Falcons Will Feature Lots Of New Faces

Courtesy of Matt Stewart, Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG -- It appears that the Fitchburg State University field hockey team will have a new look once again this season. After having only a handful of seniors last year, about half of the Falcons roster this year will be freshmen.

After these newcomers become acclimated with the college game, the Falcons could be in a good position to take their usual stance as one of the more competitive teams in the Little East.

Fitchburg State finished last season 7-11 (3-8 Little East), but did have a 6-5 record at home. The Green and Gold -- ranked 10th in the Little East Conference preseason coaches poll -- start the 2013 slate September 5 at home against Johnson & Wales.

"We have 11 returning players and 10 new freshmen," Fitchburg State University head coach Beth Bacher said. "I'm pretty optimistic about how we are going to do this year. We have a lot of new energy, which should bring about a positive playing experience on the field. My hope this week is that we'll gel as a team, play as team, and support one another."

Having such a large cast of newcomers can be a difficult challenge for any team. But this is not Bacher's first rodeo with an underclassmen-laden team.

"I'm feeling pretty good about our freshman recruits," Bacher said. "I think they are going to fit in very well with our program. I think all the freshmen will help us out in some way."

No loss to the Falcons' roster was more impactful than the graduation of forward Jamie Kelley -- a North Middlesex Regional alum. Kelley scored an astounding 49 points last season, including 21 goals and the school later named her the its female athlete of the year.

"(Kelley) was an extremely talented individual," Bacher said. "How do you replace someone like that? It's going to take a team effort, one person won't be able to fill her shoes. We're really going to have to come together as a team, and work together to fill that void."

Possibly one of the strong returning positions for the Falcons is the goalkeeper. FSU returns starter Lucy Holewa (5-9, 2.93 GAA), who enters the season as a more seasoned junior. Backup goalie Judith Valentin returns top provide some extra depth at the position.

Senior Kelly Finn will play an instrumental role in keeping the opportunities against the Falcon net minders down to a minimum.

"We're looking for Finn to really be that mainstay of the defense this year," Bacher said. "We're looking for her to be a be a strong leader, like she was last year. She's a very smart player, who thinks things through, and is very positive with her teammates."

After a solid freshman campaign, sophomore forward Erin Morrissey (12 points in 2012) will look to be one of the keys offensively this season. Morrissey seems like the likely candidate to fill a good chunk of the void left by departed graduates.

"(Morrissey) worked well with (Kelley)," Bacher said. "She was our right wing last year, and we're looking for continued success from her. We're looking for her to help out the offense, and be one of the leaders on offense."

One of the Falcons' mainstays in the midfield is returning for her final go-around as a senior. Rebecca Bush (7 points in 2012), a key cog in creating offensive chances, returns as the team's center midfielder.

"I see the center midfielder as the quarterback of the offense," Bacher said. "(Bush) is definitely a key player. She's a very high spirited individual with excellent skills, who's an excellent team leader as a captain."

Junior Kaitlyn Silva was the team's fourth leading scorer last season, tallying five points, and will likely help generate some scoring chances on the front line as well.

Kelly Luttazi, along with Morrissey, are members of a sophomore class which Bacher will be relying on to shift from the contributor role into the star role. Luttazi may be a particularly important chip because of her ability to play multiple positions.

"I think some of our freshman from last year will play a more dominant role this year," Bacher said. "Luttazi is our most versatile player. Erin Martin broke her hand last year, she's been working really hard."