Aug. 30, 2010

THIS WEEK: The Saint Louis field hockey team continues a season-opening four-game road trip with two tilts in Muncie, Ind. The squad takes on Robert Morris Saturday, Sept. 4, in a noon (CT) contest. The next day, the Billikens face host Ball State in another noon (CT) start.

RECAPPING LAST WEEK: The Billikens began the season with two losses in Ohio. Radford posted a 3-0 win over the Bills last Saturday. Nicole Kent tallied SLU's first goal of the year, but Ohio registered a 6-1 win Sunday.

ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS: The Colonials, who were 2-13 overall, 1-7 in the Northeast Conference in 2009, dropped their opener 5-0 to Colgate. A year ago, Chantel Crowe led RMU with four goals and 10 points, and Stephanie Seeley returns in the cage after posting a 3.22 GAA to go along with 146 saves. Head coach Olivia Netzler is 10-42 in her fourth season at RMU. The Billikens won the last meeting 3-0 a year ago in Springfield, Mo.

ABOUT BALL STATE: The Cardinals were 4-14 overall, 2-8 in the Mid-American Conference last season and stand at 1-1 this year. BSU defeated Longwood 3-2 and dropped a 4-3 decision to Appalachian State. Devanny Kuhn and Brandi Mixell have scored two goals apiece to lead the Cardinals. Morgan Hammer has played every minute of BSU's first two contests and carries a 2.70 GAA with 12 saves. Beth Maddox is in her first season as a head coach. The Billikens won the last meeting 2-1 Sept. 14, 2008.

HOME OPENER: The Billikens host Missouri State in the home opener Friday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. at the Anheuser-Busch Center in Fenton, Mo. The game is the first of six straight home contests for the Billikens. SLU greets Northwestern Sunday, Sept. 12, for a 2 p.m. match to continue the homestand.

RETURNING PLAYERS: Ten players return to the squad from a season ago. Katherine Deem, Natalie Gamez, Kelsey Shultz and Kelsey Traynor lead the senior class, and juniors Nicole Kent and Alex LaBarge round out the squad's group of upperclassmen. The sophomore class features Caitlin Brenner, Lexie Lindblad, Lauryn Smith and Morgan Threatt.

NEW FACES: The Billikens feature 11 newcomers - Caiti Brownell, Shelby Dittmar, Laken Gehris, Natalie Hood, Chelsea Hower, Tori Lycett, Megan Rogers, Jane Tomic, Brooke Weaver, Kat Wollenberg and Eunice Yoon.

COACHING STAFF: Head coach Lauren Bruce is in her second season at the helm of the Billikens. She spent three years as a SLU assistant before being promoted to head coach prior to the 2009 season. Bruce is a 2005 graduate of the University of New Hampshire. Joining her on the bench is first-year assistant Kate Lipton.

HONOR ROLL: Last season, Nicole Kent (Pewaukee, Wis. / Arrowhead) earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors, and Lexie Lindblad (St. Louis, Mo. / Ursuline) was voted to the All-Rookie team.

LEADING THE WAY: With her goal against Ohio, Nicole Kent leads all current SLU players with five career goals. She led the team with four tallies last season.

SAVE THE DATE: Alex LaBarge reached double digits in saves when she made 10 in the season opener against Radford. The junior, who missed the final 12 games of the 2009 season, followed with five saves against Ohio Sunday.

Saint Louis Billikens Field Hockey