Field Hockey Season Review
Nov 24 | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Scarlet Knights wrapped up the 2015 campaign with a 7-11 season, earning four of those wins at home in the team's second season as members of the Big Ten Conference. The season was highlighted by a strong start to the year, numerous battles with some of the nation's best teams, strong individual performances, and development throughout the roster.
HOT START
The Scarlet Knights got off to a hot start to the season, opening the year at 4-1 in nonconference action. RU picked up two wins on opening weekend, defeating Bucknell and Ball State by a combined margin of 7-1. The team then took No. 9 Virginia to the brink, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to tie the score in the second half, before falling 5-4.
The squad regrouped and responded with two more home wins as the offense kept clicking, scoring nine goals in the next two games to down local foes Monmouth and Villanova. Through five games the Scarlet Knights were leading the Big Ten with 4.0 goals per game and 11.8 points per game.
In the Scarlet Knights first road game, the team was tied 2-2 in the second half at No. 16 Iowa, but could not outlast the Hawkeyes. Staying in Iowa City, Iowa, the team rebounded with a six-goal outburst in a blanking of Missouri State. The team's 5-2 start gave them five wins in their first seven games for the first time since 2008.
Senior Nicole Imbriaco was a big catalyst early on, recording two goals in a game three straight times (Villanova, Iowa, and Missouri State). The Clark, N.J. native scored nine goals in the first seven games, and was leading the conference with 1.29 points per game and 2.86 goals per game. She led the squad that also got contributions from down the roster, outscoring opponents 30-13 in the first seven games.
"I think we had a really strong start and we gained a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence early on," said head coach Meredith Civico. "We were able to score quite a few goals in our opening stretch and I think that's something that we haven't done before. We had a lot of players contributing."
The Scarlet Knights also earned a pair of non-conference victories down the stretch of the season, both away from home. RU downed Ohio 2-1 in a neutral site contest in East Lansing, Mich., and won 2-1 at American on Oct. 23.
TOP COMPETITION
The Scarlet Knights challenged themselves with a difficult schedule this season. RU faced six ranked teams, including three top-ten foes. Four of those six squads advanced to the 18-team field of the NCAA Tournament. Four of those games (No. 9 Virginia, No. 16 Iowa, No. 7 Maryland, No. 9 Louisville) were one or two goal contest.
SENIOR CLASS
Rutgers was spearheaded by a four-member class of graduating seniors: Katie Champion, Carley Hawkins, Nicole Imbriaco, and Ali Stever.
Katie Champion (Egg Harbor, N.J.) - 72 games played career, 41 games started, 20 goals, 12 assists, 52 points, five game-winning goals. Entered Rutgers' top ten-all time for goals (tied for 10th with 20) and points (tied for 10th with 52).
Carley Hawkins (Harrisburg, Pa.) - 35 games played career, 20 starts. One defensive save.
Nicole Imbriaco (Clark, N.J.) - 63 games played career, 31 starts. 18 goals, three assists, 39 points, two game-winning goals. Set career-highs with 11 goals, three assists and 25 points as a senior. 25 points tied for 10th on RU's lifetime single season leaderboard.
Ali Stever (Ocean City, N.J.) - Team captain as a senior. 71 games played career, 65 of them as a started. Two goals and seven assists (11 points) career, with a career-high four assists and six points as a senior.
STATS RECAP
Nicole Imbriaco led the team with 11 goals and 25 points. Katie Champion and Alyssa Bull shared the team lead with five assists.
Champion (five goals, five assists) and Rachel Yaney (six goals, three assists) were second on the team with 15 points. Linde van Schaik led Rutgers freshmen with seven points (two goals, three assists).
Shevaun Hayes started all 18 games in goal. She held a 3.41 goals-against-average and .644 save percentage.
RETURNERS
The Scarlet Knights will return over 60 percent of their scoring from the past season for next year's roster (25 goals, 24 assists, 72 points).
The rising senior class features two-time captain Alyssa Bull (four goals, five assists, 13 points in 2015), leading returning scorer Rachel Yaney (six goals, three assists, 15 points), a trio of starting defenders in Sofia Walia, Devon Freshnock and Elyse Broderick, and starting goalkeeper Shevaun Hayes.
Freshman Linde van Schaik was the RU's representative on the Big Ten All-Conference squad. A Second Team selection, van Schaik had a strong campaign, starting every game in the midfield and scoring two goals and adding three assists.
"We've got a lot to be proud of and we've got a lot of really good things propelling us into our spring," Civico said. "I think they're coming away from this knowing that they really can compete at the highest level.
