GRANVILLE, Ohio – The 2024 season will mark the 50th anniversary of Denison University Field Hockey program. The Big Red will look to add another memorable chapter to its storied history when the season commences later this week. Denison, the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Champions, provided a dramatic victory to capture its fifth tournament title last fall. 
 
Head coach P.J. Soteriades is back for another season leading the Big Red. This fall marks the 25th year that Soteriades has guided the program. Since taking over in 2000, Soteriades has won 238 games, has led Denison to six NCAA Tournament appearances and has helped the Big Red qualify for the NCAC Tournament 16 times. She is the program's all-time leader in wins and is the longest-tenured coach in Denison field hockey history.

"I didn't realize until our Sports Information staff informed me that this milestone year of coaching coincided with the 50th anniversary of Denison Field Hockey. It's a tremendous honor," she states. "With such a huge impact on the program, Soteriades reflects on the last 25 years, "It's pretty surreal to reflect on this journey. I was hired as the head coach just months after graduating from college, and it's almost hard to believe that many of the seniors on my first team were my age or even older at the time, and now I am the longest tenured women's head coach in the department. Initially, I only intended to coach for one season before heading back to grad school to pursue a completely different career. But as the saying goes, sometimes you choose your profession, and sometimes it chooses you. Before I knew it, I blinked, and 25 years had passed. Time goes fast!"
 
2023 Season Review: The Big Red put together a 13-6 overall record and a 9-1 mark in regular season conference play. Remarkably, powered by its defensive play, all 13 wins came via shutout in 2023. 

Despite dropping a 1-0 decision in a shootout at Ohio Wesleyan in the regular season, the Big Red turned the tables in a 1-0 overtime win in the NCAC Tournament Championship in Delaware, Ohio. 
 
"Last year was not only a terrific season, it was a lot of fun," Soteriades says. "Our challenging non-conference schedule played a crucial role in preparing us for the NCAC schedule. Veteran players combined seamlessly with our new players we were able to grow tremendously throughout the year. This season, we're eager to build on that momentum and hope the new additions to our roster will continue to elevate our performance."
 
Opening their season in New York with back-to-back non-conference losses from SUNY Geneseo and No. 18 University of Rochester, the Big Red bounced back with a strong showing in a 1-0 win over 16th ranked Washington and Lee University in its home opener. The win over W&L started a six game winning streak for the Big Red. The end of this winning streak came at the hands of Centre College in a 2-1 double overtime loss in non-conference play.
 
Reilly Desmond, Lila Smith, Claire Willoughby, Tabitha Chandler, and Emma Gebhart all recorded their first career goals during the winning streak. Chandler earned the game-winner against nationally-ranked Washington and Lee.
 
After back-to-back conference wins over Wittenberg and DePauw, the Big Red split a pair of non-conference games in Virginia. Denison fell 5-0 versus sixth-ranked Christopher Newport before earning a 2-0 win over Mary Washington. 

The Big Red posted a dominant 7-0 Senior Day at Deeds Field with a win over Earlham College. Seniors Kate Hinshaw, Cary Mauck, and Abigail Hano played a role in three of the seven goals during the victory.

Denison splits its matches during the final week of the regular season. The Big Red dropped a tough 1-0 decision at Ohio Wesleyan University in a shootout. Denison closed the regular season with a 1-0 win over NCAC affiliate member Washington and Jefferson. Grace Lock accounted for the lone goal of the victory. Denison entered the NCAC Tournament as its number two seed which gave them a home contest versus DePauw in the semifinals at Deeds. Katherine Flanagan assisted a second quarter score by Lila Smith to give Denison a 1-0 lead at halftime. Flanagan later scored unassisted to propel the Big Red to a 2-0 win.
 
Just like their regular season meeting a week prior, the Big Red and the Battling Bishops went toe-to-toe in the NCAC Championship match. The Big Red proved resilient during the course of the match as they held OWU scoreless during regulation. Denison, who was out-shot by a 15-8 margin overall, turned the tide in overtime as they recorded four of the five shots. Gebhart, in her first NCAC Tournament, provided the game winner when her shot from the top of the circle found the back of the cage to help Denison claim the tournament championship and ends OWU's unbeaten run. 
 
The Big Red saw its season come to a close with a 3-0 loss to No. 9 York College of Pennsylvania in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
 
Athena Joannou and the defense finished the year with a single-season school record 14 shutouts. Gebhart posed a team high nine goals and 15 points during her first year. Her classmate, Smith, finished with six goals and 15 points.
  
2024 North Coast Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll: 
(First Place votes in parentheses, followed by total points)

1. Ohio Wesleyan (6)                  114
2. Denison (4)                            113
3. DePauw (1)                             99
4. Kenyon                                    87
5. Wittenberg                               70
6. Wooster                                   66
7. W&J                                         54
8. Allegheny                                 49
9. Oberlin                                      30
10. Earlham                                    23
11. Transylvania                             21

 
Position-By-Position Breakdown:    
 
Looking onto this upcoming season, Soteriades sets her exceptions for her strong returning team.

"From the veterans, I am looking to see how well they help acclimate new players into our team culture, our style of play," she said. "Each of them having another year of experience under their belt, I am also looking for each of them to raise their level of play with increased discipline, hunger, fight and competitiveness."
 
