Penn College Women's Soccer Team Seeks 'Three-Peat'
Published 09.03.2003
In each of its first two seasons, the Pennsylvania College of Technology women's soccer team has captured Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference championships. This year, it goes for its third straight.
The Lady Wildcats open their season Thursday (Sept. 4) at non-league foe Corning (N.Y.) Community College with five returning starters in the lineup, including Melissa McKee of Milton, who earned all-EPCC honors last fall.
McKee will anchor a defense, which third-year Coach Dan Hibbs thinks will be the strength of his squad.
"I think we'll be strong on defense. We have an experienced goalie (freshman Jennifer Scott of Selinsgrove), and, with Melissa there, we have a lot of experience," he said.
Returnees, in addition to McKee, are Liz Pivirotto (forward/Williamsport Bishop Neumann), Rebecca Breary (midfielder/Lansdale), Nikki Crouse (forward/West York) and Mackenzie Tomazin (defender/Pine Grove).
Hibbs, a two-time EPCC Coach of the Year, will look to those five for leadership, both on and off the field.
Newcomers for the Lady Wildcats, who have gone 8-2 during each of the last two years, are Celia Hufnagle (forward/Williamsport), Catesha Early (forward/Loyalsock Township), Courtney Duffield (mid-fielder/Jersey Shore), Sara Tietbohl (midfielder/West York), Sarah Shaffer (mid-fielder/West Perry), Erin Shannon (defender/Oley Valley), Jen Friese (forward/Chambersburg), Julie Reppert (defender/Lebanon Catholic) and Lynn Hirthler (forward/Council Rock).
With two titles under their belts, Hibbs knows that this year will be tougher.
"They're all gunning for us. We're the team to beat, so we have to keep our focus on every game . . . You can't really let your guard down," the coach said.