Under the direction of first-year head coach Natalie Gozzard, the Moravian College field hockey team posted a 5-10 overall record this past fall and did something it had been unable to do in almost three seasons, win a Commonwealth Conference contest.  The Greyhounds were 2-5 in the Commonwealth this season and lost one other conference match by a goal.  Of its ten losses this year, Moravian dropped two by one goal and four more by two goals.  Coach Gozzard had one Commonwealth Conference All-Star this fall and three players earn spots on the MAC Fall All-Academic Team.

Senior forward Elissa Gerstel (Warminster, PA/William Tennent HS) was named to the 2001 Commonwealth Conference All-Star First Team.  Gerstel, who was on the Commonwealth Conference All-Star Second Team last season, led the Greyhounds in scoring this year with eight goals and two assists for 18 points.  She finished her career ranked third in the Moravian record books with 68 career points on 30 goals and eight assists.  Gerstel, who was also a member of the MAC All-Academic Team, scored one game-winning goal and had a hat trick in the Greyhounds shutout-win over Cedar Crest College.

Freshman forward Jamie Lichty (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) was second on the Moravian squad this season with 13 points on six goals and one assist.  Two of Lichty’s goals won games this season including Moravian’s Commonwealth Conference victory versus Albright College, the first for Moravian in conference play since defeating Albright in 1998.

Sophomore forward Rebecca Kipp (Bethlehem, PA/Saucon Valley HS) had five goals for ten points in her first season with the Greyhounds while senior forward Suzy Wargo (Somerville, NJ/Hillsborough HS) had ten points on two goals and six assists.  Two of Kipp’s goals won contests for Moravian while Wargo finished her Moravian career with 12 goals and ten assists for 34 points.

Senior forward Leslie Siebler (Easton, PA/Wilson HS) added two goals and one assist in her final season with the Greyhounds and she completed her career with five goals and three assists for 13 points.  Freshman midfielder Stephanie Russo (Newton, NJ/Newton HS), sophomore midfielder Kate Hunter (Stillwater, NJ/Pope John XXIII HS) and senior midfielder Andrea Rafferty (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley HS) each tallied one assist for Moravian.  Hunter led the Greyhounds with three defensive saves while Rafferty was named to the MAC Fall All-Academic Team.

Other key players for coach Gozzard this fall were senior defender Nicole Solley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh HS), sophomore midfielders Rachel Crocker (Bethlehem, PA/Northampton HS) and Rachel Martz (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove HS), sophomore defender Alicia Fowler (Easton, PA/Easton HS) and freshman midfielder Kelly Boone (Reading, PA/Muhlenberg HS).  Crocker earned a spot on the MAC Fall All-Academic Team.

Moravian used a pair of goalies this past fall with freshman Kirsli Spinks (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon HS) seeing the majority of the action.  Spinks played 770 minutes despite a shoulder injury and had a 1.82 goals against average, 142 saves and four shutouts.  Freshman Amy Kranchalk (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro HS), who was a defender on the roster, filled in for Spinks and played 280 minutes with 44 saves, one victory and a 4.75 goals against average.

Coach Gozzard hopes to have a nucleus of 13 players return for next season as the Greyhounds look to continue their improvement and earn a berth in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs.