Aug. 17, 2005

BEVERLY, MA -- The Endicott field hockey team rolled to a 14-8 (5-2 CCC) record in 2004 and played in the CCC championship game for the third consecutive season. The team also earned its highest ECAC tournament bid in school history, but the Gulls are ready to take their game to the next level.

Leading the way is newly appointed head coach Breanne Wojnarowicz. The 2001 Providence College graduate who was Endicott's assistant field hockey and women's lacrosse coach in 2004, was named the head coach in June. She brings plenty of playing experience at the Division I level and a deep knowledge of the game.

Wojnarowicz, a Friars' captain, earned second-team Northeast Region All-American honors as a senior and was a two-time Big East first team selection. She also was a four-year Big East Academic All-Star and a Rhode Island Female Athlete of the Year finalist in 2001. That same year Wojnarowicz was honored with the Sine Quo Non Award which is given annually to Providence College's female athlete of the year.

However, the new coach will have her hands full. The Gulls lost nine seniors to graduation on a team that reeled off a school-record eight consecutive wins in 2004, including a huge conference victory over Salve Regina. The Seahawks were undefeated in the CCC until they ran into the feisty Endicott team, which posted a 5-4 overtime triumph on a Caitlin Murray (Templeton, MA) game-winner.

Heading up the list of departed seniors is forward Kim Doody (Laconia, NH), who took home CCC Player of the Year honors. Starting all 22 games, Doody piled up 13 goals and 28 points and converted 4-of-5 penalty strokes. Another key loss is captain Jen McCormack (Milton, MA). She also had a hand in the attack, posting a team-high 18 goals and three assists for 39 points.

The Gulls will need to replace the production and leaderships of seniors K.D. Balentine (York, ME), Ali Beaulieu (Augusta, ME), Jen Carney (Wenham, MA), Melissa Durant (Pembroke, Bermuda), Elizabeth McKenna (Dedham, MA), captain Lisa Cote (Manchester, NH) and Erica Plasse (Ocean Park, ME).

But newly appointed captains Ashley Wallace (Hudson, MA) and Murray are poised to take Endicott to the next level in collegiate field hockey.

Junior goalkeeper Erin Curry (Hampstead, NH) orchestrated a tenacious defense, which registered six shutouts with Curry in the cage. Cote directed, controlled, and encouraged the defense in front of the sophomore Curry, who turned away 162 shots for a save percentage of .835.

The Gulls open their season at the Dottie Zenaty Invitational Tournament at Springfield College versus Western New England College before heading home on September 6, 2005 to face Wheaton College in a key non-conference battle. Also mark your calendars for October 18, 2005 for when the Gulls face the cross-town CCC rival Gordon College.