Hockey ranked No. 18 in nation
Dukes picked to finish third in CAA this season
By Meagan Mihalko, senior writer
Posted on August 31, 2006

After an 11-9 overall finish in the 2005 season, the JMU field hockey team begins this season with a No. 18 ranking in the STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Preseason Poll.

“Being ranked in the top 20 was a major goal that we set for ourselves during the spring of last year,” sophomore midfielder Ashley Walls said. “I think this motivates us to prove to the people that voted for us that they made the right decision.”

Coach Antoinette Lucas said the poll is the only poll that’s available, because the NCAA doesn’t release one, so the Dukes’ ranking is a “big deal” and shows that those who voted are “respecting the program.”

The Dukes showed why they received those preseason poll votes when they opened their season this past weekend, winning their first two games against Kent State and the University of Albany. The Dukes defeated Kent State 3-1 and shut out Albany 3-0.

Returning starters Walls and senior midfielder Baillie Versfeld helped lead the team in the opening weekend. Last season the duo led the team with 10 goals apiece and both were selected as members of the All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team. Walls was selected as to the Conference All-Rookie Team, and Versfeld was also named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star Team, All-State First Team and was a co-recipient of the JMU Female Athlete of the Year.

Both Walls and Versfeld had a fast start to the 2006 season. Walls had a goal and assist in JMU’s 3-0 shutout against the University of Albany and Versfeld had an assist in Madison’s match against Kent State.  In addition to Walls’s and Versfeld’s performances, Walls’s cousin, freshman forward Meghan Bain, had a successful season-opening weekend in Ohio where she scored three goals. In her first game as a Duke, Bain scored two goals in JMU’s win over Kent State. She scored her third goal against Albany.

Bain is one of five freshmen. The other four are goalie Kelsey Cutchins, defensive players Jessie Dawson and Tara King and midfielder Regan Shouldis. Cutchins saw time in the second half against both Kent State and Albany, where she made two saves in her first appearance and one in her second game to help secure the Dukes’ first two wins of the season.

“This weekend we had three freshmen on the field,” Lucas said. “They didn’t miss a beat and Cutchins will share time in the goal.”

Along with a strong freshman class is the strong core of returning players, including Walls’s two sisters, sophomore midfielders Lauren and Melissa Walls, as well as senior midfielder Laura Pruett.

“This is the first time since I’ve been here where we have sixteen or seventeen field players,” Lucas said. “We have a very good balance of talent and experience.”

Ashley Walls said, “It helps a lot that most of the players are players from last year, because over the spring we have all meshed well together.”

The Dukes seemed to have “meshed” well together over the weekend, but will be tested in the team’s upcoming schedule.

The schedule is packed with nationally-ranked opponents that will pose many threats for the Dukes. JMU was picked to finish third in the CAA behind higher-ranked Old Dominion University (No. 4) and Northeastern (No. 13); ODU reached the NCAA final four last season and has won nine national championships. The Dukes meet both teams later in the season.

However, the team opens their home season this weekend when they host No. 5 North Carolina. The Dukes also face No. 1 Maryland and No. 6 American. Rounding out the list of ranked opponents are No. 16 Michigan State and tied for No. 19 are the University of Richmond and the University of Virginia.

“It is exceptionally important to play those teams,” Lucas said. “The strength of our schedule means more points for the NCAA tournament and it will also help us prepare for the conference opener.”

Ashley Walls said, “Playing top-ranked teams like UNC, Maryland and ODU will just help us get better and learn from our mistakes.”

Lucas said that the team’s ultimate goal is to make it to final game of the conference tournament and receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

“We need every single player to contribute,” Lucas said. “Everyone has a role.”

The Dukes’ home opener is Saturday when they host No. 5 UNC at JMU Field Hockey Complex at 1 p.m.