Goalkeeper – Athena Joannou (Reston, Va./Flint) returns as the Big Red's primary goalkeeper for the third season. The rising senior has started in 36 games during her first three seasons but has played in 39 games total. During the 2023 season Joannou posted 86 saves earning her a .851 save percentage, her best so far, and 14 shutouts as a junior which earned her a NCAC Defensive Athlete of the Week award.

Defense – Denison will have to account for the losses of Lock and Mauck on defense. Lock, the 2023 NCAC Defensive Player of the Year, proved to be key pieces for the Big Red. Mauck was a three-time All-NCAC selection and a two-time NFHCA All-Region choice.

Despite the wealth of returners across the field, Sotierades says that players must step up to fill the void any time you lose valuable players from a season prior. 

"You can't say "only" when you speak of the loss of any of our seniors from last year," she said. "While Glock and Mauck were part of our lower defense, what made that graduating class so impactful was that each of them played vital roles both offensively and defensively."

Juniors Rachel Gilio (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) and Helen Breen (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Hathaway Brown School) return as the most experienced members in the dominate Denison defense.

Gilio has played in 34 games and started in 31 so far in her career. She also scored two goals last season and recorded three defensive saves earning a spot on the 2023 NCAC All-Tournament Team and was named Second-Team All-NCAC.

Breen brings the experience of 36 games played and 17 starts from the last two seasons. She's scored four times in her career, one of which was a game-winner against Wooster last season, she also recorded one assist during the 2023 season. 
 
Emma Gebhart (Carlisle, Mass./Concord Carlisle) returns for her sophomore season after serving the Big Red as an all-around asset on the offensive and defensive last season. She played in all 17 games and was the team's leading scorer.
 
Nina Casingal (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) is another all-around asset for the Big Red. The returning junior has started 35 games during her career thus far.
 
Sophomore Tabitha Chandler (Washington, D.C./National Cathedral School) also returns after starting all 17 games her freshmen year. 
 
Midfield/Forward – Kristin Kelley (Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek) returns for her senior season. With 42 games played and 38 starts in her career, Kelley has tallied eight goals, three assists, and four game-winners in her career.
 
Katherine Flanagan (Lexington, Mass./Proctor Academy (N.H.)) returns with 34 games played in her career. The junior added three goals and one assist. She earned NCAC Tournament MVP and a spot on the All-Tournament Team last season after recording a goal and an assist in the NCAC Semifinals. 
 
Casingal is one of many versatile players on the roster playing all over the field. The rising junior has added four goals, three assists, and one game-winner to the books in her career.
 
Rising sophomores, Gebhart and Chandler, are another set of the many versatile players. Gebhart played in all 17 games (15 starts) as a first-year college player. Gebhart tallied nine goals, one assist, and four game-winning goals. She earned a spot on the NCAC All-Tournament Team and secured NFHCA Division III Offensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention recognition.

Chandler started in all 19 games last season. She had two goals, two assists, and one game-winning goal to earn a spot on the NCAC All-Tournament Team, an NCAC Athlete of the Week award and being named Second-Team All-NCAC. 
 
Sophomores Lila Smith (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) and Claire Willoughby (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) return to the offense. Smith brings the experience of starting in all 19 games last season. She tallied six goals, three assists, a perfect shots on goal record (29 shots), and four game-winners. Willoughby played in 18 games last season with two goals, an assist, and a game-winning score for the Big Red. 
 
Reilly Desmond (Eagle, Colo. / Proctor Academy (N.H.)) returns for her sophomore year after making four starts last year.

Newcomers: Denison welcomes seven newcomers this fall – six freshmen and one junior transfer. Soteriades excited to see what the newcomers will bring to the 2024 team.

"I love to see new players not only complement our existing style and level of play, but especially when they challenge it by making us more competitive," she said. "I love when new players come in wanting to make an impact right away."

Megan Edwards          Fr.         M/F         Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer
Mila Elstgeest             Fr.           M           Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands / Scala College
Maddie Gaines            Fr.         M/F         Chicago, Ill. / Latin School of Chicago
Lizzie Karnofel             Fr.         GK          Hudson, Ohio / Hudson
Therese Lucian            Fr.         GK          Mickleton, N.J. / Tower Hill School
Madden Phelps           Fr.         D/M         Cincinnati, Ohio / Indian Hill
Lauren Proicou           Fr.         D/M         Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Catholic
Bella Thoms                Jr.         D/M         Lake Forest, Ill. / Loyola Academy / Bryant University
 
Looking At The Schedule: Denison opens the season in Newport News, Va. against seventh-ranked Christopher Newport University on Aug. 30 before facing the University of Mary Washington on Sept. 1. The home opener falls on Sept. 7 against the University of Rochester. NCAC play begins Sept. 18 at home against The College of Wooster. The 50th anniversary celebration takes place on Sept. 21 in conjunction with the Big Red's game versus Transylvania. Denison will host Washington and Jefferson for its Senior Day for the last game of regular season play on Nov. 2.
 
The Final Word From Coach Soteriades: "I'm incredibly proud to coach at a highly competitive university where athletics truly matter and to be part of a program with such a rich and successful history that extends far beyond my own tenure. I have the privilege of coaching and continuing to coach some of the most remarkable women, which is something I hold dearly. Every day, I step onto the field alongside smart, passionate, fun, driven women who refuse to settle for anything less than their best, whether in the classroom or on the field. I'm honored to have a front-row seat as they develop into the best versions of themselves, discovering who they want to be when they graduate and what impact they wish to make in the world. I love that the connections, relationships and love for the sport continue long after their time at Denison."