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DIVISION 1

Coughlin

Coach: Colleen Wood, fourth season

2014 WVC record/Finish: 11-3, third

2014 postseason: Beat Dallas, 17-2, in quarterfinals, then lost in District 2 semifinals to Delaware Valley, 14-13.

Key players lost: Kyra Castano, Sarah Zbierski, Alex Bukeavich, Allison Novak, Molly Andress

Key players returning: Sr M Kelsey Gabriele, Jr M Brigid Wood, Jr A Hailee Dumont, Jr A Kristi Pearage, Jr D Kalie Reed, Jr G M’Kensie Lee

Season outlook: The Crusaders could be the top threat to Wyoming Seminary’s reign at the top. Boston College field hockey recruit Brigid Wood leads a productive offense. Four of five graduation losses came on defense, so restructuring that unit will be important to becoming a contender. In addition to six returning starters, the Crusaders have 10 others players back from last year.

Crestwood

Coach: Russ Kile, third season

2014 WVC record/finish: 7-7, fifth

2014 postseason: Beat Lake-Lehman, 13-6, in quarterfinals, then lost in District 2 semifinals to Wyoming Seminary, 21-12.

Key players lost: Morgan Kile, Steph Distasio

Key players returning: Jr Hannah Ackers, Jr Lizzy Dessoye, Sr Daniella Callaghan, Soph Lexi Gaetano, Soph Lauren Rowski, Sr Sarah Wodarczyk, Jr Paige Zaleppa, Jr Raegan Distasio, Jr Emily Supko, Jr Jill Prezkop.

Season outlook: Crestwood is a fast-growing program, moving from 1-10 to 7-7 in its first two seasons. The program that current Ohio State field hockey play Morgan Kile started as a student, recruiting her father to coach, is also beginning to get a boost from the Mountaintop Area Lacrosse Association. The MALAXA, under the guidance of Aaron Caporuscio, has provided promising freshmen Natasha Koslop, Madison Krawontka, Sam Brumagin, Taylor Tomalinas and others to this year’s team.

Delaware Valley

Coach: Bernadine Salak, 10th season

2014 WVC record/finish: 12-2/tie first, lost playoff with Wyoming Seminary, 14-9.

2014 postseason: Beat Pittston Area, 21-6, in quarterfinals; beat Coughlin, 14-13, in semifinals; lost in District 2 final to Wyoming Seminary, 21-10.

Key players lost: Dana Hunt, Sam Lutcza, Marissa Balcarcel, Emily Peters, Kierstin Nelson

Key players returning: Sr M Kyra Boccio, Sr A Ali Haydu, Sr D Soo Gartland, Sr D Victoria McCrory, Sr M Baylee Roeder, Soph M Maecy Chlebowski.

Season outlook: One of the WVC’s two most established programs will have its depth tested after losing several players from a team that went 15-6 overall. Included in those losses is Hunt, the school’s all-time leading scorer with 183 career goals. Top returnees Boccio and Haydu may need to increase their offensive output to offset the losses. “After graduating 13, we are very young and untested,” Salak said. “We have strong senior leaders who are very competitive and I am looking forward to seeing how the team develops.”

Pittston Area

Coach: Leigha Dolcemascolo, first season

2014 WVC record/finish: 2-12, seventh

2014 postseason: Lost in District 2 quarterfinals to Delaware Valley, 21-6.

Key Player lost: Sara Ruby

Key players returning: Jr M Dana Zalewski, Sr G Nicole Walters, Jr D/M Kayla Williams, Jr D/M Laura Singleton, Jr M/A Rachel Ferrance, Jr M/A Taylor Levandoski, Jr M Bianca Mattei-Miller, Jr D/M Anna McDermott, Sr M Elaina Menichelli, Jr A Lucia Menichelli-Bates, Soph A Gabriela Rubino, Jr A Alyssa Neare, Jr M Haley Norwillo, Sr D Sydney Ralston

Season outlook: With an experienced roster, featuring a strong junior class, Dolcemascolo, anticipates improvement after consecutive two-win seasons in the WVC. “I want this year to be completely different,” said Dolcemascolo, a former Delaware Valley and Marywood University goalie who is coaching for the first time. Adding to the challenge is the fact that the Patriots landed in Division 1 with the conference’s stronger programs and will get just one shot each at the Division 2 teams.

Wyoming Seminary

Coach: Catie Kersey, 13th season

2014 WVC record/finish: 12-2, tie first, won title in playoff with Delaware Valley, 14-9.

2014 postseason: Won District 2 title by defeating Scranton Prep, 19-6; Crestwood, 21-12; and Delaware Valley, 21-10. Lost to Danville, 11-10, in first round of state tournament.

