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LANCASTER, PA - The Franklin & Marshall College field hockey team will rely on a young yet experienced defense to key their 2003 run at the Centennial Conference title this season. Leading the charge on defense for the Diplomats will be 2002 All-Centennial Conference first team defender Lindsay Mohr (Jr., Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen) who netted seven points on two goals and three assists last season. "Lindsay is a tough competitor and a strong player with outstanding timing on defense," explained fifth year head coach Melissa Reiss. "She has an excellent shot, a great game sense, and she does a great job setting up her teammates in the offensive circle," added Reiss. Along with Mohr, defenders Erin Benjamin (Jr., Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) and Brynn Jackowski (Jr., Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) will secure a line that contributed to seven defensive shutouts in 2002. "Brynn's aggressiveness and Erin's speed and their abilities to create opportunities for the offense on transition will be a big factor in our success this year." Taking over in the cage for 2002 Centennial Conference second team selection Jenny Lindner '03 will be goalkeeper Michelle Altman (So., Trumbull, CT/Trumbull). Altman recorded 12 saves in 96 minutes last season in a backup role to Lindner who ended her senior campaign 12th in the nation in save percentage (.889) and 13th in goals against average (.81) On the offensive end of the field, 2002 Centennial Conference honorable mention forward Brittany Croll (So., Frankford, DE/Indian River) returns to lead the attack following a team high 17 points season, including tying Jen Hespell '02 for the team lead in goals with seven. Another player to watch will be forward Eileen Keever (So., Prospect Park, PA/Interboro) who added four goals and one assist last season for nine total points. "Brittany and Eileen bring a solid one-two punch in the front line of the attack. After solid freshman seasons, with a year under their belt, they should be very strong on the attack," explained Reiss. Many talented juniors and sophomores will help round out the Diplomats this fall including midfielders Whitney Trump (Jr., Sleepy Hollow, IL/Elgin Academy) and Liz Onasch (Jr., Bowling Green, OH/Maumee Valley) and forwards Christine Corkran (Jr., Ellicott City, MD/Glenelg Country) and Stacy Swymelar (So., Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville). The Diplomats will once again be one of the teams to beat in the Centennial Conference. Last season F&M finished with a 10-8 overall record and 6-3 in the CC to qualify for the Conference's postseason tournament as the number four seed. In the playoffs, F&M fell by a 1-0 final to top seed McDaniel College to conclude the first winning season in program history since the 1992 team went 13-6.
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