BRODERICK AND SENIOR QUINTET SENT OFF WITH ROLLER COASTER SEASON
PHILADELPHIA (2/01/03) - A furious charge for the postseason and a near-upset of Atlantic 10 champion Richmond in the semifinals of the Conference tournament highlighted a rollercoaster season for the Saint Joseph's field hockey team in 2002. With head coach Joan Broderick in her final year on the sidelines and a quintet of five four-year senior starters, including Kelly Butler, Aly Dankovitch, Brett Dymarczyk, Natasha Pronga and Kathy Sokalski, leading the way, SJU finished the season 9-9 overall, 3-3 in the A-10.
Sparked by the play of Butler and a high-scoring offense, SJU opened the season 3-1, dispatching Georgetown, Pacific and Lehigh along the way. The only blemish was a defeat to nationally ranked Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.
Just as quickly, however, SJU saw its knack for finding the back of the cage disappear. The Hawks dropped three straight, as the attack mustered just one goal.
A pair of thrilling 1-0 overtime victories over Fairfield and Villanova, as well as a 3-2 win at long-time rival Rutgers, were tempered by a 3-2 loss at West Chester in the team's conference opener and another three game slide that left SJU deep in a hole at 0-3 in A-10 play.
With their backs against the wall, the Hawks' seniors rose to the occassion playing their most spirited hockey of the season. Junior Kristen Teklinsky, along with Sokalski, reenergized the Crimson and Gray and powered the team to three straight victories to close out the regular season.
SJU routed Rhode Island and La Salle by 3-1 margins and then escaped with a 2-1 overtime win against Temple in the season finale. The late charge put the Hawks on the cusp of the A-10 postseason tournament, but not into the playoffs. The team was forced to wait in limbo for two days. The squad's postseason ticket could not be punched until West Chester defeated Temple, 2-1, in the last conference game of the year.
Playing its best hockey of the season, the Hawks soared into the postseason. Pitted against A-10 regular season champ Richmond in the semifinals, SJU battled the Spiders to a stalemate for 66 minutes. UR, however, scored during a scrum following a penalty corner with 3:11 left in regulation to defeat SJU, 1-0.
The season featured a wealth of records, honors and accolades for the Hawks' upperclassmen.
Three Saint Joseph's players, including Butler, who led the team in both goals (9) and points (20) for the second straight season, were named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference team. She was joined by Teklinsky (3 goals, 4 assists) and junior Amie Schmoltze (3 goals, 2 assists).
Butler was also named to the Academic All-A-10 team along with Pronga and Sokalski for the second straight season. An interdisciplinary health services major with a with a 3.86 GPA, Sokalski was recognized ther the Student-Athlete of the Year by the league.
Snubbed from the all-league squad, after making the team as juniors, Pronga and Dymarczyk each were named to the A-10 all-championship team.
Dymarczyk and Schmoltze were also recognized by the local area coaches as members of the All-Philadelphia Field Hockey Team.
In addition to the academic honors from the conference, ten members of the team were been named to the 2002 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Academic Squad. The honorees included Butler, Pronga and Sokalski, as well as, Schmoltze and junior Courtney Huff, along with sophomore Annie Harkins and freshmen Cristin Cavanaugh, Emily Mannion, Shelley Meier, and Jill Stracko.
Several Hawks etched their names in the Hawk record book. Broderick closed her career with the third most victories (41) and second longest tenure in school history. Pronga, who started every game of her Hawk career, set a school mark with 75 consecutive games started.
Two of the most prolific offensive players in school history, Dymarczyk finished fifth on SJU’s career goals list with 27 and eighth in career points with 58. Sokalski, meanwhile stands fifth in career assists with 18, sixth in career points with 60 and eighth in career goals with 21.
The 2002 season featured peaks and valleys for the SJU field hockey squad, while bringing to a close a distinct era in program history. The legacy left by the this year's quintet of talented seniors and head coach Joan Broderick have no doubt left the framework for future Hawk success.
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