Field hockey season preview: Cox is No. 1

Preseason Top 10

1. Cox

The defending Group AAA state, Eastern Region and Beach District tournament champs return everyone, including all-state selections Taylor Rhea, Kelsey Rosenmeier, Cara Witte and Stephanie DeMasi. Keeping up with the Falcons will be tough.

2. Lakeland

Kelsey Smither, Kendell Combs and Taylor Young will spearhead the attack for the perennial Southeastern District power.

3. Maury

Tollie Bell and Anne Pishko combined for 57 goals and 20 assists last season for the Commodores. Jo Ann Van Aswegan Walker, a South Africa native and former standout at Old Dominion, has taken over as Maury’s coach.

4. Ocean Lakes

Leanne Lorenz and Kayla White are among eight seniors for the experienced Dolphins, who return their entire defensive line.

5. First Colonial

Goalkeeper Shannon Black and midfielder Abby O’Connor, both first-team All-Beach District players, are key for the Patriots, whose future is bright with 12 sophomores and 12 freshmen.

6. Western Branch

Junior forward Jessica Diaz will be the focus for the Bruins’ offense, but coach Dawn Smith says the defense, which lost five starters, is young.

7. Norfolk Academy

The senior-laden defense of Virginia Lascara, Irene Cavros and Hillary BonTempi, combined with the play of all-state honoree Lydia Nichols in the cage, gives the Bulldogs a solid backbone.

8. Nansemond River

The Warriors are strong down the middle with seniors Stephanie Tarafas in goal, Hannah Meinertzhagen in the middle and Brittany Frame up top.

9. Princess Anne

Last year’s bridesmaid in the region and state tournaments returns just one senior. But under the guidance of longtime coach Denise O’Connell, can you ever count the Cavaliers out?

10. Hickory

Midfielder Sarah Bieszczad and goalkeeper Megan Hept are 2 of 7 returning players for the Hawks, who graduated eight seniors after last season.

Nine things to look for in 2009

1. Cox opens the season against state quarterfinalist Mountain View, then plays Sacred Heart of Kentucky less than a week later. Sacred Heart finished last season ranked No. 1 nationally by topofthecircle.com. The Falcons were seventh.

2. The SunDevil Invitational will be held Aug. 28-29 at the National Training Center in Virginia Beach. The tournament brings in talented teams from around the countr y. Sacred Heart beat Lakeland 3-0 in the final of the top bracket last year.

3. Despite Norfolk Academy’s history, the Tidewater Conference could be up for grabs. Bishop Sullivan coach Beth Keenehan said this year’s squad is her strongest ever. And Cape Henry’s Kristen Wheeler said she expects her team to make strides despite being the youngest and most inexperienced she has had.

4. Granby looks to continue to push Maury in the Eastern District under second-year coach Elizabeth Werbiskis. Katherine Hupp and Rachel Gillooly teamed for nine goals and four assists for the Comets. Heads-up play at the back by Stephanie Graefe produced seven goal-line saves.

5. Look for forward Amber Jones to shin e on Salem’s young team. Coach Rudy van Oekel said the junior already is being scouted by college coaches.

6. Kellam co-coach Kelly Turner said the Knights also are young. Midfielder Megan Reardon and defender Morgan Joyner, both seniors, will be relied upon for stability in a team Turner expects to contend.

7. Great Bridge could surprise in the Southeastern District. Eleven upperclassmen have been with the Wildcats under third-year coach Meredith Prince.

8. A number of local players kept th eir sticks moving during the summer by participating in the AAU Junior Olympics. Maury’s Tollie Bell and First Colonial’s Emily Leonard were on the gold medal-winning squad.

9. If a combined 84 goals and 41 assists weren’t enough to contend with from Cox’s four all-state players, Meredith Corner and Casey DiNardo also scored in double figures for the Falcons and goalkeeper Liz Beckner notched 14 shutouts.

By the numbers

1: Maury has won every Eastern District regular-season and tournament title except for one. The only other team to lift a trophy is Lake Taylor, which claimed victory in the tournament final 11 years ago.

3: Consecutive Eastern Region and Group AAA state tournament titles won by Cox. Last year, the storied program won its 17th overall region title and 16th state championship.

6: Shutouts recorded last season by Norfolk Academy goalkeeper Lydia Nichols, who registered a 1.34 goals-against average en route to being named All-Tidewater Conference and all-state.

8: Consecutive years Lakeland has had a grip on the Southeastern District tournament title.

42: Goals scored last season by Maury’s Tollie Bell, who led the nation.

Last year’s champions

Group AAA: Cox

Eastern Region: Cox

Beach District: Princess Anne, regular season; Cox, tournament

Eastern District: Maury, regular season and tournament

Southeastern District: Lakeland, regular season and tournament

Tidewater Conference: Norfolk Academy, regular season; Cape Henry, tournament

Virginia Independent Schools: St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes, Division I; Fredricksburg Academy, Division II