The Billiken Field Hockey team has been marred by inconsistency
lately. They are currently the owners of a three-game losing
streak. Prior to that, however, that’s boasted a three-game winning
streak.
The Billikens will look to recent NorPac award winners Carin
Boone, Julie Moeckel and Catherine Donovan to help get them on
track before the start of the NorPac tournament. The Billikens had
things rolling after they posted consecutive wins over Appalachian
State, and a win over Davidson.
They beat Appalachian State with a combined 7-2 in the two
matches played over fall-break weekend. Boone and Ellen Rapp
notched two goals apiece over the weekend, while Donovan, Michelle
Sinclair and Marissa Lynn each put one into the back of the net.
Moeckel allowed only two goals, while recording five saves.
The Billikens won a tight match against Davidson 1-0, on Oct.
22. Lynn scored the only goal for the Bills, and Moeckel made a
spectacular seven saves in recording the shut out.
However, the next game Davidson took from the Billikens, and
that is what started their three-game downward spiral. After the
1-0 win, Davidson took one back from the Billikens winning 2-1 in
overtime.
Boone scored the only goal for the Bills, and again Moeckel
turned in a stellar performance recording eight saves.
That spiral lead to consecutive loses over NorPac rival Radford.
Radford won game one 1-0, despite Moeckel turning in a nine-save
performance.
The Billiken offense could only muster up three shots against a
stifling Davidson defense. The next game the Billiken offense came
out firing and sent 13 shots at Davidson goalkeeper Amy Dietz. But
they only turned in one goal in a 2-1 losing effort.
Following the aforementioned three-game win streak, however,
Moeckel, Donovan, and Boone swept the NorPac weekly awards. The
trio took home the offensive, defensive and rookie of the week
honors for the week ending Oct. 17. Moeckel earned the defensive
player award, while Donovan and Boone took home the rookie and
offensive awards, respectively.
This is the first time in the school’s history that the field
hockey team has swept all three of the awards for their East
Division of NorPac.
Moeckel, for one, was incredibly excited about winning the
award. “This is a huge honor, especially since SLU field hockey has
never gotten any of these awards in previous years,” she said.
But she remained humble and paid homage to those who helped her
garner the award.
“I really owe it to my defense and the rest of the girls, also.
Their names should be on the award too,” Moeckel said. Moeckel has
been stellar for the duration of the season. She has recorded 53
saves on the season and has a 1.52 goals against average in the 12
games she has played.
Boone, a junior midfielder from Loveland, Ohio, has provided a
spark with her feet all year long. Opposing defenses have
nightmares about how to deal with the speed that Boone brings to
each and every match.
Speed, coupled with the fact that opposing defenses quaver at
the the thought of playing her, are big reasons why Boone is the
team’s second-leading goal scorer, despite playing in just over
half of the team’s games. She is also second on the team, with a
.444 shooting percentage.
Donovan has been a key contributor for the Billikens, in
addition to being an excellent markswoman. The freshman midfielder
from St. Louis has played in 10 of the Billikens’ 12 games to this
point.
She currently leads the team with a .500 shooting percentage,
which is remarkable, especially for a freshman.
She is currently tied with Lynn for third on the team in goals
scored with three.
The freshman has been a welcome addition to the midfield and
will undoubtedly see an increased role as the NorPac tournament
quickly approaches.
The Billikens have two more road games before the NorPac
tournament starts on Nov. 4th. The Tournament will be held at
Davidson University and will run until Nov. 6.
The Billikens will look to their award winners to provide
leadership, heart and energy as they wind down to the end of their
season.
