News - Field Hockey - Athletics

Benner named Associate Head Coach

2/26/2010

Janelle (Engle) Benner enters her first season as an Associate Head Coach for the Bears. A 2006 graduate of Old Dominion University, Benner was named Division-I First Team All-American, Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the year, ODU Female Athlete of the Year, and VASID (VA Association of Sports Information Directors) Player of the Year.

A team captain for her junior and senior years, Benner led her team to three CAA Conference Championships, four NCAA tournament appearances, and two Final Four appearances. She was named to the 2005 NCAA All-Tournament Team.

Also as a senior, Benner was a 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist.

Academically, Benner graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 grade average and was named ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic First-Team All American, CAA Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, and four-time NFHCA Academic All-American.

Prior to joining Ursinus, Benner was the head coach at Manheim Central High School for three years where she led her team to three Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff appearances and two Pennsylvania District III playoff appearances.

She also was a coach for the Simply Field Hockey Club for four years, US Field Hockey Futures Elite Instructor for two years, and ODU Team Camp instructor for eight years.

In addition to coaching, Benner has played the violin since the age of three and was the former orchestra director at Manheim Central High School.

At Old Dominion, she was concertmaster of the Old Dominion Symphony Orchestra and 1^st chair violinist of the Diehn String Quartet.

Four named to ECAC All-Star squad; Thren named Offensive Player of the Year

11/30/2009

CAPE COD, Mass. – Ursinus College had four members named to the ECAC Division III Mid-Atlantic Region All-Star team on Monday.

In addition, sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) was named as the Offensive Player of the Year. She, along with junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) were named to the first-team.

Junior defender Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) was named to the second-team.

Thren, a first-team All-Centennial selection and a third-team NFHCA All-American, set the Centennial Conference record for goals in a season with 34. She finished with a team-best 74 points this season.

Yoder, the NFHCA South Region Player of the Year and first-team All-American by the NFHCA, was also named the Centennial Conference Player of the Year. She recorded 26 goals and 20 assists on the season.

Wimmer, a first-team All-Centennial pick and a second-team All-American by the NFHCA, recorded 17 goals and nine assists on the season.

Doutt, a first-team All-Centennial and first-team All-American selection by the NFHCA, recorded three goals and five assists as a defender.

Ursinus finished the season 20-3 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Semifinals for the second time in three years.

Four named All-Americans

11/24/2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Four members of the Ursinus College field hockey team were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Assocation (NFHCA) 2009 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III All-American teams on Tuesday afternoon.

Junior back Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and junior forward Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) were named to the first-team, while junior forward Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) was named to the second-team.

Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) was named third-team.

Doutt, a first-team All-Centennial Conference selection, recorded three goals and five assists as a defender. She was a first-team All-South Region pick.

Yoder, the South Region Player of the Year, scored 26 goals and recorded 20 assists on the season. She was the Centennial Conference player of the Year.

Wimmer, a first-team All-Centennial Conference selection, recorded 17 goals and nine assists on the season.

Thren, who set the Centennial Conference record for goals in a season, finished with 34 goals and a total of 74 points.

Ursinus finished 20-3 on the season and advanced to the NCAA Division III Semifinals for the second time in three years.

Bears fall in NCAA semis to top-ranked Messiah, 4-3

11/21/2009

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Top-ranked Messiah College scored three goals in a span of 4:40 in the second half, and then got the game-winner on a penalty stroke with just under ten minutes left as the Falcons (22-0) advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship with a 4-3 win over Ursinus (20-3) on Saturday afternoon in the Division III Semifinals at Mount Holyoke College.
The Bears held a 2-0 lead after one half of play, but, Messiah scored all four in the second half to win.

“It was an exciting game,” said Ursinus head coach Laura Moliken afterwards. “In the first half, we played really well and Messiah made some great adjustments in the second half.”

Messiah junior forward Kourtney Ehly scored three goals in the win, coming in the 45^th, 49^th and 50^th minute. Senior midfielder Elizabeth Ziegler scored the game-winner at 60:02 on a penalty stroke past Ursinus senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth).

For Ursinus, sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had two goals, while senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) had one. Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) each had assists.

Scott played brilliantly in the first half, making seven saves as the Falcons had 11 shots in the first 35 minutes.

“In the first half, we played great defensively,” said Scott afterwards. “It was an honor to play with such a great group of girls all season long.”

The Bears got their first penalty corner at 2:20, but Yoder drove in and was stopped, setting up another corner. That other corner was stopped by the Falcons, as junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) was unable to get a shot off in the middle of the circle.

Messiah was awarded its first penalty corner at 6:50, getting two shots off, but Scott made two great saves on the right side of the cage. Another penalty corner 15 seconds later saw the Falcons shot blocked by junior back Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin).

Messiah’s third penalty corner at 11:51 did not result on a goal as the shot was blocked.

The Falcons fourth corner of the game, at 14:48, allowed Scott to make another great save as she knocked the ball down in the air.

A shot by Messiah senior forward Katie Love was saved by Scott at 16:05, but, a corner was awarded. The ensuing corner, which saw Doutt block a shot, allowed the Falcons to get yet another corner but the Falcons did not convert.

Hooven scored her 19^th goal of the year and first of the game at 19:09 as her first shot was blocked, but, she poked it through the left side of the cage for the 1-0 lead.

Ursinus got another corner at 20:43, but, Yoder’s shot was blocked.

Thren scored her 33^rd goal of the season on an assist from Wimmer at 31:25, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead heading into the half.

Messiah cut the Bears lead to 2-1 at 45:36 as Ehly scored the first of her three goals on a high shot that went right side over Scott.

At 49:05, Messiah evened the score at 2-all when Ehly scored on an assist by senior forward Jenna Max. Off of the restart, Thren scored her lone goal of the game on an assist by Yoder for a 3-2 lead. Thren’s goal was the 34^th of the season for the sophomore.

Just over 30 seconds later, Messiah responded as Ehly drove from midfield to tie the score at 3-all.

A shot by Thren at 54:08 was saved on the line by senior defender Mary Hoover. Two shots by Ehly were saved, including one by senior back Katie Hunt (New Castle, Del./Wilmington Friends).

Ziegler was awarded a penalty stroke after a foul in the circle at 60:02, of which she converted by shooting it in the lower right half of the cage.

Ursinus did not get off a shot in the final nine minutes, but, did have three penalty corners. The last corner came at 65:11.

Ursinus was outshot 17-14, but, did have 12 penalty corners to seven for Messiah. Scott finished with seven saves in the loss, while senior goalkeeper Ashley Mowery had six saves for the Falcons.

