Defending NCAA Champions Return Eight Starters from Last Year's Record-Setting Team
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Defending NCAA Champions ACC. An ACC team has appeared in the national finals in nine out of the last 10 Return Eight Starters From Last years. Kelly Doton Year’s Record-Setting Team “We can’t concern ourselves with the postseason,” Averill said. “We have to hirty seconds. That’s about how long take care of business in the regular season. Wake Forest field hockey coach Jennifer The ACC is so strong in hockey that if you can TAverill got to enjoy the Demon Deacons’ win the league, then you are capable of win- 2002 NCAA championship. ning a national championship. That’s how “When it appeared we were going to win, I much respect I have for the other teams in the looked at (assistant coach) Neil (Macmillan) and league. said that I wish that time could just stand still. “Right now, we’re only thinking about Iowa You get to enjoy things like that for only a short (the season opener).” time.” It wouldn’t be far off to say that Wake Forest Wake Forest’s 2-0 win over Penn State in the dominated field hockey in 2002. The NCAA finals on Nov. 24, 2002 was an historical Deacons, in fact, haven’t allowed a goal one for Averill, the Deacons and the WFU ath- since an ACC Tournament semifinal win letics program. The victory over the Nittany over Duke on Nov. 9, 2002 -- a streak of Lions clinched Wake Forest’s first national cham- 346 minutes that Wake has shutout pionship of any kind since 1986 and the first opponents. The Deacons haven’t lost ever by a Demon Deacon women’s team. a game since Sept. 8, 2002 at Truth be told, Averill, her staff and players James Madison -- a cur- enjoyed the fruits of the NCAA crown all sum- rent streak of 19 mer. Still, Averill is a highly-competitive coach. In consecutive victo- the back of her mind has been the “R” word -- ries. repeat. “I think that we will always be an attacking ed by an outstanding supporting cast.” “We have the talent to get back to the Final team, although last year’s statistics may not The supporting cast includes three more All- Four,” said Averill, who enters her 12th season at show that,” Averill said. American candidates -- senior Lucy Shaw and Wake. “I’m usually more conservative in pre- Wake Forest outscored opponents by an aver- juniors Kelly Dostal and Claire Laubach. season statements about my team, but I believe age of 3.72 to 0.68 goals per game in 2002. Averill raves about all three. that. Certainly, it will be difficult. People will be The staggering statistic last season was shots “Lucy is a great player, but she has tremen- gunning for us, we under- per game. Wake averaged 19.5 compared dous balance,” Averill said. “She understands stand that. But that’s excit- to just 5.2 for opponents. the significance of athletics, but she ing.” Gone from last year’s powerful team also has perspective on how Winning the ACC title are five letterwinners, including three small athletics is in life. I do may be almost as difficult starters. The Deacons will miss first team know that when she steps as winning the NCAA All-American Heather Aughinbaugh, on the field, she is a great crown. The NCAA Wake’s second-leading scorer (36 points) in competitor. championship clearly 2002, Maria Whitehead, another starter “Claire Laubach is a runs through the who is now the head coach at Saint great athlete -- per- Louis University at the ripe age of 22, haps the toughest and defender Lynn Shenk, who athlete on the field. played in all 22 games. Kelly Dostal, as Despite the losses, long as she can Averill signed a talented remain healthy, is Kelly Dostal six-player recruiting class a scoring to join 12 returning letterwin- machine. She is ners, including eight returning starters. a tremendous Headlining the list of returnees is attacking play- senior Kelly Doton, a first team All- er.” American and the ACC Player of the It was on Year in 2002. Doton took 62 shots, defense, how- scored 31 goals and established herself as ever, that one of the best amateur players in the Wake nation. Forest “Kelly Doton, I believe, is the best player was in college field hockey -- hands down,” Averill said. “I thought she was the best college player last season. She is just a tremendous player and she’s surround- Emily Ruth 2002 NCAA CHAMPIONS 16 2002 ACC CHAMPIONS A Capusle Look