Key players lost: Becca Schulman, Madison Dowd

Key players returning: Sr DM Corinne Conyngham, Sr DM Ataliah Dressler, Sr D Emily Gabriel, Sr G Kelley Gavin, Jr M Alexis Quick, Sr D Katelyn Stemrich, Sr A Madison Sweitzer

Season outlook: The Blue Knights are the team to beat until someone proves otherwise. They won the first two WVC titles and first four District 2 championships and are looking to extend both streaks. Wyoming Seminary is loaded on defense, but is less experienced at midfield and on the attack. “What’s really nice is that our seniors are kind of sprinkled around each of the positions,” Kersey said.

Division 2

Dallas

Coach: Kim Athanas, second season

2014 WVC record/finish: 4-10, sixth

2014 postseason: Lost in District 2 quarterfinals to Coughlin, 17-2.

Key players lost: Alex Klinges, Kayla Wanek

Key players returning: Sr D Sam Starbuck, Sr D Olivia Thomas, Sr D Sam Bitto, Sr A Jill Viercinski, Sr A Kennedy Straitiss, Sr A Milan Novak, Jr Kayleigh Kravits, Jr M Katie Kapral, Jr M Katie Snedeker

Season outlook: The Mountaineers return nine starters and 10 other players from last year’s team. “Our goal as a team is to improve our record,” Athanas said.

Lake-Lehman

Co-coaches: Alex Wilson, fourth season, and Ron Strohl, second season

2014 WVC record/finish: 8-6, fourth

2014 postseason: Lost in District 2 quarterfinals to Crestwood, 13-6.

Key players returning: Sr A Alyssa Adams, Sr A Mallory Wilson, Sr D Emily Galasso, Sr D Natalee Barker, Sr G Makenzie Borum, Soph M Katie Strohl, Soph D Cary Keiper, Soph A Alexis Barker

Season outlook: The Black Knights have some of the WVC’s most established players up front and in the back. Mallory Wilson enters the season with 174 goals and 79 assists in her career while Adams has 216 goals and 19 assists. Borum has been an all-star goalie the past two seasons. “We have a young group of freshmen midfielders coming from the Back Mountain youth program,” Alex Wilson said. “How soon they adjust to high school will be a key.” As long as that adjustment goes reasonably well, the Black Knights appear to be the division favorite.

Scranton Prep

Coach: Stephanie Naro, second season

2014 postseason: Beat Tunkhannock, 7-6, then lost in District 2 quarterfinal to Wyoming Seminary, 19-6.

Key players lost: Dana Cutler, Liz Steele

Key players returning: Jr M Cara Kopicki, Jr M Christine Kaffka, Sr A Jenna Hunter, Jr A Virginia Farrell, SO G Aiyanna Jackson

Season outlook: Naro, a Dunmore graduate, learned the sport at Marywood where she was a teammate of Pittston Area’s Dolcemascolo and became an all-conference defender. Similarly, her team is growing fast. Playing strictly a non-league schedule last season, the Classics won five games, including their playoff debut. If that progress continues, Scranton Prep could join Dallas in providing the biggest challenge to Lake-Lehman within the division.

Tunkhannock

Coach: Lloyd McCain, second season

2014 WVC record/finish: 0-14, eighth

2014 postseason: Lost to Tunkhannock, 7-6, in first round of District 2 playoffs.

Key Players Lost: Harley McCain, Taylor Ray, Morgan Cross, Samantha McNamara

Key Players Returning: Haley Toczko, Rachel Miroslaw, Thea Thomlin, Abigail Driscole, Makayla Franko, Olivia Carichner, Genevieve Farr, Ashley Spencer, Savannah Gleason, Miranda Donavon

Season Outlook: The Tigers, last year’s conference newcomer, have two new teams to face this year as they pursue their first victory.

Wyoming Area

Coach: Carl DeLuca, first season

Key players: Jr Claudia Waltz, Fr Bella Waltz, Fr G Emily Cheskiewicz, Jr Jordan Kelly, Fr Madison Johnson, Soph Caitlin Butchko, Fr Lindsey Pozaic, Sr Carrie Pozaic

Season outlook: Unlike Tunkhannock in 2014 and Hazleton Area this season, Wyoming Area is not using a transition year, but is instead jumping right into conference play. All but five of the Warriors are being exposed to the game for the first time. DeLuca is hopeful that having athletes who have done well in other sports will reduce the growing pains.

Independent

Hazleton Area

Coach: Bethanne Hudock, first season

Key Players: Soph Kelsey Hudock, Fr Meleah Hoats, Sr Lauren Blakeslee, Jr Kara Sanford

Season outlook: Hudock and Hoats, who have played in the MALAXA, are the only players who have played the sport in the past. Helping the process is a turnout of 30 players, meaning varsity and JV games in a non-league schedule to help get the program ready for league play next season.