“I’m very proud of this group,” Moliken said. “They took some lumps early and fought back. It’s an incredible accomplishment to make it to the Final Four two straight years. They have nothing to hang their head about. “

Six named All-Region; Yoder named South Region Player of the Year

11/18/2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Six members of the Ursinus College field hockey team were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Assocation (NFHCA) South Region team on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition, junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) was named the South Region Player of the Year.

Yoder, along with junior back Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic), sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) were all named to the first-team.

Junior back Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) was named to the second-team.

Yoder, the 2009 Centennial Conference Player of the Year, currently leads the squad with 71 points and 19 assists. She ranks second in goals with 36.

Doutt led a defensive unit that has given up less than one goal per game on average this season, and has held opponents scoreless in ten contests.

Hooven is fourth on the team in points with 44 and in goals with 18. She was an honorable mention selection by the Centennial Conference.

Thren set the Centennial Conference record for goals in a season with 32 this season, and is second on the team in points with 70. She was a first-team All-Conference selection.

Wimmer has 42 points (17g, 8a) and ranked fifth on the team in points and goals. She is tied for third in assists. She was also a first-team All-Centennial selection.

Weidensaul, like Doutt, has been a valuable part of the defensive unit at Ursinus.

Ursinus (20-2) takes on top-ranked Messiah at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the NCAA Division III Semifinals at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

Bears advance to NCAA Semifinals with 5-1 win over Trinity

11/15/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – For the fourth time in school history, Ursinus will be in the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship semifinals as the third-ranked Bears (20-2) defeated sixth-ranked Trinity (16-3) 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.

The Bears will face the winner of Lebanon Valley-Messiah on Saturday at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

“I’m happy for our players,” said Ursinus head coach Laura Moliken Sunday after the win. “It was a total team effort today.”

Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored two goals, including her 32^nd goal of the season with 1:02 left in the game. That 32^nd goal broke the Centennial Conference record for goals in a season. That record was previously held by former Ursinus standout Jennie Moore.

Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite), senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter), and junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) each had goals in the win.

Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) had two assists, while Zatwarnicki and junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) each had an assist.

For Trinity, sophomore defender Payson Sword had a goal, while junior forward Robyn Williams had an assist.

Ursinus started off with six shots in the first four minutes, four of which were saved by sophomore goalkeeper Gina Dinallo. Dinallo finished with 16 saves as Ursinus hammered out 36 shots.

Following a Bears penalty corner at 7:26, Wimmer scored the first goal of the game on an assist by Bayzick who inserted the corner.

Trinity answered back with eight shots in the 12 minutes, six of which were saved by Ursinus senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth). Scott had a season-high 13 saves on the afternoon.

Ursinus went up 2-0 as Yoder scored at 27:03 on a shot from the top of the circle. Trinity had a chance to cut the lead to 2-1 right before halftime, but, a shot from senior forward Carrie Wolcott was stopped on the line by junior back Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) with nine seconds left in the half.

Trinity was awarded a corner as time expired, but, could not convert.

In the second half, Thren scored on an assist from Hooven at 38:21 for a 3-0 lead.

Trinity would cut the lead to 3-1 as Sword scored off a corner at 59:27. Williams had the assist.

Ursinus had a chance to go up 4-1 at 61:43, but, Wimmer’s shot hit the post. Zatwarnicki would eventually score her 19^th goal of the season at 64:44 to give Ursinus that 4-1 lead as she tipped in a pass from Hooven.

Thren’s goal came at 68:58, as she beat the goalkeeper on the left side.

Ursinus improved to 11-4 all-time in NCAA tournament games, and won the national championship back in 2006. The Bears lost in the semifinals last season to Bowdoin. The win over Trinity was the first win by Ursinus over a team from the New England Small College Athletic Conference since the Bears defeated Williams back on November 12, 2005, in the NCAA second-round.

Bears advance to NCAA quarters with 4-0 win over Lynchburg

11/14/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus got two goals from senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) as the third-ranked Bears (19-2) advanced to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals with a 4-0 shutout over 10^th-ranked Lynchburg (18-5) on Saturday morning at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.

Zatwarnicki scored in the 10^th and 16^th minute, and also added an assist as the Bears advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the second straight season.

Zatwarnicki scored at 10:45 on a tip, following a pass from junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) for a 1-0 lead.

Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) assisted on Zatwarnicki’s second goal at 16:52 for a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Ursinus got on the board at 41:05 as junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) scored on the assist from Zatwarnicki for a 3-0 lead.

The final goal came with 27 seconds left as junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored her 16^th goal of the season.

Lynchburg, who was held to one shot in the first 35 minutes, fired off 15 shots in the second half. Six of those shots were stopped by senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth).

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Cates had six saves for the Hornets, who were outshot 23-16.

Bears set for second-round NCAAs against Lynchburg Saturday

11/13/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus will face Lynchburg at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championships.

Ursinus (18-2) received a first-round bye after defeating Johns Hopkins, 6-0, in the Centennial Conference Championship game on Sunday afternoon.

Lynchburg (18-4) won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference with a 1-0 victory over Eastern Mennonite on Saturday, then defeated Juniata College 5-3 on Wednesday afternoon in a driving rain storm.

The winner of the first game will advance to take on the winner of Saturday’s second semifinal, Trinity (Conn.) (15-2) and Middlebury (12-4).

Both teams hail from the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Trinity advanced to the title game before falling to Tufts by a 3-2 score. Trinity received a first-round bye.

Middlebury advanced to Collegeville by defeating UMass.-Dartmouth 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Saturday’s winner will play at 1 p.m. on Sunday for the right to advance to the NCAA Division III Championship Semifinals at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

Tickets for the weekend are $5 for adults and $3 for students with ID, children under 12 and senior citizens.

Five named All-CC; Yoder named Player of the Year

11/11/2009

LANCASTER, Pa. – Ursinus placed five on the All-Centennial Conference Field Hockey team on Wednesday afternoon, including the Player of the Year and the Coach of the Year. The team is voted upon by the head coaches in the conference.

Four players achieved first-team honors, including junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) who was named as the Centennial Conference Player of the Year. Yoder is joined on the first-team by junior back Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen).

Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) was named honorable mention.

In addition, head coach Laura Moliken was named as Coach of the Year for the second straight time.

Yoder, who was a second-team all-conference selection last season, led the squad in assists with 18 and had a team-high 68 points. Yoder is the seventh consecutive Ursinus player to receive Player of the Year honors.

