Published: September 03, 2009 12:52 pm      

FIELD HOCKEY: Lady Rams have new coach.

Roy-Hart alum Colleen Albee takes over the coaching reins at Roy-Hart which begins a very challenging Niagara-Orleans League schedule by visiting defending champion Barker on Tuesday and then hosting last fall’s runner-up Akron on Sept. 10.

“It’s exciting,” sad Albee, who played field hockey, basketball and ran track for the Lady Rams during her scholastic days at Roy-Hart. “It’s exciting to be on the same field. It’s a great opportunity.”

Albee, who is being assisted by former Lady Rams coach John Jablonski, faces a bit of a rebuilding job with the loss to graduation of 12 seniors from last fall’s 9-3-2 team, six of whom earned spots on the N-O all-League squad.

First team All-League selections Liz DeWaters and Sarah Offhaus, along with second team honorees Grace McPartlin and Jen Voelker, head that group of key graduates.

Anchoring the Roy-Hart line-up is the veteran group of seniors Chelsey Barnett (midfield), Kristi Pilhorn (midfield), Briena Seidel (forward), Alyssa Riexinger (goalie) and Allison Smith (defender) along with sophomore Brittany Burg (midfield).

The Lady Rams roster also includes juniors Sara Griffith (midfield) and Rebecca Walker (defender) along with sophomore defenders Jordan Beach, Diana Riexinger, and Catherine Stoddard and freshmen Marissa Catalano (midfield), Paige Flynn (forward), Penny Glena (defender), Kylie Majka (forward), Brittany Manicki (defender) and Elizabeth Offhaus (defender).

“It’s a young team but they’re quick. We’ve got a lot of speed and with our returning seniors we’ve got some good experience and some good team leadership,” Albee said.

Barker which took the N-O crown last year with a near perfect 13-0-1 record, is led by a large group of eight returnee who earned spots on the all-League squad.

That veteran contingent includes seniors Sienna Dear and Rebecca Quackenbush, who earned first team honors; senior Crystal Mott and junior Savanna Gancasz, who were second team honorees; and seniors Aileen Hinton and Brittany Cordaro along with junior Alexandra Gancasz and sophomore goalie Rachel Anderson who were all honorable mention picks.

Akron, which finished second at 10-4, is led by the returning first team all-league duo of sophomore forward Kierstyn Sturmer and junior goalie Shannon Winney.

Key losses to graduation for Barker were Alyssa Hare, a first team selection, and Crystal Rhodes, a second team selection.

Akron’s key losses were second team All-League picks Anna Frey and Rachel Judasz.