Field Hockey

2008 Season Outlook

The Notre Dame field hockey team takes the field with six new faces to add to the seven returning players as the team looks to make some noise in the newly named Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). The Gators finished the 2007 campaign with a 2-13 overall record, with both wins coming against conference opponents. The team also earned the inaugural Conference's Sportsmanship Award as voted on by the players from the Conference's 11 field hockey-playing institutions.

Co-captains Kelly Mascolo and Ashley Demski will help to lead the 2008 Notre Dame Gators. Mascolo earned All-AWCC honors while Demski earned Newcomer of the Year and All-AWCC First Team honors in 2006, a season before Notre Dame joined its current conference.

Mascolo, one of the team's best long hitters, will provide senior leadership to a Gators defense that will also be bolstered by returning senior Cassandra Weir.

The Gators' front line will be anchored by the return of juniors Whitley Noel and Caitlan Quinn along with sophomore Jill Lieberman. Noel led Notre Dame to its first conference victory in 2007, scoring the game-winning goal and posting an assist in a 2-1 overtime win over Cedar Crest.

Senior Amanda Arkwright and junior Jessica Maier will continue to split time in goal for the Gators. Maier started nine of the Gators 13 games in 2007 due to Arkwright's knee injury. Maier finished fifth in the conference last season averaging 9.89 saves per game.

A host of young returnees and neew faces will also add depth to the squad in 2008, including senior Nicole McFeaters, sophomore Alysa Younger and freshmen Veronica Aleman, Marie Geiman, Caroline Lawler and Sarah Morris.