Greyhounds’ Teamwork on Defense Reflected in DIII Statistics
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Moravian College field hockey team has worked as a unit all season long to keep the ball out of the cage.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Moravian College field hockey team has worked as a unit all season long to keep the ball out of the cage.
The Greyhounds (8-8) have received solid goalkeeping from senior Andrea Eck during the 2013 season, in which Moravian has allowed 1.7 goals per contest, ranking in the top 50 in the NCAA Division III field hockey statistics release from Monday, Oct. 21.
The Greyhound backline, however, has proven that Eck is not the last line of defense. Moravian is ranked in a 10th-place tie in the nation in defensive saves with 16. A defensive save is credited when a non-goalkeeping player prevents the ball from going in the cage legally with her stick after the goalie is unable to make a save.
"Our defensive players are very determined in keeping the ball out of the net," head coach Amy Endler said. "They have the mindset that they will do anything they have to in order to accomplish that goal. Defensive saves take tremendous eye-hand coordination and some of the ones we have had this year have been incredible."
Senior defender Erin Gilbert leads the way in the category, coming up with the second highest single-season total in school history with one game remaining in the 2013 season. Her eight defensive saves for the Greyhounds are tied for 10th in Division III.
The senior now stands alone in second place in the career defensive saves record book with 12, only trailing former teammate Stephanie Pezzello '12.
Junior defender Emily Marley is second on the club with four defensive saves, which also ranks in the top 50 in the NCAA individual statistics release.
Sophomore Rebecca Eisenstein has chipped in with two, while junior Bryn Tafuri and sophomore Ely Vazquez both came up with a defensive save this season.
Eck has made 75 saves in front of the cage while starting in all 16 Moravian contests.
The Greyhounds will be gunning for a winning season for the second time in three years when they conclude their 2013 slate at Goucher College on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.
