EPC field hockey preview: Nazareth star Lara Heckman excited to play at Syracuse

http://highschoolsports.lehighvalleylive.com/news/article/2487708780103347175/east-penn-conference-field-hockey-preview-nazareth-star-lara-heckman-excited-to-play-at-syracuse/#incart_river

FROM EXPRESS TIMES

Lara Heckman began to bleed Orange as early as ninth grade.
Syracuse Orange, that is.
Heckman, a senior field hockey standout at Nazareth Area High School, fulfilled her dream recently when she verbally committed to continue her academic and field hockey career at the Atlantic Coast Conference school in the fall of 2015.
“Pretty much my freshman year I started noticing (Syracuse),” said Heckman, an Express-Times All-Area first team selection last season. “That was one of the first schools that really caught my eye.”

ALLEN
2013 record: 10-9 overall, 8-6 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr, D Tara Morrell, Jr. D Seven Brown, Sr. M Gabby Lewis, Sr. M Taylor Ricks.
Outlook: Canaries should have another reputable squad with the return of a good portion of their backfield. Forward line will be inexperienced and defense could be the team’s calling card until the newcomers up front adjust to the varsity level.
From coach Karen Nilson: “I expect us to be competitive with the teams we should be and try to hold teams better than us to one or two goals and maybe we can sneak out a win here and there. It’s a very balanced league.”


BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC
2013 record: 4-13 overall, 3-11 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr. F Dana Cruz, Sr. F Maggie Melhem, Sr. M Matti Reightler, Sr. F Jocie Vanic.
Outlook: The Golden Hawks lost a good portion of their defense to graduation and will be leaning on several youngsters to improve the team. Melhem (6 goals, 4 assists) was the team’s top scorer a year ago and will be counted on to provide offense and leadership.
From coach Luke Wilde: “The group of seniors for this season are great and are looking to accomplish some goals that haven’t been accomplished in many years at Bethlehem Catholic. We have a good group of young players that are going to have to step in immediately and make plays at the varsity level for that to happen.”


DIERUFF
2013 record: 4-13 overall, 2-12 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Jr. F Willow Childs, Jr. F Shyanne Santiago, Sr. F Nashally Santos, Sr. F-M Nathaly Santos, Jr. G-D Carolina Sepulveda
Outlook: Huskies’ program is beginning to grow in numbers as Seyler reported that 30-32 girls came out for the team. Dieruff showed improvement last year, winning three of its first four, but still needs to improve in all facets of the game before it can be a consistent winner.
From coach Inez Seyler: “This is our second year of having a varsity and JV and I’m really excited about how things are going. I’m really pleased and excited to see what can happen. We absolutely have great kids. They’re very respectful and it’s been very rewarding.”


EASTON
2013 record: 10-10 overall, 6-8 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr. M-F Katie McNeel, Sr. M Paige Fackler, Jr. F Erica Tarsi, Sr. G Alex Pennington.
Outlook: McNeel (10 goals, 5 assists) Fackler (6 goals, 2 assists) and Tarsi (7 goals, 1 assist) provide a nice nucleus for the Red Rovers and Pennington is solid in the cage. Easton should be competitive again with its usual toughness and tenacity. Rebuilding the defense will be a top priority.
From coach Casey Eck: “As always we have high expectations. I think we have a lot of potential and we’re working really well together. Hopefully it shows on the field. We have a good group of seniors that give us a lot of experience.”


EMMAUS
2013 record: 26-1 overall, 14-0 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr, G Tori Laczo, Sr. D Morgan Will, So. F-M Meredith Sholder; Sr. M Erika Wilson.
Outlook: The Green Hornets, last year’s state runner-up, return just three starters but will still likely be the class of the fledgling Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Laczo has three years of varsity experience and Sholder can seemingly score at will. The return of Wilson, who missed last season with a torn ACL, should give the team a boost.
From coach Sue Butz-Stavin: “(Wilson) will be a contributor because she has a huge heart. She still wears a knee brace and has a long way to go with her fitness. We have two new girls in the backfield, so we’ll be pretty green there. We have a lot of team bonding and trust that has to take place. It’s going to take a lot of work.”


