BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn field hockey team opens the 2018 season this weekend with a pair of matchups at the Colgate Classic August 24 and 26. The Blackbirds open the year on Friday afternoon against Saint Louis University before closing the weekend against Colgate on Sunday.
LIU made strides with a breakout sophomore campaign as a program in 2017, finishing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season in second place with a 4-2 record and clinching its first MAAC Tournament appearance. Reigning MAAC Coach of the Year Kyle Desandes-Moyer returns 15 letter winners along with the addition of six first-year student athletes.
Junior defender Haley Ballard garnered preseason All-MAAC honors earlier this week. She finished third in the MAAC with five defensive saves last season. Sophomore Jenna Chrabolowski leads the Blackbirds attack after recording 12 points on five goals and two assists as a rookie last season. Gillian Vallaster and Madi Cook both recorded six points for the LIU offense as sophomores a season ago. Molly Jannell was a two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week in 2017. She finished the year with 150 saves, good for fourth among MAAC goalkeepers.
The Blackbirds begin the stretch of eight games on the road to start the season before returning to LIU Field in mid-September.
Previewing Saint Louis
LIU meets the Billikens for the second-straight season after traveling out to Saint Louis last season. Jenna Chrabolowski registered the lone Blackbirds goal off an Amy Reid assist in the 5-1 loss. The Billikens were slotted eighth in the Atlantic-10 preseason poll. Midfielder Carly Kissinger leads the returning attack after 14 points last season. She tallied two goals and an assist in last years matchup.
Previewing Colgate
The Blackbirds close out the opening weekend against tournament host Colgate. The Raiders edged out LIU last season with a 2-1 double overtime win in Saint Louis. Both teams registered second half goals before Colgate tallied the game-winner at 93:35. The Raiders were picked seventh in the Patriot League preseason poll. Iona MacKillop is the team's top returning scorer with eight points on three goals and two assists last season.