Potential.

That’s what the Women’s Field Hockey team has going for them coming off one of the most successful seasons in recent school history.

In a press release, second year head coach Shannon West said, “We will begin with solid experience from our veterans and with the anticipated impact from our newcomers, we are excited to open at home with four games in front of our loyal fans.

“We had a good preseason, and these first games carry a lot of weight as they will begin to set up for tournament seeding.”

The Bills will be host of the 2000 Northern Pacific Conference Tournament on Nov. 2-4 at the Anheuser-Busch Conference & Sports Centre.

Bringing experience, senior captains Jenny Schwartz and Molly Monohan look to provide the Billikens with the maturity and focus needed to continue the program’s current success.

West will be looking for the newly recruited freshman to step right in and take an active roll in the program.

With the team losing starting forwards Lucy Durbin and Becky Brunner to graduation, the Bills will be stressing defense.

Veterans Schwartz and juniors Sue Albers and Heather Mattingly should provide defense and control of the game.

Junior Erin Linehan and sophomore Leslie Kearns return as goalkeepers behind newly appointed goalie coach Colleen Finn.

Monohan and junior Kristen Burich will lead the midfield attack.

They look to be an aggressive group that not only sets the tempo, but also creates plays.

The Billikens opened the season against conference foe Davidson on Aug. 26 at the Anheuser-Busch Conference & Sports Centre in Fenton, MO, in front of a home crowd of 125.

The Billikens drew first blood when Lindsay Lombardo assisted Kristen Burich to give the Bills a 1-0 lead early in the first half.

The rest was history as Davidson stormed back into control.

They scored two unanswered goals and won the game 2-1.

Even though the season opener didn’t go as well as the Bills had hoped, they did see many improvements that they will take with them for the rest of the season.

Stephanie Knight said, “The team is continuing to get to know each other and gel as a team. Passing and communication on the field will come with time and experience.”

Overall, the team is determined and ready for the challenges that lie ahead of them this season.

The Billikens continue their homestand tonight against Stanford at 3 p.m.

The homestand continues with matches against Iowa on Friday, Sept. 1, at 2:30 p.m.

Then Appalachian State will be in town on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 9 a.m.

Alisa Hebert said, “With the experience of the seniors and the newly recruited freshman, we look to be an up-and-coming threat in the Northern Pacific Conference.”