CARLISLE, Pa. – For the fourth consecutive season the Dickinson field hockey team will open up the season with a matchup against local rival Messiah University as the Red and White venture down to Grantham to face the fifth-ranked Falcons on Friday night at 7pm.

Game Information
Opponents – #5 Messiah University Falcons
Date – Friday, August 30th
Time – 7:00 pm
Location – Grantham, Pa. (Anderson Field)
Media Links – Live Stats | Live Video |

Schedule Overview

• The Devils will play eight matchups in Carlisle at the Biddle Field Complex, while doing battle nine times on the road.
• Dickinson once again faces a tough schedule with six opponents ranked inside the preseason Top-25 poll (#2 Johns Hopkins, #5 Messiah, #11 York (Pa.), #18 Franklin & Marshall, #20 Shenandoah and #21 Swarthmore).
• The Red and White will enjoy some home-cooking early in the season with a three-game homestand against #11 York (Pa.) (9/4 @ 4pm), Catholic (9/7 @ 1pm) and Susquehanna (9/11 @ 4pm).
• The Devils will honor their six seniors in their next to last home game of the regular season on Saturday, October 26th when the Ursinus College Bears come calling for a high noon first hit.

Centennial Conference Preseason Poll Position – 6th

Returning All-Conference Performers

• Junior defender, Natalie Slusser (Second Team)

Senior Leaders

• Head coach Jenn Hanks will rely on the senior group of Abby Hill, Sammi Moonay, Jackie Smith, Anna Snyder, Emma Snyder and Becca Woods to provide key leadership both on and off the pitch this season.

Ironwomen

• The trio of Maggie Carson, Slusser and Smith showed great stamina and endurance during the 2023 season as all three of them appeared in and started all 17 games for the Red and White.

Key Returners

• After losing a combined 13 goals and three assists between Ella Krenzer and Abby Marthins. The group of Alexandra Hockwitt, Malena Malka Goldman, Nicole Uebele, Carson and Woods will be tasked with replacing the missing offensive production as each player netted at least two goals during the 2023 season.  
• The Devils do bring back a group of seven individuals that supplied at least one assist last year, including Megan McClure who heads up the unit with three in her rookie campaign.

Holding Down the Backline

• Slusser and Smith will look to lead the Devils backline as the pair formed a great partnership last year starting all 17 games.
• The dynamic duo will be joined by Calyn Clements, Ella McTeague and Riley Oakes to help solidify the area around the Devils cage.

Keepers of the Cage

• Taylor Morrow made a strong impact for the Red and White in her first season in Carlisle posting a 5-3 record and backstopping Dickinson into the Centennial Conference tournament. She made 14 appearances, including eight starts ending the season with a 1.26 goals-against average with a .789 save percentage after tallying 45 stops.
• Backing up Morrow in 2024 will be first-year Olivia Croshaw.

From the Mind of Coach Hanks

• Thoughts on Schedule
  • We challenge ourselves during our non-conference games to better prepare us for Centennial Conference play. Three out of the seven teams in our non-conference schedule are nationally ranked in the NFHCA Division III preseason poll. It will be these immediate tests that we must be prepared to compete and learn from.
• What have you seen in the preseason that has you excited about the season?
  • I am pleased with how our preseason has progressed. We have seen great energy from the players and their ability to adapt to the changes in our game strategy. We have had the opportunity to scrimmage two strong opponents that provided us with new challenges, and we continue to work to improve daily.
• How have your first-years acclimated to the college game so far?
  • Really pleased with the acclimation of our first-years and what they have brought to this team. They are melding well with our returning group and bring new skills and characteristics to the identity of our team.
• What is your outlook for the year ahead?
  • I am looking forward to this group competing every day and working towards group success! We all must do our part to make that happen. We are "ALL IN"!