Doutt has been a strong part of a defensive unit that has posted nine shutouts, allowed just 95 penalty corners and has held opponents to one goal per game on average.

Wimmer is fifth on the team in points with 38, and in goals with 15. She also has eight assists, which third on the squad.

Thren leads the team in goals with 30, and is one goal away from tying the Centennial Conference record for goals in a season which is held by former Ursinus standout Jennie Moore and Swarthmore’s Melissa Bonder. Her 47 career goals puts her 12^th all-time in Centennial Conference history.

Hooven ranked fourth on the team in points with 41 and is third on the team in goals with 18.

Yoder and Wimmer were also named to the All-Centennial All-Academic team which requires a student-athlete to have a GPA higher than 3.4.

Moliken, who also serves as the interim director of athletics at Ursinus, is in her 11^th year in Collegeville. She holds a 160-67 record (.705). She has led the Bears to six Centennial Conference championships, six trips to the NCAA Division III tournament, and three appearances in the championship semifinals.

Ursinus (18-2), ranked third in the latest coaches’ poll, will host either Lynchburg/Juniata on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the second-round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

Dates/times set for NCAA Regional this weekend

11/9/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Dates and times have been set for this weekend’s NCAA Division III Field Hockey regional hosted by Ursinus College on Saturday and Sunday at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.

Host Ursinus (17-2) will take on the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between Lynchburg (17-4) and Juniata (17-3) on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

In the other game, Trinity (Conn.) (15-2) will take on the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between Middlebury (11-4) and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (15-6). That game will start at 2 p.m.

The winners of both games will play at 1 p.m. on Sunday for the right to advance to Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., for the semifinals next weekend.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, children under 12 and students with ID.

Bears win title number six, with 6-0 win over Johns Hopkins

11/8/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – For the sixth straight year, Ursinus captured the Centennial Conference field hockey championship as the Bears (18-2) defeated Johns Hopkins (13-6) 6-0 at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Ursinus advances to the NCAA Division III tournament and will find out where and when the Bears are playing late Sunday night.

Junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had three goals in the game, while senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) had a goal and three assists for Ursinus.

Ursinus took a 1-0 lead at 16:04 as junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) scored unassisted off of a rebound. Wimmer then scored her first goal of the game at 27:15 off of a corner as Zatwarnicki assisted.

The Wimmer-Zatwarnicki combo scored again just 53 seconds later, as Wimmer scored off of a corner for a 3-0 lead.

In the second half, senior midfielder Sarah Brant (Collegeville, Pa./The Hill School) gave Ursinus a 4-0 lead, as she scored on an assist from sophomore back Nicole Hanby (Bear, Del./William Penn).

Wimmer’s third and final goal of the game came off of a corner, and a Zatwarnicki assist, at 62:04.

The final goal of the game was scored by Zatwarnicki with just 30 seconds left, on an assist by Yoder.

The Bears racked up 32 shots, 21 of which were saved by Johns Hopkins senior goalkeeper Sophia Tieu.

Ursinus senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) made just one save, as she faced three shots.

Bears advance to CC final with 10-2 win over Haverford

11/7/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) had three goals and an assist as third-ranked Ursinus (17-2) defeated Haverford (9-10) 10-2 Saturday afternoon in the Centennial Conference semifinals at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.

The Bears will face Johns Hopkins, as the third-seeded Blue Jays defeated Gettysburg 4-3, in the second semifinal of the day.

Ursinus held a 44-8 advantage on shots, and will try for its sixth-straight Centennial Conference title Sunday at 1 p.m.

Senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter), and sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had two goals each for Ursinus.

Ursinus took a 1-0 lead 12 minutes in when junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) scored on a rebound. The Bears added their second goal four minutes later, as Yoder scored on an assist by junior back Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin).

The lead grew to 3-0 at 19:14 when senior midfielder Sarah Brant (Collegeville, Pa./The Hill School) scored her first goal of the season on an assist by junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen).

Haverford scored its lone goal of the first half to cut the deficit to 3-1 at 22:23 when freshman midfielder Bridget Gibbons scoed her ninth goal of the season on a rebound.

Ursinus added two more goals before the end of the half, as Yoder scored at 23:29, followed by a goal from Thren at 28 minutes even for a 5-1 halftime lead.

In the second half, Haverford got on the board as sophomore midfielder Juliana Morgan-Trostle scored on a shot between the pads of Ursinus senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) at 36:08 for a 5-2 Ursinus lead.

From that points, Ursinus went up 6-2 at 39:43 when Yoder scored her third goal of the game, followed by a goal from senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) at 41:08 on an assist by Yoder.

Weidensaul scored her lone goal of the game at 50:15 when she blasted a shot from the left side, for a 8-2 lead.

Zatwarnicki then scored at 59:46 on an assist from junior back Lindsay Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), followed by the last goal of the game from Thren at 63:38.

Scott finished with one save in 46 minutes, while junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) held the Fords scoreless in 24 minutes.

For Haverford, junior Maggie Cronin had six saves in the first half, while freshman goalkeeper Sydney Hyder had 14 saves in the second half.

Bears to host Haverford on Saturday in CC semis

11/5/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus will be facing Haverford in the Centennial Conference Field Hockey championship semifinals on Saturday morning at 11 at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.

The Fords, the fourth-seed in the tournament, advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 win over Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday night at Swan Field.

The Bears, ranked third in Division III and are the top seed in the tournament, defeated the Fords back on October 13, by a score of 8-1 on the Main Line.

Ursinus is seeking its sixth straight Centennial Conference championship, while the Fords are into the semifinals for the first time in school history.

The winner of the first semifinal will face the winner of the second semi, pitting second-seed Gettysburg against third-seed Johns Hopkins. The two schools will meet at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Blue Jays won the regular season meeting between the two schools 2-1 in penalty strokes in Baltimore, Md., back on September 19. This is a rematch of the 2008 Centennial Conference semifinals, in which the Blue Jays prevailed 2-0.

The championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. start on Sunday.

Yoder named CC FH Offensive Player of the Week

11/3/2009

LANCASTER, Pa. – Ursinus College field hockey junior forward Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) was named as the Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon by the conference office.

Yoder had two goals and five assists in a 2-0 week for the Bears, including two goals and three assists in a win over Johns Hopkins on Saturday.

For the season, Yoder has 21 goals and 16 assists for 58 points.

Ursinus (16-2, 10-0 Centennial), who is ranked third in the latest Division III Coaches’ Poll, will host either F&M or Haverford on Saturday morning in the second round of the Centennial Conference playoffs.

