LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University field hockey team is set to open the 2019 season at home this weekend with a pair of contests on Charlotte E. Smith Field.
 
The Bald Eagles will officially open the season on Friday (August 30) at 3 p.m. vs. Bryant. On Sunday (September 1), Lock Haven will host local-rival Bucknell at 1 p.m. Visit GoLHU.com on game day for live coverage options and direct links.
 
LHU and Bryant haven't met since 2009, a Lock Haven win. Lock Haven fell to Bucknell 3-2 on the road last season in early September. Lock Haven and Bucknell first met in 1954 and this year's contest marks the 50^th all-time meeting between the two central Pennsylvania powers.
 
This week's contests:
Friday, Aug. 30 vs. Bryant, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 1 vs. Bucknell, 1 p.m.
 
2019 LHU Field Hockey News, Notes & Storylines
 
LHU picked fifth in preseason poll:
The Bald Eagles were picked fifth in the 2019 Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) Preseason Coaches' poll. Saint Joseph's, the defending A-10 champions, received eight of nine first-place votes and was picked as the preseason-favorite. Virginia Commonwealth checked in at No. 2 and Massachusetts rounded out the top-three teams. Richmond check in at No. 4, one spot ahead of the Bald Eagles, who were slotted in the No. 5 spot. Lock Haven was followed by No. 6 La Salle, No. 7 Saint Francis, No. 8 Davidson and No. 9 Saint Louis.
 
Brathwaite named Preseason All-Conference:
Junior Kayla Brathwaite was named to the 2019 A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team. Brathwaite, a speedy-midfielder, is a big-time difference maker for the Bald Eagles. Last season ('18), she scored two goals and dished out eight assists (12 pts.), while providing tremendous end-to-end play for head coach Pat Rudy's side. Following her rookie season in 2017, Brathwaite earned a spot on both the A-10 Second Team and the All-Rookie Team. As a true-freshman back in 2017, she started all 18 games and recorded one goal, five assists and a defensive save.
 
A look back at last season:
LHU got off to a quick start a year ago and won three of the first four games of the season. The win in the 2018 season-finale vs. La Salle helped Lock Haven finish the season at .500, thanks to a 9-9 overall record. The Bald Eagles were 3-5 in A-10 action, thanks to wins over Davidson, Saint Louis and La Salle. All three conference wins came by way of a shutout and LHU outscored their conference foes 9-0 in those three games. On the season, LHU scored 45 goals, the third most of any team in the A-10 during the regular season. Returning defensive-standout Tia Judy finished with a team-best nine assists last season ('18). It marked her second straight nine-assist season.
 
Rudy looks to add to Hall of Fame career:
LHU head coach Pat Rudy will enter her 24^th season at The Haven. Last season marked a special one for Rudy, a 2018 National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) Hall of Fame inductee, as she hit her 600^th career coaching win. LHU finished the 2018 season with nine wins and that pushed Rudy to 602 career wins. The 2-0 win at Davidson on October 5 proved to be a historic one as it gave Rudy her 600th career victory, a career coaching milestone that only two NCAA field hockey coaches have reached before her. She entered the 2018 season with 593 wins and the win at Davidson – the seventh of the season for LHU – pushed her to the magic No. 600. The 2018 season marked Rudy's 23rd at LHU, her alma mater, and her 41st season coaching overall at the college level. Rudy entered the season already holding the third-most wins of all-time and early in the 2018 season, she grabbed her 350th win at LHU. She now has 356 wins at Lock Haven.
 
2019 roster loaded with returning experience:
In all, LHU returns 10 players who played in 13 or more games last season including Taryn Piano, Kayla Brathwaite, MacKenzie Farley, Tia Judy, Katie Supey, Emily Robb, Prabhneet Basra, Niamh Sexton, Karina Long and Taylor Plouse. Of those 10, four (Farley, Judy, Robb and Sexton) started all 18 games. That experience and veteran leadership will lead the way for the Bald Eagles on the field and should prove critical come crunch time in conference play. Goalkeeper Joaquina Orlandini played in six of the final nine games last season. She has a tremendous skillset and the athletic-goalie has the potential to change the outcome of any match.
 
A look at the returning stat leaders:
Taryn Piano – 5 G, 2 A, 12 PTS
Kayla Brathwaite – 2 G, 8 A, 12 PTS
MacKenzie Farley – 3 G, 3A, 9 PTS
Tia Judy – 9 A, 9 PTS
Katie Supey – 3G, 1A, 7 PTS
 
Defense always a key:
Last season, Lock Haven had seven total shutouts and a number of key members of the defensive unit return this season.
 
Strong at home:
Last season, five of Lock Haven's nine wins came at home on Charlotte E. Smith Field. The Bald Eagles will once again look to play well at home and the 2019 schedule plays to their favor with 10 games scheduled on the home turf.
 
A look at the freshmen:
The 2019 roster includes seven freshmen who are joining the program. It's a talented group and one that hopes to make a major impact on the future success of LHU field hockey. The freshmen group includes Megan Weeks, Briana Harsh, Mariana Birdthistle, Jazmin Palma, Amy Stevens, Karaline Stelma and Emily Mentink.
 
A pair of transfers:
Caitlin Cunningham and Brooke Lesh have transferred here to The Haven from Lousiville and Longwood, respectively. Both are sophomores and will look to make an impact on the 2019 season for the Bald Eagles.
 
New coach on the sideline:
Former standout Tamia Roach was recently named a new assistant coach with the program. This will mark her first season on the sidelines as a coach after graduating from LHU in May (2019). The four-year starter played in 70 games amassing 31 career goals, 17 career assists and 79 career points. Roach capped her career with a brilliant senior season last year in 2018. Following the 2018 campaign, she was named an All-Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) selection, earning First Team honors. Roach, a preseason all-conference pick, earned First Team honors after registering a 20-point season. She had eight goals and four assists in 16 games.
 
The 2019 schedule:
LHU will host Bryant on Friday, August 30 at 3 p.m. and the Bald Eagles are set to host local-rival Bucknell on Sunday, September 1 at 1 p.m. Once opening weekend passes, Lock Haven will embark on a three-game road swing. In all, the 2019 schedule features 10 home contests including the league opener. Lock Haven's 2019 A-10 opener is set for Sunday, September 22 when the Bald Eagles play host to Davidson. Last season, LHU beat Davidson 2-0.
 
The road ahead:
Following Sunday's (Sept. 1) with Bucknell, LHU will head to Colgate for a non-conference match on Friday, September 6 at 6 p.m. The road game at Colgate marks the first of three straight games away from LHU.

FULL PRE SEASON BOOKLET