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Field Hockey 2012 Season Review

 

The 2012 season was a fresh start for the Muhlenberg field hockey team, and it wasted little time laying a strong foundation that led to the team’s first winning record since 2009.

Kristen Dornenburg
Dornenburg finished her career with 488 saves, putting her in second place on Muhlenberg's all-time list, and was selected to play in the NFHCA Division III Senior All-Star Game.
With a starting lineup that featured five sophomores and only two seniors, the Mules finished the season 9-7 overall and 4-6 in the Centennial Conference, nearly doubling their win total from the previous season.

A defense that allowed only 22 goals – down from 53 in 2011 and the program’s lowest total since 2004 – keyed the turnaround, which included the Mules receiving votes in the national poll for the first time in nine years.

Muhlenberg started the season with much excitement by defeating Scranton 2-1 in overtime. The team went on to win three of its next four games, including a win over No. 9 Montclair State, which would not lose again until the Division III national championship game.

Senior goalkeeper Kristen Dornenburg had 12 saves in the win. She was selected to the All-CC second team along with sophomore Kayleigh Thies, who led the team on offense with five goals and six assists.

Dornenburg finished the season with a 1.38 goals-against average, good for second place in the CC and 24th in Division III.

Devon Barber
Barber was named to the All-CC Sportsmanship Team and finished her career with five goals.
Helping Dornenburg was a defense led by junior Ashley DeAngelis, who led the conference and tied for seventh nationally with 13 defensive saves. Her 13 saves broke the school record of 12 set by her older sister, Brittany DeAngelis, last year.

Sophomore Heather Porrini also added two defensive saves, including one in overtime in a dramatic win at McDaniel. Sophomore Ray Gallagher was another key to the defense, starting all 16 games.

Junior Mariah Alston was a factor at both ends of the field, scoring her first career goal in a 1-0 win against Swarthmore and adding three assists and a defensive save. She earned All-CC honorable mention.

Junior Dayna Hovern and sophomore Samantha Swire tied Thies for the team lead in goals with five. Hovern scored twice, once in overtime, in the McDaniel game, helping Muhlenberg come back to win their CC opener after trailing twice during regulation. It was the first such win for the Mules, and the first in which they came back from a two-goal deficit to win, since 1998.

Junior Erin Cummings scored four goals, two of them coming in a 4-0 rout of Dickinson for the first multi-goal game of her career. Sophomores Christine Germaske and Lauren Jordan tallied three goals apiece.

Senior Devon Barber scored Muhlenberg’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over Widener. Adding a goal apiece were sophomore Meghan Gill and freshman Gabrielle Smith.

Sophomore Allie Califano was a key reserve, playing in 13 games, and freshman Bridget McNally made eight appearances.