Eight is enough for Bears in 8-3 win over Hopkins

10/31/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) each scored two goals as third-ranked Ursinus (16-2, 10-0 Centennial) defeated 17^th-ranked Johns Hopkins (12-5, 7-3 Centennial) 8-3 on Saturday.

Ursinus, who had clinched the top seed in the upcoming Centennial Conference tournament, outshot the Blue Jays 52-7 in the rout.

The Bears got on the board at 6:01 as Zatwarnicki scored unassisted for a 1-0 lead. Hopkins tied the score at 1-all at 7:54 left when Ariana Branchini scored on assists from Jenn Motylinski and Brittany Bland.

Thren scored her first goal of the game at 23:46 on an assist from junior midfielder BridgetResetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West), followed by a goal from junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) on assists from Yoder and junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) at 23:50 for a 3-1 lead.

Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) had her first goal of the game at 32:20 on an assist by Resetco for a 4-1 lead at the half.

In the second half, Yoder scored her first goal of the game at 42:02 for a 5-1 lead. Hopkins got to within 5-2 at 47:19 as Lindsay McKenna scored unassisted.

Ursinus then scored four straight goals to close the game, as Yoder scored her second goal of the game at 50:50 for a 6-2 lead, followed by a goal from Zatwarnicki on a Yoder assist at 54:20 for a 7-2 lead.

Thren scored on an assist from at 55:21.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) had one save in 50 minutes, while junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) had two saves in the final 20 minutes.

For Hopkins, Sophia Tieu had 13 saves in 50 minutes, with Kim Stein having nine saves in 20 minutes.

Bears blank Shorewomen, 9-0; Clinch CC home field

10/28/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Third-ranked Ursinus locked up home field advantage for the Centennial Conference playoffs Wednesday night, blanking Washington 9-0 at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.

The Bears (15-2, 9-0 Centennial) outshot the Shorewomen (6-10, 3-6 Centennial) 36-7 in the win, and had 20 penalty corners, including 13 in the first half.

Junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) had three goals, while junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) each had two assists.

Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) had a goal and two assists.

Ursinus started early, scoring 5:47 into the game as Resetco scored off of a restart for a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored her league leading 26^th goal of the season on a rebound at 9:55 for a 2-0 lead.

Resetco’s second goal came at 11:29 on an assist from Zatwarnicki for a 3-0 lead, followed by a goal from Hooven off of a junior back Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) assist at 12:31 for a 4-0 advantage.

Junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) had her ninth goal of the season, on a Hooven assist at 19:09 to make the score 5-0 Bears, followed by a goal from Hooven at 29:25 for a 6-0 halftime edge. Yoder had the assist on the goal.

Just 35 seconds into the second half, junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had her 11^th goal of the year on an assist from Zatwarnicki for a 7-0 lead.

Resetco’s hat trick came at 40:10 on an assist from Yoder for an 8-0 score, followed by a goal form Zatwarnicki at 61:16 for the 9-0 final score.

Three goalkeepers combined on the shutout for Ursinus, senior Erica Scott (Carneys Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth), junior LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./The George School) and sophomore Jill Lukens (Furlong, Pa./C.B. East). Scott had one save, while Lightwood-Mater had three.

For Washington, senior goalkeeper Elena Nicholoff had 13 saves, while junior Shannon Davis had four assists in 22 minutes of play.

Ursinus will host 17^th-ranked Johns Hopkins at high noon on Saturday.

Bears blank Garnet, 9-0

10/21/2009

SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Ursinus College sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) scored two goals as the third-ranked Bears (14-2, 8-0 Centennial) defeated Swarthmore (5-10, 1-6 Centennial) 9-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Clothier Fields.

The Bears outshot the Garnet 40-2 in the win.

Ursinus got on the board 2:25 in as senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) scored in front of the goal on an assist junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area). The lead increased to 2-0 as Thren scored on an assist from senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) at 5:39.

Thren scored her second goal at 13:51 as the ball bounced off the crossbar, which Thren then knocked in.

Right before the half, senior back Katie Hunt (New Castle, Del./Wilmington Friends) scored on a penalty stroke for a 4-0 lead at 33:44.

In the second half, Thren assisted on a goal from junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) at 37:32 for a 5-0 lead.

Yoder then scored two straight goals at 43:01 and 44:48 for a 7-0 Bears lead.

Sophomore forward Corinne Freeman (Freehold, N.J./St. John Vienney) scored at 48:46 for a 8-0 lead, followed by a goal from Zatwarnicki at 54:52 on an assist from Hunt.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) and junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./The George School) combined on the shutout. Scott made one save in 45 minutes, while Lightwood-Mater did not make a save in 25 minutes.

Ursinus hosts Washington next Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Yoder named Centennial Conference Player of the Week

10/20/2009

LANCASTER, Pa. – Ursinus College field hockey junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) was named as the Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon by the conference office.

Yoder scored five goals and handed out two assists in a 2-0 week for the Bears. In Saturday’s win against McDaniel, she scored three goals and had an assist.

For the season, Yoder has 17 goals and a team-high 12 assists.

Ursinus (13-2, 7-0 Centennial), ranked fourth in the latest Division III coaches’ poll, will be at Swarthmore on Wednesday.

Bears blank McDaniel, 10-0

10/17/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had three goals each as fourth-ranked Ursinus (13-2, 7-0 Centennial) defeated McDaniel (6-5, 4-2 Centennial) 10-0 on Saturday afternoon at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.

Senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) and junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) each had two goals as the Bears outshot the Green Terror 38-11.

Thren scored the first goal of the game 11:18 in on an assist from junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West), followed a goal from Yoder at 11:54 for a 2-0 lead. Thren scored her second goal on an assist Zatwarnicki at 18:48 for a 3-0 lead, followed by a goal from Zatwarnicki from Thren at 25:06 for a 4-0 lead.

Thren’s third goal came unassisted just 13 seconds into the second half, with Yoder netting her second goal at 46:32 for a 6-0 lead.

Zatwarnicki then scored at 54:17 on an assist from Yoder, followed by two straight goals from Wimmer at 57:37 and 58:49. The second goal came on a penalty stroke.

The final goal came at 63:16 by Yoder.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J/St. Elizabeth’s) had one save in 45 minutes, with junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) getting three saves. Sophomore goalkeeper Jill Lukens (Furlong, Pa./C.B. East) had one save in 11 minutes for Ursinus.

Stephanie Thomson had 13 saves for McDaniel.

