King's Field Hockey - "Back to-Back"
2007 Freedom Conference Champions / NCAA Division III National Qualifier
The Monarch field hockey team started a rush of new women’s sports at King’s when the program completed its first varsity season in 1992. Since then the field hockey program has steadily grown into one of the most successful in the region
The Monarchs made their debut in the Middle Atlantic Conference in 1993 and remain a highly competitive team under the direction of 14th-year mentor Cheryl Ish, a former three-time NCAA All-American. Ish was named the 1996 and 2005 MAC Freedom Conference "Coach of the Year" and has produced 59 MAC Freedom Conference all-star players. Coach Ish led King's to the 2006 and 2007 Freedom Conference csshampionships and an NCAA Division III National Tournament berth both years. She also piloted the squad to second-place finishes in the conference tournament in 2003 and 2005.
In 2006, King's enjoyed its finest season ever when the Lady Monarchs posted a school-record 19-3 mark and reached the Division III national tournament. The 2007 squad followed up with a 15-5 recordand won its second straight Freedom Conference title. In 2005, King's posted a 15-5 mark and concluded the season ranked 20th nationally by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).
In its short history, the program has developed a long list of recognized players. In 1998, Maria Ulicny became the program’s first NFHCA Regional All-American and then repeated in 1999. Courtney Coyle would then earn the honor in 2000, followed by Kelly Poncheri in 2002. Lindsay Sabo earned back-to-back Regional All-American selections in 2005 and 2006. Both seasons she was also named the Freedom Conference "Player of the Year". selection. In 2007, junior Christina Glenn became King's seventh all-region choice.The Lady Monarch program is also highly regarded for its academic excellence as 88 players have been named to the MAC All-Academic Team from 1993 to 2005. Sabo was named a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American in 2007 after earning third-team national honors in 2006.
King's competes for an opportunity to qualify for the Freedom Conference Championships as the top four teams from within the conference earn post-season berths. In 2004, the NCAA began awarding the Freedom Conference winner an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Championships, increasing King’s chances of competing at the national level.
The Lady Monarchs traditionally play a 20-game regular-season schedule which includes spirited local rivalries with Wilkes, Scranton, Misericordia, and Marywood.
King's has also played in a number of tournaments, typically one each season. Since its inception, the program has risen from the traditional growing pains of a new program to one which has developed tremendous pride. This is also evident by the large number of former players who return for the Alumni Game. Lady Monarch field hockey has formed a successful tradition which stands proud among the college's athletic program.
King’s plays its home contests at beautiful Robert L. Betzler Fields which stands as one of the top natural grass fields in the MAC. The team will play the majority of its home games on the natural grass field but will compete occasionally on King's new multi-purpose synthetic turf field constructed in 2008.
Would you like to be recruited by King's to play field hockey? If so, click on the following link and fill out the online recruiting form: Prospective Athletes
Check out more action photos of King's field hockey by going to the team Photo Gallery section.
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
1 (888) KINGS PA
Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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