SPRINGFIELD - The field hockey Bears open their spring exhibition season, and a new era in Missouri State field hockey, Friday, March 25, when they welcome in-state rival Saint Louis to Plaster Field for a 1 p.m. affair. It will mark the first competition under new head coach Gabby Gomez-Sosa.
Gomez-Sosa replaces Dawn Callahan, who stepped down in November as the program's second-winningest coach after 14 years with the Bears, 13 as the head coach. Gomez-Sosa, who spent two seasons as Callahan's assistant, returns nine of 11 starters and 89 percent of the team's scoring from the 2010 campaign (5-15, 2-8), which ended with a controversial 2-1 loss against Central Michigan in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Bears will make a return trip to St. Louis April 15th. The two games against the Billikens will serve as bookends to the spring season. The Bears will also play in the Longstreth League Tournament April 9-10 in Louisville, Ky.
Friday's scrimmage will be a modified, 7-on-7 half-field exhibition and will be open to the public with no admission.
Top Returners:
5-Casey Bayliss-Forward-Jr.-Bathurst, NSW, Australia
All-MAC First Team
20 games; 20 starts; 9 goals; 6 assists; 24 points
25-Sarah Cusick-Forward-Jr.-San Diego, Calif.
19 games; 17 starts; 5 goals; 2 assists; 12 points
21-Hillary Lawless-Forward-Fr.-St. Louis, Mo.
20 games; 9 starts; 4 goals; 4 assists; 12 points
8-Laura Tavares-Midfielder-Fr.-Oakville, Ontario, Canada
20 games; 19 starts; 4 goals; 1 assist; 9 points; 1 defensive save
9-Kristi O'Connor-Forward-So.-Fort Worth, Texas
10 games; 10 starts; 4 goals; 1 assist; 9 points
12-Catrina Schmidt-Forward-Fr.-St. Louis, Mo.
20 games; 20 starts; 3 goals; 1 assist; 7 points
18-Reiann Stoute-Defender-Jr.-Bridgetown, Barbados
19 games; 19 starts; 3 goals; 1 assist; 7 points; 1 defensive save
7-Lori Sinclair-Midfielder-Jr.-St. Louis, Mo.
20 games; 20 starts; 3 assists; 3 points; 1 defensive save
76-Steph Anderson-Goalkeeper-So.-Pittsburgh, Pa.
13 games; 13 starts; 93 saves; .762 save percentage; 2 shutouts
Full Spring Schedule:
3/25 vs. Saint Louis, 1 p.m.
4/9-10 at Longstreth League Tournament in Louisville, Ky.
4/9 at Louisville, 9 a.m.
4/9 vs. Miami (Ohio), 2:15 p.m.
4/10 TBA
4/15 at Saint Louis, 1 p.m.