Bears fly past Haverford, 8-1

10/13/2009

HAVERFORD, Pa. – Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) scored three goals as the fourth-ranked Ursinus College field hockey team defeated Haverford 8-1 Tuesday afternoon on a windy Swan Field.

Hooven scored in the 16^th, 17^th and 58^th minute for the Bears (10-1, 6-0 Centennial) who outshot the Fords (4-7, 2-3 Centennial) 35-9 in the contest.

Junior back Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) had two goals and an assist in the win.

Ursinus took a 1-0 lead at Hooven scored her 11^th goal of the season at 16:13, then followed it up with a goal at 17:06 for a 2-0 advantage. Yoder had the assist on Hooven’s second goal.

Junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) scored her fifth goal of the season at 25:13 for a 3-0 Bears lead at the half.

Haverford scored its lone goal at 42:23 when junior midfielder Alex Waleko scored unassisted to cut the Ursinus lead to 3-1.

Ursinus then scored five straight goals, starting with Yoder’s first goal at 44:30 for a 4-1 lead. Junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored at 55:28 for her eighth goal of the season and a 5-1 lead.

Hooven scored her third goal of the game at 58:11 on an assist from sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) for a 6-1 edge.

Yoder’s second goal, and 13^th of the season, came at 58:38 for a 7-1 lead, followed by a goal from senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) at 66:34 for an 8-1 lead.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) turned away three shots for the Bears, while junior goalkeeper Maggie Cronin had 14 saves for the Fords.

Ursinus hosts McDaniel on Saturday.

Bears five better than F&M, 7-2

10/10/2009

LANCASTER, Pa. – Junior back Lindsay Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) had two goals as the fourth-ranked Bears (11-2, 5-0 Centennial) defeated Franklin & Marshall (6-5, 2-3 Centennial) 7-2 Saturday afternoon in field hockey action.

Doutt scored in the fifth and 40^th minute as the Bears out shot the Diplomats, 20-13.

Ursinus got on the board 36 seconds in as senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) scored on a open shot for a 1-0 lead. Doutt then scored her first goal of the game at 5:39 for a 2-0 Bears lead.

Franklin & Marshall’s Kimmy Fisher then scored for the Diplomats on an assist by Allison McLaren at 11:12 to cut the Ursinus lead to 2-1.

Senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) gave the Bears a 3-1 lead at 16:57 as she scored on an assist from Doutt. The lead grew to 4-1 at 24:46 as sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored on an assist from junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West).

In the second half, Doutt scored her second goal of the game at 40:23 on an assist from junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) for a 5-1 lead. Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) then scored in the 53^rd minute on an assist from Hooven for a 6-1 lead.

The Diplomats got their final goal at 65:48 as Allison Bauer scored on an assist from Maura Hennigan, before Ursinus scored at 69:52 as freshman forward Catherine Bitterly (Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) got her fifth goal of the season on an assist from Yoder.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) had eight saves for Ursinus.

Bears down Mules, 6-1

10/7/2009

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Fourth-ranked Ursinus scored three goals in each half as the Bears (10-2, 4-0 Centennial) defeated Muhlenberg (6-4, 2-2 Centennial) 6-1 on Wednesday night in Centennial Conference field hockey play.

Junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) scored two goals in the first 16 minutes as the Bears outshot the Muhls 44-8.

Bayzick scored on an assist from senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) at 9:37 for a 1-0 lead, then she scored on a rebound at 16:11 for a 2-0 lead.

Megan Yoder scored the Bears’ third goal at 28:33 for a 3-0 lead.

Junior back Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) scored her second goal near the top of the circle 4:36 into the second half for a 4-0 lead.

Nicki Notarianni scored the Mules lone goal at 40:06 to cut the Ursinus lead to 4-1.

Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) scored her tenth goal of the season at 59:53 on an assist from junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) for a 5-1 lead, followed by a goal from sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) at 62:39 for the final score of the game.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) made one save in 52 minutes, while junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) made thre saves in 17 minutes of play.

Ursinus goes to F&M on Saturday.

Bears takedown 14th-ranked Gettysburg, 7-0

10/3/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Fourth-ranked Ursinus (9-2, 3-0 Centennial) scored five first-period goals as the Bears blanked 14^th-ranked Gettysburg (7-3, 2-2 Centennial) 7-0 on Saturday afternoon in field hockey action.

Senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) scored two goals and had an assist as the Bears outshot the Bullets 40-6 on the afternoon.

Junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had a goal and two assists, with junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) adding a goal and an assist in the win.

Ursinus took a 1-0 lead 1:44 in as sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had a goal from the left side. The Bears went up 2-0 at 11:18 as senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) scored on an assist from Yoder.

Junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) had the Bears’ next goal at 22:36 on an assist from Wimmer for a 3-0 lead.

Hooven scored her first goal at 28:06, followed by a goal from Yoder off a Wimmer assist at 33:50 for a 5-0 lead.

In the second half, Wimmer scored on a penalty stroke at 61:20, with the final goal coming at 65:30 by Hooven.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) and junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) combined for the shutout. Lightwood-Mater had three saves, with Scott adding in one.

Senior goalkeeper Christina Anderson had 13 saves for the Bullets.

Ursinus goes to Muhlenberg on Wednesday night.

Bears blank Bryn Mawr 15-0; Moliken wins game 150 at Ursinus

9/30/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Three different Ursinus players scored three goals each as the fourth-ranked Bears (8-2, 2-0 Centennial) defeated Bryn Mawr (0-9, 0-4 Centennial) 15-0 on Wednesday afternoon in field hockey play.

With the win, the Bears set a new Centennial Conference record for goals in a game. Also, head coach Laura Moliken won her 150^th career game at Ursinus.

The Bears outshot the Owls 49-0.

Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), freshman forward Catherine Bitterly (Rumson, N.J./Ramson-Fair Haven) and sophomore forward Corinne Freeman (Freehold, N.J./St. John Vienney) each had three goals. With Thren’s three goals, she now leads the Centennial Conference with 16 goals and 34 points.

Senior midfielder Sarah Brant (Collegeville, Pa./The Hill School) had three assists, while senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) had two assists as the Bears built an 11-0 lead at the half.

Also scoring goals were junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite), Zatwarnicki, junior forward Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West), Hooven and senior midfielder Kelly Becker (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin).

Three goalkeepers split time for the shutout, as senior Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth), junior LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) and sophomore goalkeeper Jill Lukens (Furlong, Pa./C.B. East) all saw time.

Ursinus will host 14^th-ranked Gettysburg on Saturday at noon.

