Spring Break
Goal is NCAAs for field hockey
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: Sports
Coming off a record-breaking 2007 season, the field hockey team has aspirations of doing even bigger things in 2008.
"Last year was exciting," head coach Denise Zelenak said. "Our finish last year showed how much potential we had because we finished so well with a very young team that played 10 freshmen. It was exciting to know the future was going to be bigger and brighter."
The Dragons finished last 2007 with a 5-3 CAA record, third behind perennial CAA powerhouses James Madison and Old Dominion, and posted a 12-9 mark overall. They were defeated 2-0 by the Dukes in the conference semifinals, ending what otherwise was a highly successful season.
"We wish the season would've been longer," Zelenak said. "They finished at a high and really got to know each other."
Now, with a year of experience under its belt, Drexel will look to contend with the top tier teams in the CAA.
"We are very fast and have a good press on the counter attacks," Zelenak said. "Offensively as a unit I think we're very strong."
The Dragons are led by midfielder Carolina Gibernau, who had six goals and six assists last season and was named First Team All-CAA, as well as Second Team All-Conference goalie Colleen McAndrew and her 1.63 goals against average.
Gibernau believes the only way to follow up on an incredible 2007 is to get her team to the NCAAs.
"I want to make it to the NCAAs; that's my goal," she said.
To do so the Dragons will have to navigate a difficult schedule that includes a two-game California trip (Stanford Aug. 30 and California Sept. 1), a visit to Durham to play Duke Sept. 4 and tough conference games against rivals James Madison Oct. 10 and Old Dominion Oct. 12.
Drexel is pre-ranked fourth in the conference, behind only the Dukes, the Monarchs and Northeastern.
"It's a huge improvement," Zelenak said of the ranking. "Just the fact that we've never been seventh in any of the preseason rankings. Getting into the top four gives us more respect. I was hoping for third, but I'm happy with fourth. It's ok for them to take us lightly for a bit."
However, if opponents do take the Dragons lightly, don't expect their preseason ranking to be that low.
"Last year was exciting," head coach Denise Zelenak said. "Our finish last year showed how much potential we had because we finished so well with a very young team that played 10 freshmen. It was exciting to know the future was going to be bigger and brighter."
The Dragons finished last 2007 with a 5-3 CAA record, third behind perennial CAA powerhouses James Madison and Old Dominion, and posted a 12-9 mark overall. They were defeated 2-0 by the Dukes in the conference semifinals, ending what otherwise was a highly successful season.
"We wish the season would've been longer," Zelenak said. "They finished at a high and really got to know each other."
Now, with a year of experience under its belt, Drexel will look to contend with the top tier teams in the CAA.
"We are very fast and have a good press on the counter attacks," Zelenak said. "Offensively as a unit I think we're very strong."
The Dragons are led by midfielder Carolina Gibernau, who had six goals and six assists last season and was named First Team All-CAA, as well as Second Team All-Conference goalie Colleen McAndrew and her 1.63 goals against average.
Gibernau believes the only way to follow up on an incredible 2007 is to get her team to the NCAAs.
"I want to make it to the NCAAs; that's my goal," she said.
To do so the Dragons will have to navigate a difficult schedule that includes a two-game California trip (Stanford Aug. 30 and California Sept. 1), a visit to Durham to play Duke Sept. 4 and tough conference games against rivals James Madison Oct. 10 and Old Dominion Oct. 12.
Drexel is pre-ranked fourth in the conference, behind only the Dukes, the Monarchs and Northeastern.
"It's a huge improvement," Zelenak said of the ranking. "Just the fact that we've never been seventh in any of the preseason rankings. Getting into the top four gives us more respect. I was hoping for third, but I'm happy with fourth. It's ok for them to take us lightly for a bit."
However, if opponents do take the Dragons lightly, don't expect their preseason ranking to be that low.
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