BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The College at Brockport field hockey team is looking to make strides in 2016, and improve upon their finish a year ago.
 
Andrea Zurlo enters her 16th season at the helm of the Golden Eagles, where she has amassed a total of 106 wins, making her the winningest coach in the programs history. The 2016 campaign will be her last with Brockport, as Coach Zurlo announced her intention to retire following her 19th year of coaching.
 
"We want to win more games than last year, and make it to the SUNYAC playoffs," noted Zurlo of her squad's goals for 2016. "Behind a strong team, I would like to go out with a bang in my final season."
 
The Golden Eagles will look to make a strong statement this season behind the play of a strong core of returners. The Green and Gold welcome back seven seniors, six juniors and eight sophomores to their roster. Seniors Katherine Weyant, Autumn Swavely, Allie McConnell, Krista Millington and Ryenn Sanger will be strong influences on the defensive end of the field, with Weyant a three-year starter for Brockport. Swavely led the team in defensive saves a year ago, with 11 stops while Weyant picked up a pair.
 
Other seniors returning to the pitch include forwards Emilee Boddery and Nicole Fazzolari, where Fazzolari netted two scores and an assist in 2015.
 
"We have five fabulous senior captains this season who will all be key leaders on and off the field for our team," said Zurlo.
 
Apart of the wealth of experience returning for the Golden Eagles are their six junior members, in Amy Masciale, Whitney Markwice, Kaitlin Croghan, Kelsey Devine, Margo Tremaine and Mariah Clark.
 
Coach Zurlo hopes to see the junior class make a big impact, with Tremaine and Masciale leading the charge on the forward line, with help from sophomore Christina Conkling. In 2015 Tremaine and Masciale led all scorers, with five goals apiece, while Tremaine dished out six assists on the year.
 
Conkling, along side her fellow sophomores of Paula Amo, and Felicia Minton will play a role for the Green and Gold in the forward slot, looking to spark the Brockport offense.  
 
Adriana DeDie and Sarah Beam will both work for time in goal for the Golden Eagles, while Maria Morgenthaler will hope to be a presence in the midfield.
 
The Golden Eagles will also see some fresh faces on the field this season, in Olivia Landry, Abby Meagher, Nicole Williams, Julia Weyant, Maya Reina and Grace Beardsley.
 
J. Weyant, the sister of K. Weyant, could be a role player for the Green and Gold in the midfield, with Beardsley joining her in the same postition.
 
On the defensive side, Reina will hope to have an impact, along with new net minder Landry.
 
With a big shift in leadership in the SUNYAC, the Golden Eagles have a good opportunity to make a splash in league play this season.
 
"The playing field will likely be different this season," commented Zurlo. "There's been a lot of changing of head coaches around the sport in this area, so we could see a lot of shifting in play."
 
The Golden Eagles will hit the field in their season opener on Sept. 1 when they take on Keuka College in Keuka, N.Y. and star in their home opener on Sept. 7 when they host St. John Fisher College at 4 p.m.
 
Be sure to stay up to date on all your Golden Eagle scores and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by liking the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.