Wimmer named CC Defender of the Week

9/28/2009

LANCASTER, Pa. – Ursinus College junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) was named as the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

Wimmer anchored a defense that allowed just two goals in a 3-0 week. The Bears limited fourth-ranked The College of New Jersey to just three shots and two corners in a 9-1 win last Tuesday. The Bears then shutout Dickinson 6-0 on Saturday, before defeating Division I West Chester 5-1 on Sunday afternoon in the annual Snell Cup game.

Ursinus, now 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the Centennial, hosts Bryn Mawr on Wednesday.

Bears down West Chester, 5-1, take Snell Cup

9/27/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) had three goals, including a pair of goals in the second half, as the Bears (7-2) defeated West Chester (5-5) 5-1 Sunday afternoon in the 29^th annual Eleanor Frost Snell Cup game.

With the win, Ursinus has now won three out of the last four contests against the Division I Golden Rams.

Yoder scored in the 20^th, 41^st and 61^st minute as the Bears stayed unbeaten at home, outshooting the Golden Rams 17-13.

Ursinus grabbed the lead early in the contest as senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) scored at 3:35 on a drive from midfield for the 1-0 advantage.

A tip off of the stick of junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) off of a shot from junior back Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) at 17:17, shot past WCU senior goalkeeper Joelle Zarefoss for a 2-0 lead.

Yoder then scored her first goal of the game at 20:15 as she took a pass and weaved through several defenders for a 3-0 halftime advantage.

In the second half, West Chester got on the board as freshman forward Alisha Moran scored her fourth goal of the season on a high shot past Ursinus senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carneys Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) at 37:14, cutting the Ursinus lead to 3-1.

Yoder then scored her second goal on a shot from the top of the circle at 41:51 for a 4-1 lead, then added the third goal at 61:00 on a shot from the left side for the 5-1 advantage.

Scott finished with four saves, while junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) had three saves in nine-and-a-half minutes of play. Zarefoss had five saves for West Chester.

It’s all Centennial Conference games for the Bears from this point on, starting with Wednesday afternoon’s tilt with Bryn Mawr.

Bears flatten Dickinson, 6-0

9/26/2009

CARLISLE, Pa. – Six different players scored for fifth-ranked Ursinus as the Bears (6-2, 1-0 Centennial) defeated Dickinson (2-5, 0-1 Centennial) 6-0 Saturday afternoon in field hockey action.

The Bears held Dickinson to just four shots in the contest, while racking up 21 shots.

The first game off the stick of junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) at 4:35 for a 1-0 lead, followed by a goal from junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) 20 seconds later making the score 2-0.

Right before halftime, junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) scored at 34:30 on an assist from junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) for a 3-0 lead in the first half.

At 37:50, senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) scored to give the Bears a 4-0 lead, followed by a goal from senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) at 43:36. Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) assisted on Hooven’s goal.

The final goal came at 62:35 as Wimmer scored on an assist from Yoder.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) and junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) split time in goal, each making a save.

Ursinus has a short turnaround as the Bears take on West Chester in the annual Snell Cup game at noon Sunday.

Bears blast TCNJ, 9-1

9/22/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Playing home for the first time in three weeks, the Bears used that to their advantage in a 9-1 defeat of The College of New Jersey on Tuesday night in a match-up of two nationally-ranked field hockey teams.

The Bears (5-2), who came into the game ranked fifth in the latest poll, outshot the Lions (4-1) 41-3 in the victory. The Lions came into the game ranked fourth in the latest poll.

Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) each had two goals in the win, while junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had two assists.

The scoring started early as junior back Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) had her first goal of the season on an assist from junior back Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) just 9:14 in for the 1-0 lead.

Thren then scored her first goal of the evening, following a pass from Wimmer that sailed just over the head of sophomore Lion goalie Shannon Syciarz at 13:56 for a 2-0 lead.

Less than one minute later, 59 seconds to be exact, Hooven scored her first goal of the game on an assist from senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) at 14:57 for a 3-0 lead. Thren would score her second goal, and 13^th goal of the season, at 27:37 on a drive from midfield for the 4-0 lead.

The Bears scored at the horn as Wimmer hit a blast near the top of the circle for the 5-0 lead.

In the second half, Weidensaul scored her first goal of the season at 38:51 for a 6-0 lead. Hooven then scored her second goal of the game at 39:54 as she was assisted by Wimmer for the 7-0 lead.

TCNJ got on the board at 50:58 as freshman midfielder Camille Passucci scored her first collegiate goal off of rebound against Bears junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) .

Ursinus would tack on two more as senior midfielder Kelly Becker (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) scored on a penalty stroke at 53:01, and junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) then scored on a blast at 67:45.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) played 44 minutes for the Bears, not making save.

For the Lions, Syciarz made ten saves in 40 minutes, while sophomore Sammi Brach had four saves in 30 minutes.

Ursinus opens Centennial play on Saturday at Dickinson.

Bears remain fifth in latest poll

9/22/2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Ursinus College field hockey team stayed in the same spot in the latest 2009 Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll released Tuesday afternoon.

The Bears remained in the fifth spot, with a total of 815 points. Messiah remained at number one with 1112 points, while Salisbury was second at 1018. Tufts was third with 966 points, followed by The College of New Jersey in fourth at 908.

Following Ursinus was SUNY-Cortland, Johns Hopkins, Lebanon Valley, Bowdoin and Trinity (Conn.)

Ursinus (4-2) hosts TCNJ tonight at 7.

Bears blank Eastern Mennonite, 4-0

9/19/2009

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Traveling close to six hours did not affect the fifth-ranked Ursinus College field hockey team as the fifth-ranked Bears (4-2) blanked Eastern Mennonite (2-5) 4-0 in non-conference play on Saturday.

Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had two goals for the Bears, who outshot the Lady Royals 31-25.

Thren’s first goal came at 27:18, followed by her second goal at 28:08 for the 2-0 halftime lead.

Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) scored at 44:32, followed by a goal from junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) at 46:15 on an assist by Yoder.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) made four saves in 46 minutes, while junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./The George School) had five saves in 24 minutes of play.

Ursinus will host fourth-ranked The College of New Jersey on Tuesday night at home.

Bears fifth in latest NFHCA poll

9/15/2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Ursinus College field hockey team fell two places to number five in the latest Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll released on Tuesday afternoon. The Bears were third in the first poll of the season.

Messiah took the top spot, followed by Salisbury and Tufts University. The College of New Jersey is in fourth place.

After Ursinus, SUNY-Cortland is sixth, followed by Bowdoin, Johns Hopkins, Lebanon Valley and Rowan.