Starters Returning (8) 4 Kelly Doton M Sr. 5-5 6 Kelly Dostal F/M Jr. 5-3 9 Kelly Wood M So. 5-6 Katie Ridd 11 Lucy Shaw B Sr. 5-9 13 Maeke Boreel F/M So. 5-10 16 Claire Lawhon F/M Jr. 5-4 21 Claire Laubach B Jr. 5-8 27 Katie Ridd GK Sr. 5-5 Letterwinners Returning (12) 2 Martha Ferger B So. 5-5 4 Kelly Doton M Sr. 5-5 6 Kelly Dostal F/M Jr. 5-3 7 Katie Ackerman F Sr. 5-7 so impressive a year ago. Consider that the was a sleeper last season. When she didn’t start, 9 Kelly Wood M So. 5-6 Deacons became just the second team to go she came off the bench and made things hap- 11 Lucy Shaw B Sr. 5-9 through the NCAA Tournament without allowing pen. She was a spark. I think she’s going to 13 Maeke Boreel F/M So. 5-10 a goal. Wake, in fact, is the first team to achieve catch a lot of people’s eyes this season.” 14 Emily Ruth F Sr. 5-7 that feat since the tournament expanded to four Adding to the optimism in the Wake Forest 16 Claire Lawhon F/M Jr. 5-4 rounds. camp is a group of six highly-touted freshmen. 17 Ariel Meyers F So. 5-4 Senior goalkeeper Katie Ridd, Wake’s last line Among the group of rookies are twins Haley 21 Claire Laubach B Jr. 5-8 of defense, deserves a lot of that credit. In the and Tracey Scott, who come to Winston-Salem 27 Katie Ridd GK Sr. 5-5 Deacons’ final nine games of the 2002 season, from Rancho Santa Fe, Cal. Midfielder Lauren Ridd allowed just two goals. Crandall is coming off an impressive summer. Newcomers (6) “Katie Ridd came up huge for us when we Kristina Gagliardi comes in as the back-up to 3 Kristi Harshman F Fr. 5-3 needed it last season,” Averill said. “Of course, Ridd at goalkeeper. Kristi Harshman and Jamie 5 Jamie Whitten B Fr. 5-4 Lucy (Shaw), Kelly (Doton) and Claire (Laubach) Whitten will compete for immediate playing 8 Haley Scott M Fr. 5-3 don’t allow opponents to get the ball to her very time. 10 Lauren Crandall M Fr. 5-2 often. But when they did, Katie came up big for “This may be the most talented overall group 12 Tracey Scott F Fr. 5-3 us many times. of freshmen that we’ve had,” Averill said. 15 Kristina Gagliardi GK Fr. 5-6 “Claire Laubach, Lucy Shaw, Kelly Doton and “However, they are still freshmen and don’t have 27 Katie Ridd GK Sr. 5-5 Katie Ridd -- that’s a great backfield. They are that experience.” all great athletes and they all have an under- The 2003 schedule is a difficult one. Four pre- Starters Lost (3) standing of the game. Not everyone has that.” vious NCAA champions -- Michigan, Maryland, Heather Aughinbaugh F/M Sr. 5-5 Five other returnees played in all 22 games North Carolina and Iowa -- are on the Demon Lynne Shenk B Sr. 5-4 last year, giving the Deacons a wealth of experi- Deacon schedule. Wake opens the season in Maria Whitehead F/M Sr. 5-3 ence across the board. Senior Emily Ruth, junior Ann Arbor, Mich. against Iowa on Aug. 31. The Claire Lawhon and sophomores Kelly Wood, next day, the Deacons play Michigan in a battle Letterwinners Lost (5) Maeke Boreel and Ariel Meyers will all bolster of the 2002 and 2001 national champions. Heather Aughinbaugh F/M Sr. 5-5 the Wake lineup. Antoinette Baines F Fr. 5-5 Ruth, a 5-7 forward, brings Merrilee Robbins GK So. 5-5 a strong work ethic to the Lynne Shenk B Sr. 5-4 Deacs. Maria Whitehead F/M Sr. 5-3 “She (Ruth) has worked so hard the last three years to see significant playing time,” Averill said. “She’s certainly one of the most fit players we have. Get her the ball in the circle and she’s one strong attacker.” Averill is equally excit- ed about a foursome of sophomores -- Wood, Boreel, Meyers and Martha Ferger. “Wood and Boreel gave us tremendous depth last year. They played like veterans as freshmen. Even more is expected of them this year. Claire Claire Lawhon “Meyers Laubach 2002 NCAA CHAMPIONS 17 2002 ACC CHAMPIONS chance to compete for player. She is currently a member of the reserve assis- another championship." tant staff for the United States National Team as well Averill took on the Wake as the Under-23 and Under-16 teams. From 2000 to Forest job in 1992. That 2002, she played for Southern Charm, the United was the year that Wake Summer League champions. Forest left the Deep South Association and joined the ACC, adding scholarships Averill Year-By-Year for field hockey players and At Wake Forest W-L-T Postseason Head Coach upping the level of compe- Northwestern (1987) 2002 20-2 NCAA Champions tition immensely.