Widener's field hockey team has been picked to finish third in the Commonwealth Conference based on a vote by the league's coaches.
Senior Amanda Nagy (Lititz, PA) last season was tabbed second team all-conference. She continues to be a solid player on defense and it showed by ending tied for third in the conference with four defensive saves. This went a long way in the Pride closing fourth in the league in goals-against average and also finishing with three shutouts.
Senior midfielder Megan Scarpinato (Sewell, NJ), also named second team all-league a season ago, gives Widener strong play at midfield. She closed tied for third in the conference with four defensive saves and tied for second on the team with seven goals and 17 points. She scored twice against Gwynedd-Mercy on October 15 and had a crucial defensive save in overtime of Widener's victory against William Paterson on October 3.
Junior Colleen Cormier (Westampton, NJ) is back and once again should be a vital player at forward. She finished last season fourth on the team with six goals and 16 points as well as tied for second with two game-winning goals.
Widener plays in what many experts consider the second toughest conference in the country. Messiah, which last year played for the national championship, was picked to win the league with six first-place votes.
Widener opens its season Wednesday, September 1 at Immaculata, starting at 6:30 pm.
Commonwealth Conference Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. Messiah 48 pts. (6)
2. Lebanon Valley 44 pts. (2)
3. Widener 34 pts.
4. Alvernia 29 pts.
4. Elizabethtown 29 pts.
6. Albright 20 pts.
7. Arcadia 11 pts.
8. Shenandoah 9 pts.
(first-place votes in parentheses)
