Brockport, NY – The SUNY Brockport field hockey team will return to regular season action for the first time since the fall of 2019. Their season begins on Wednesday, September 1st for a 7 pm game on the road when they take on Keuka College.
 
Successful Season Start: The Golden Eagles are in search of their fifth consecutive win in a season opener. 2019's season opener saw the Green and Gold capture it's largest margin of victory of the season by shutting out Wells College 13-0.
 
Coach Archambeau: Head Coach Krista Archambeau will lead the Golden Eagles as she enters her fifth year with the Brockport field hockey program. With the 2019 season being the program's most successful year since 2011, Coach Archambeau looks to build off of that progress. Katie Ziemba, who is returning for her 5th season with the program, was one of the first freshman Coach Archambeau had when she arrived to campus. When asked about her journey here at Brockport, Ziemba expressed gratitude toward her coach's efforts.
 
"The team culture that Coach Krista has worked towards since 2017 is finally here and it makes me so happy that I was able to come back to play a 5^th year and see the growth in the program firsthand. This season we have a group of girls who love to be on the field, are looking to make others better and have a contagious energy that help create the fun and hardworking group that we are."
 
On the Sidelines: Former Brockport SUNYAC All-Conference defenseman Kelsey Devine will be returning for her third year as apart Coach Archambeau's staff. Incoming assistant Kirstin Gebhart's resume brings a large amount of field hockey experience to the program. She spent time as both a player and coach for Division I American University, along with coaching experience at the University of Louisville.
 
Key Players: When asked about this year's team Coach Archambeau had plenty to say about this group of returners. "Having lost only three players to graduation over the past two years, the entire team has more experience than years past." Coach also added, "Having Emily Hall and Katie Ziemba return for a 5th season, mixed with senior student-athletes Katelynn Mello, Alyssa Fuccillo, and Kayli Burr, brings a lot of leadership to the table." Ziemba's six goals during the 2019 season placed her third on the team in scoring. Mello, and Fuccillo each had five goals of their own last season. The teams top four assist leaders will all be returning for the 2021 season. Ziemba (7) led the team in assists while Mello, Hall, and Bailey Lazore were all tied with four. On Defense, Emma Acevedo recorded the third most playing time in 2019 with 1,371 minutes on the field. Burr will bring her playing experience to the group, having played in 23 games over the course of two seasons.
 
ONE: Entering this season as a similar look to that of the 2019 team, leadership and togetherness are both crucial to the culture of this year's squad. Katie Ziemba touched on the team's motto going into the start of 2021 with the following message.
 
"This team has an incredible amount of talent, passion, and heart. From my teammates to coaches, Brockport field hockey has a family atmosphere. Our motto is ONE. We are one team, one unit, and one movement. We win as a team, and we lose as a team. There is commitment to our culture, consistency, communication, collaboration, connection, and care that build our team and we would not be the powerful force we are today without one of those key components."
 
Stat Line: The Golden Eagles finished off their 2019 season with a 9-8 record overall. Since joining the Green and Gold, Archambeau has had four athletes receive All-Conference honors. Coach has also increased goals by 26 from 2017 to 2019 and decreased goals against by 41 from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, the team has decreased penalties/cards from 16 to 7 from 2017 to 2019. Last season the team scored 43 goals, the most in a single season since 2008, while allowing 28 less goals from the year before. Ziemba is currently 11^th in the Brockport field hockey record book for career points with 43.  She is 10^th all-time with 16 goals, while also being tied for fourth in career assists with 11. Katelynn Mello is currently tied for third all-time in career assists with 13.

Jubilating Juniors: Seven juniors return to the Golden Eagles field hockey family for 2021. Bailey Lazore, Olivia Hayden, Emma Acevedo, Paige Timby, Anna Nardslico, Jillian Owens and Kaitlyn Aitken make up a good chunk of returning players this season.
 
New to The Nest: Returning players aren't the only excitement this team brings. When talking about her recent recruiting classes, Archambeau had only good things to say. "These incoming women mix well with the returners from the 2019 season as they are all extremely coachable and talented, which is what I as a coach love to see from my athletes."
 
Missing out on their first season as a part of the Green and Gold, four sophomores return to the program this year. Rileigh Gray, Karli Gregoire, Maria Palma and Justine Draper round out the Field Hockey class of 2024. The incoming freshman class includes Kelsey Zehr, Isabella Kincanon, Paige Thowe, Quinn Guy, Tiffany Andres, Mary Young, Abby Chalmers, Gianna Salerno, Elizabeth Jensen and Ella Buchanan. Buchanan and Jensen come in as the only two goalkeepers on the current roster.
 
Home Opener: Brockport's home opener will take place on Saturday, September 4^th against Elmira College at 3:30 p.m. The last time the two teams faced off Brockport was successful, claiming a 1-0 victory.