Ursinus will travel to Eastern Mennonite on Saturday.

Bears blanked by sixth-ranked Salisbury, 2-0

9/13/2009

SALISBURY, Md. – Sixth-ranked Salisbury scored two goals in the second half, as the Sea Gulls (5-0) handed third-ranked Ursinus (3-2) a 2-0 defeat Sunday afternoon in the second game of the Salisbury University Field Hockey Invitational.

Junior midfielder Kandice Hancock scored the first goal of the game at 37 minutes even on a penalty stroke. The second Sea Gull goal came at 59:47 when senior forward Lauren Correll scored for a 2-0 lead.

Ursinus and Salisbury each finished with 13 shots, while the Bears had nine penalty corners but could not covert any into goals.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) made three saves for the Bears, while Sea Gull junior goalkeeper Anna Cooke had nine saves.

Ursinus will be in action next Saturday as the Bears make the long trip to Eastern Mennonite.

Bears blank Randolph-Macon, 6-0

9/12/2009

SALISBURY, Md. – The Ursinus College field hockey team put on a defensive display on Saturday afternoon at the Salisbury Invitational, by blanking Randolph-Macon 6-0 in the first day of competition.

The Bears (3-1) did not allow the Yellow Jackets a shot on goal, and just one penalty corner.

For the third-ranked Bears, six different players scored.

The scoring started when junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) scored 6:18 into the game for a 1-0 advantage. Junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) then scored on an assist from junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) at 16:48 for a 2-0 lead. The lead grew to 3-0 in the first half when senior midfielder Sarah Brant (Collegeville, Pa./The Hill School) scored unassisted.

Senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) scored 47 seconds into the second half for a 4-0 lead. The lead went to 5-0 when sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored, followed by a goal at 47:00 by senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic).

Junior LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) got the win in goal, not having to face a shot for her first solo shutout of the season.

Ursinus will take on sixth-ranked Salisbury Sunday at 2 p.m. The Sea Gulls defeated Frostburg, 8-0, in the opening game of the day.

Bears take down tenth-ranked Rowan, 4-3

9/9/2009

GLASSBORO, N.J. – The Ursinus College field hockey team passed another tough road test on Wednesday, as the third-ranked Bears (2-1) defeated tenth-ranked Rowan (2-1) 4-3.

Junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) scored the game winning goal with 4:03 left to go in the contest on a shot from the right side of the cage following a penalty corner. Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) had the assist on the game-winning goal.

Rowan took an early 2-0 lead 20 minutes in as Nicole Valianti scored goals in the tenth and 19^th minute.

Ursinus got two straight goals to tie the score at 2-all. The first goal came off of a deflection by junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) at 30:04.

The second goal came at 39:17 when junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) scored on a high shot from the left side on a pass from Bayzick. Rowan retook the lead at 3-2 when Lauren Ross scored at 45:34 on an assist from Sam Williams.

Ursinus got the equalizer at 46:45 when sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored on an assist from senior forward Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter).

Ursinus, who had a 25-11 advantage on shots and a 14-4 advantage on penalty corners, got six saves from senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth).

Ursinus will take part in the Salisbury Invitational this weekend, by taking on Randolph-Macon on Saturday afternoon at 2.

Thren named Centennial Conference Player of the Week

9/8/2009

Alyssa Thren scored six goals in the opening day win over Alvernia. On Tuesday, she was named as the Centennial Conference Player of the Week

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus College field hockey sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) was named as the Centennial Conference Field Hockey Player of the Week on Tuesday afternoon by the conference office.

Thren tied the Centennial Conference record on Tuesday in the Bears’ 12-0 opening day win over Alvernia, by scoring six goals. The record was last set by Jennie Moore, who scored six goals in a win over Haverford back on September 20, 2008.

Thren then added a goal in Saturday night’s 4-3 loss to Messiah.

For the season, she had seven goals and one assist for 15 points.
The Bears will travel to Rowan on Wednesday night.

Bears fall to Messiah, 4-3

9/5/2009

GRANTHAM, Pa. – In another early season matchup between two nationally ranked teams, fourth-ranked Messiah (2-0) came away with a 4-3 win over third-ranked Ursinus (1-1) Saturday night in field hockey action.

Ursinus and Messiah both advanced to the national semifinals last season.

Ursinus got on the board first at 13:44 when senior Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, Pa./Exeter) scored on an assist from junior back Lindsay Doutt (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg).

Messiah tied the score at 1-all at 27:11 when Amber Philpot scored on an assist from Emily Sauder. The Falcons then scored two goals over the next 1:57 to take a 3-1 lead as Katie Love scored at 28:10, followed by a goal from Lauren Tennis at 29:03.

In the second half, Ursinus got on the board as junior forward Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton Area) scored on a penalty corner off an assist from junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) at 41:54.

Love scored her second goal for Messiah at 46:04, on an assist by Kourtney Ehly, for a 4-2 Falcon lead. Ursinus cut the deficit to 4-3 at 59:29 as sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored on an assist from senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic).

Ursinus had two shots in the final 3:24, but, junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer’s (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) shot was saved by Falcon goalkeeper Ashley Mowery and Resetco’s shot at 67:10 was wide.

Messiah outshot the Bears 21-15, and had an 11-8 advantage on penalty corners. In goal, senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) had ten saves for the Bears, while Mowery had eight for Messiah.

Bears blast Alvernia, 12-0; Thren ties CC mark with six goals in a game

9/1/2009

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The third-ranked Ursinus College field hockey team collected 35 shots on Tuesday as the Bears (1-0) blasted Alvernia 12-0 on in the season opener for the both teams.
Sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) tied the Centennial Conference record, as she collected six goals in the game. She had all four of the Ursinus goals in the first half.

The six goals ties the record held by Bears standout Jennie Moore, who got six goals in a win over Haverford on September 20, 2008. In last year’s opener, senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) had five goals.

Thren scored her first goal just 4:42 in unassisted, then added her second goal at 10:49 when she scored off an assist from junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite). Goal number three came at 14:06 when she scored unassisted, followed by her fourth goal at 17:01 on an assist from junrio midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen).

In the second half, Hooven scored her first goal of the season on an assist from Thren at 36:14. Thren then scored her fifth goal of the game at 39:01 for a 6-0 lead.

Freshman forward Catherine Bitterly (Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) had her first goal of the year at 44:55 on an assist from Yoder. Yoder had three assists on the day, with her third coming on Thren’s sixth goal at 49:26 for an 8-0 lead.

