Diplomats Look to Balanced Attack & Defense to Lead Field Hockey Team in 2004

by Sports Information
8/4/04

LANCASTER, PA -- Franklin & Marshall College will look to a solid offensive attack and strong defensive lineup to make a serious run at the 2004 Centennial Conference field hockey title.

Defensively, the Diplomats will be led by the trio of Lindsay Mohr (Sr., Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen), Erin Benjamin (Sr., Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley) and Brynn Jackowski (Sr., Pottstown, PA/Pottstown).

A 2003 All-Centennial Conference second and 2002 All-CC first team back, Mohr anchors the defense and can find the back of the cage as she has scored three goals and handed out three assists last year to raise her career total to seven goals and eight assists in three seasons at Franklin & Marshall.

"Lindsay has excellent marking ability, can read an attacking play and break it down with her patience on defense and is an offensive threat on corners," explained sixth year head coach Melissa Reiss.

One of the most consistent defenders on the team, Jackowski has "tremendous reach and great attacking skills from out of the backfield," according to Reiss.

Tied for eighth in defensive saves (four) in the Centennial Conference last year, Benjamin possesses excellent speed in the backfield with the ability to mark some of the quickest forwards in the region.

Also vying for time in the backfield will be sophomores Cathleen Perrotto (So., Landenberg, PA/Tatnall School) and Christine Hanhausen (So., Wayne, PA/Baldwin School).

In the cage, Michelle Altman (Jr., Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) and Lindsay Klimik (Jr., Brick, NJ/Brick) will compete for time.

The team's starting goaltender last year, Altman ranked sixth in the Centennial Conference in save percentage (.801), seventh in goals against average (2.27) and third in saves (165) last year as she raised her career numbers to 189 saves on 292 shots (.822 save percentage) while allowing 2.11 goals per game (41 goals in 1,359 minutes).

"Michelle is a talented keeper as her vocal leadership and aggressiveness in the defensive circle will be key," states Reiss.

On the other end of the field, the Diplomats will be lead by forwards Eileen Keever (Jr., Prospect Park, PA/Interboro), Brittany Croll (Jr., Frankford, DE/Indian River), Stacy Swymelar (Jr., Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) and Lindsey Mummert (So., New Oxford, PA/New Oxford).

A first team All-Centennial Conference first team selection after recording nine goals and four assists for 22 points last season, Keever will serve as a co-captain this year. For her career, she has 13 goals and five assists for 31 points.

A 2002 honorable mention and 2003 second team All-Centennial Conference selection, Croll led the team in goals (11), assists (5) and points (27) last season to earn STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III All-South Region second team honors.

For her two year career, she now has 18 goals and eight assists for 44 points as she is on pace to move into the top five goal scorers in school history and contend for the all-time assists mark held by Becky Orr '87 (23).

Swymelar (six goals, three assists) and Mummert (seven goals, one assist) should also be watched as both finished with 15 points to conclude 2003 tied for third on the team in scoring behind Croll (27) and Keever (22).

Shuchi Saraswat (Sr., Mountain Lakes, NJ/Mountain Lakes), Kate West (So., Washington, D.C./Groton School, MA) and Jess Senior (Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) will provide depth at forward for Franklin & Marshall.

Co-captain Elizabeth Onasch (Sr., Bowling Green, OH/Maumee Valley), Maggie Onasch (So., Bowling Green, OH/Maumee Valley) and Brenna Dolphin (So., Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) will lead a strong midfield.

A scoring threat, Dolphin registered two goals and three assists as a freshman as the Diplomats finished fourth in scoring offense (2.39 gpg) last year in the Conference.

In addition to the returning veterans, Franklin & Marshall will look to a class of 11 freshmen of forward/midfielder Chelsea Atkinson (Bangor, ME/John Bapst Memorial), midfielders Allison Barthold (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central), Lindsay Solar (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion) and Lauren Wasp (Potomac, MD/Georgetown Visitation), defenders Samantha Bentley (Woolwich, NJ/Archmere Academy), Tracie Hiatt (Springfield, VA/Annandale) and Erin O'Hara (Wilton, CT/Wilton), forwards Anne Christensen (Highland, NY/Hackley School) and Amy Swymelar (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) and midfielder/defenders Nikki Meadows (Joppatowne, MD/Eastern Technical) and Millicent Scott (Plymouth, NH/Groton School).

Franklin & Marshall College will open the 2004 season at home on September 1 versus Catholic University. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.