist last season in the Maine game. She came off the bench for all 15 of her appearances and played in all but one America East game. Le Blanc also registered an assist during the 2008 campaign, earning the point in a win over Siena. She started two of her 16 appearances, including the Siena contest. Onofrio garnered a pair of starting assignments, but contributed primarily as a reserve. She was on the field for all three Fairfield shutouts.

Sullivan rounds out the trio of midfielders, playing in 13 games as a sophomore. She received three starting assignments during the season, two of which were against America East foes.

Julianne Bosse and Melanie Leo will return as defenders in this year's lineup. Leo played in all 18 games in her second season with the Stags, starting all but one outing. She recorded the first points of her career with a pair of assists, setting up a goal against New Hampshire and Virginia Commonwealth. Bosse returns for her third season with the program, gaining entry to 10 games as a sophomore. She gained her only start of the season against Quinnipiac, the same game in which she tallied her first career point with an assist.

Alex Hein will be out of the lineup this year after spending 15 games in the lineup last year. She tallied an assist in the Maine game a year ago.

The sophomore class brings a goalkeeper, three forwards, and two midfielders to the mix in 2009. Caitlin O'Donnell will try to work her way into the lineup as a goalkeeper this year after missing last season with injury. She has a well-rounded background that could help her challenge for playing time.

Up front, Hilary Burns, Kaitlyn Devlin and Westenberg will contribute as forwards this season. Burns appeared in 14 games, the most among the second-year midfielders. She tallied a goal in the Stags win against Siena. While she served as a reserve last season, Burns will try to grab a starting spot this year. Westenberg, an All-America East selection as a rookie, developed into one of the top offensive players in the conference with six goals and three assists.

The midfield appears secure with Kaitlyn Devlin, Taylor Callahan and Leah Furey. Devlin could make a run at quality minutes this season after learning the collegiate game last season. Callahan also grabbed an assist in her rookie campaign, setting up a goal against Holy Cross. She played in 12 games, all of which came as a reserve.

Furey did not appear in any games last season due to an injury. She is an all-around player who may work for quality minutes this year.

Seven student-athletes will make their college debut this season for the Stags. Amanda Bassiacos and Maddy Sposito are two candidates vying for the starting goalkeeper position in 2009. Bassiacos made 426 career saves at Ridge High School where she posted a career 1.82 goals against average and a .830 save percentage. Sposito tallied a 0.84 goals against average as a senior, which placed her on the All-State team at Ridgefield High School (Conn.).

Forwards Molly Caffery and Gianna Marro have the talent to make a contribute offensively. Caffery comes to Fairfield University after a successful career at Thayer Academy. Her success as a goal scorer at Thayer may translate into a reserve role for the upcoming season. Marro helped Smithtown East capture the county championship with a 15-4 record last season. She was an All-State and All-County student-athlete.

Midfielders Allie Hunt and Amanda Keller will help ensure success in the center of the field. Hunt netted 16 goals and 23 assists during her four years at Rumson Fair Haven High School. She was a two-time team most valuable player after scoring four goals and seven assists as a junior and three goals with six assists as a senior.

Keller enjoyed four seasons at Garden City High School where she finished her career with 20 goals and 189 assists. She was an All-County and All-State player during her career, and served her teammates as a captain in 2008.

With a roster that has experience and talent, Coach Kane looks forward to making her mark in America East. It's the natural progression for a program taking baby steps.