At 55:31, junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West) scored on a penalty stroke. Yoder then scored her first goal of the season at 56:58 unassisted for a 10-0 lead.

At 61:40, sophomore forward Corinne Freeman (Freehold, N.J./St. John Vienney) scored on an assist from junior back Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) for an 11-0 lead. The final goal came at 67:46 as freshman midfielder Jen Pappas (Potomac, Md./Saint Johns College) scored on an assist from Bitterly.

Senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney’s Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth) and junior goalkeeper LauraLee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, Pa./George School) combined on the shutout. Scott made two saves, as the Crusaders (0-1) had just three shots.

Ursinus now begins an extremely difficult stretch of games, starting with Saturday night’s showdown with Messiah in Grantham at 7:00 p.m.

2009 Season Outlook

8/31/2009

The 2008 edition of the Ursinus College field hockey team again made an appearance in the NCAA Division III Final Four, which was hosted by the Bears. As the 2009 championship moves north to Mount Holyoke College, the Bears hope to be one of the four teams making the trip to Massachusetts in mid-November.

Before focusing on the NCAA tournament, the Bears will look to continue their dominance and earn their sixth straight Centennial Conference crown. The postseason conference tournament has become an annual rite of passage in Collegeville in early November.

To do that, the Bears will have to replace a senior class that accounted for close to 33 percent of the offense during the Bears’ record breaking season. Despite the losses to graduation, the Bears will not be short on scoring threats for the upcoming season as four ten-plus goals scorers return from last season.

On the forward line, senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, PA/Lancaster Catholic) ranked third on the team in points last season at 37 (17g, 3a), and is the leading scorer returning from last year. Joining Hooven on up front will be senior captain Jessica Zatwarnicki (Reading, PA/Exeter) (27 points on 10 goals and seven assists) and sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, PA/Upper Perkiomen) who tallied 36 points (17g, 2a) in her freshman year.

Sophomore Corinne Freeman (Freehold, NJ/St. John Vienney) and first year player Catherine Bitterly (Rumson, NJ/Ramson-Fair Haven) will add depth.

In the midfield, the Bears are led by juniors Megan Yoder (Lititz, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) and Michelle Wimmer (Palm, PA/Upper Perkiomen). Yoder, the lone returning all-conference selection from last season, was sixth on the team in points with 28 and was tied for fifth in goals at 12. In 2008, Wimmer tallied seven goals and four assists on the year. Look for seniors Kelly Becker (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) and Sarah Brant (Collegeville, PA/The Hill School) and junior Jennifer Bayzick (Sugarloaf, PA/Hazleton Area) to fill in the midfield. Newcomers Julianne Pilla (Mullica Hill, NJ/Gloucester Catholic)and Jennifer Pappas (Potomac, MD/Saint John’s College) could also see time.

Last season, the Bears averaged close to 33 shots a contest, compared to only seven for their opponents. Seven was a magic number for the Bears, as opponents went home scoreless seven times.

The Bears gave up, on average, just one goal a contest.

A big part of that defensive success has been the play of junior backs Lindsey Doutt (Willow Street, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) and Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin). Doutt and Weidensaul are both two year starting defenders and bring a wealth of experience to the Bears’ backfield.

Along with the two returning starters, senior captain Katie Hunt (New Castle, DE/Wilmington Friends), juniors Bridget Resetco (West Chester, PA/Downingtown West) and Maria Mastoris (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley), and sophomore Nicole Hanby (Bear, DE/William Penn) will round out the defensive unit along with freshman Rachel Pandl (Columbus, NJ/Northern Burlington).

Familiar pads will be between the pipes this season as all three goalkeepers return. Senior Erica Scott (Carneys Point, NJ/St. Elizabeth) started all 22 games last season and posted a 1.32 goals against average. Junior Lauralee Lightwood-Mater (Bethlehem, PA/George School) and sophomore Jill Lukens (Furlong, PA/C.B. East) have made tremendous strides in the offseason and will likely see time in goal.

In order to get back to the conference title game, and the NCAA tournament, the Bears will have to navigate another tough schedule. The Bears will use a tough non-conference September schedule and an October full of upset minded conference opponents to prepare for a run deep into November.

The Bears open up with Alvernia on September 1, then head to Messiah for a key national showdown on September 5. The non-conference slate features match ups against top-10 opponents Rowan, Salisbury and The College of New Jersey. As always, the Bears will take on Division I West Chester for the Snell Cup on Sunday, September 27 in Collegeville. The conference slate opens up on Saturday, September 26 at Dickinson.

Bears third in NFHCA Coaches Pre-Season Poll

8/25/2009

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Ursinus College field hockey team was picked third in the pre-season Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll which was released Tuesday afternoon.

The Bears received 629 points, including three first place votes. Bowdoin was picked first with 868 points while Tufts was second with 636 points. Following Ursinus, Messiah was fourth with 579 points and The College of New Jersey was fifth with 513 points.

Ursinus opens up the 2009 season next Tuesday, September 1, at home against Alvernia.

Bears picked first in CC poll

8/24/2009

LANCASTER, Pa. – The Ursinus College field hockey team was picked first in the Centennial Conference pre-season coaches’ poll released by the conference office Monday afternoon.

The poll was voted upon by the league’s 11 head coaches, with coaches unable to vote for their own squads.

The Bears received 100 points, including ten first-place votes. Gettysburg was second with 86 points, followed by Johns Hopkins in third with 85 points.

Haverford was fourth (66 points) followed by Washington in fifth (64) and Dickinson in sixth with 51 points.

Muhlenberg was in seventh at 46 points, followed by Franklin & Marshall (44), McDaniel (34), Swarthmore (20) and Bryn Mawr (10) rounding out the poll.

Ursinus, who has won the Centennial Conference championship the last four seasons, opens up at home next Tuesday against Alvernia at 4 p.m.

Moliken named to Silver Anniversary team by Colonial Athletic Association

8/20/2009

RICHMOND, Va. – Ursinus College head field hockey coach Laura Moliken was named to the Silver Anniversary team for field hockey by the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The team includes 24 All-Americans, 11 CAA Players of the Year, eight Olympians and five Honda Award winners.

Moliken was a back at Old Dominion University from 1989 to 1992. She was an All-American in 1991 and 1992, while leading Old Dominion to three straight national championships. During that span, she was named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament team in 1990 and 1992.

She was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1990 to 1992.

Moliken, currently the interim director of athletics at Ursinus, is entering her 11^th season as head coach of the field hockey program. The program has appeared in three Final Fours and won the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championship.

2009 Field Hockey News