LIBERTY
2013 record: 12-8 overall, 11-3 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr, M Chelsea DeFrancisco, Jr. D Jalen Wilcher, So. F Anissa Abboud, Sr. F Laura Marshall, Sr. F Caitlin Kennedy, Jr. F Charlynet Colon.
Outlook: Hurricanes have big shoes to fill with the losses of Kali Shumock, The Express-Times Player of the Year, and Taylor Kane. DeFrancisco (7 goals, 4 assists) and Abboud (7 goals, 2 assists) provide punch and savvy and will help make Liberty a force again.
From coach Mary Kate Omdahl: “We are looking to be competitive in our quest for another division title. The girls have learned from seeing how hard Kali and Taylor worked to become successful. We have three freshmen who have lots of promise and are looking to break into the starting lineup.”


NAZARETH
2013 record: 13-7-1 overall, 9-4-1 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr, D Kim Barr, Sr. M Lara Heckman, Sr. D Paige Henderson, Sr. M Michaela McDonough, Jr. F Lauren Resh, Jr. F Allyson Stitzer, Jr. F Emily Wahlgren.
Outlook: Blue Eagles return a solid nucleus from last year’s successful squad. Heckman (4 goals, 8 assists), a Syracuse University recruit, should be one of the elite players in the area. Stitzer (9 goals, 6 assists) and Resh (10 goals, 4 assists) are offensive threats and Barr is a stalwart in the backfield.
From coach Marissa Rotz: “We need to maintain our focus and continue to be disciplined. It’s crucial for us to play every second of each game and use every inch of the field. The players have been working really hard and display great teamwork and unity.”


NORTHAMPTON
2013 record: 14-7-1 overall, 9-4-1 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr. F Rachel Heimbach, Sr. F-M Megan Wiest, Sr. D Makenna Marhefka, Sr. M Amber Saylor, Jr. G Shannon Dalton, So. G Ashley Kunsman
Outlook: Konkrete Kids have the makings of another strong team this fall. Wiest (16 goals, 8 assists) is one of the best all-around players in the area and a bona fide scoring threat. Marhefka (7 goals, 4 assists) is making a transition from forward to the backfield. The team is looking to avoid the injury bug which has victimized them in past seasons.
From coach Kelly Backenstoe: “We have a lot of speed. That’s a huge strength. We needed some strong defenders in our backfield and Makenna has really stepped up and done a great job helping the goalkeepers and organizing the defense. I think there’s just been a lot of communication throughout the whole field.”

PARKLAND
2013 record: 13-8 overall, 10-4 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr, D Avery Semler; Sr. M Hannah Pany; Sr. F Brooke Sherwin; Sr. G Sydney Cope; Sr. D Macey Talhelm.
Outlook: Trojans are expecting another big season with key players back at every position. The return of Semler and Pany, who were both Lehigh Valley Conference all-stars a year ago, gives the team some star power. One concern for coach Michelle Steele is her team’s ability to convert from Parkland’s grass field to the various turf fields around the conference.
From coach Michelle Steele: “I’m really looking forward to this season. We have a lot of girls playing competitively on club teams and attending lots of camps and clinics. A lot of them have been working together the last couple years. The seniors have been playing varsity since their freshman year.”


WHITEHALL
2013 record: 12-8 overall, 8-6 Lehigh Valley Conference.
Players to watch: Sr. F Kourtney Cunningham; So. F Kylee Cunningham; So. M Cara Bonshak; Jr. M Taylor George; So. D Rachel Schannaur
Outlook: Zephyrs still have a large number of young players but If they continue to develop the team will be competitive. The Cunninghams form a dynamic duo on the front line and Schannaur spearheads the defense. If the team sticks together through tough times, they’ll be successful.
From coach Emily Repsher: “Our division is pretty tough but hopefully we’ll play hard with the teams we have to compete against. We’re still a little bit young but hopefully we’ve grown. Our youth definitely shows at times. We’ll take It one game at a time and see how It goes.”