Kristen Schneider returns to lead the Big Red into the 2008 season.

The Denison Big Red field hockey team is set to kick off their 2008 season on Thursday when they travel to Oberlin College.  P.J. Soteriades returns for her ninth season in Granville and despite losing four senior starters off last year's team, she returns a pair of seniors in 2008 along with a talented group of 11 juniors that will take up the bulk of the roster this season.

After averaging just under two goals per contest in 2007, Soteriades is expecting a rise in offensive production this season thanks to the improvements made in the off season by the three returning starting forwards, Kristen Schneider (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), Molly McCue (Gibsonia, Pa./Aquinas Academy) and Lauren Keny (Bexley, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls).  Schneider scored two goals and added three assists while starting 18 games and McCue is the team's top goal scorer from a year ago.  Her eight goals tied for eighth in last year' North Coast Athletic Conference standings.  Keny, who finished right behind Schneider with six points, has entered preseason camp in excellent shape and has also stepped up her game. Joining them at the forward position will be senior Caitlin Gilman (Birmingham, Mich./Detroit Country Day) who was third on the team in points with 11, juniors Liz Hubbard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) and Allison Sullivan (Wellesley, Mass./Newton Country Day) and first-year Kelly Whipple (Ridgefield, Conn./St. Lukes).

"The three forwards have worked well together" said Soteriades.  "Kristen (Schneider) has changed her game and refined it.  She's faster, comfortable taking the ball one-on-one, and her fitness is better than ever."

In the midfield, Soteriades will be without four-time All-NCAC honoree Read Powel.  Looking to fill the void will be juniors Molly Nissi (Groton, Mass./Holderness), Kristen Bauman (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer), Emily Marshall (Louisville, Ky./duPont Manual) and Mariah Bauman (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) with Gilman splitting time between forward and midfield.  Rookie Caroline Kasper (Richmond, Va./St. Catherine's) has also played well early on.  Nissi made 10 starts for the Big Red in 2007 while playing in 17 contests.  Marshall, who has also been in the regular rotation since her freshman season, played in all 18 games, mostly at defender.

The defense returns senior Claire Kase (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing) along with juniors Bethany Keller (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and Katie Partridge (Mechanicsville, Va./Maggie Walker Governor's).  Kase was an All-NCAC honorable mention last season and led the conference with nine defensive saves.  Keller finished with two defensive saves and played in 16 matches as a sophomore.  Freshmen Kelsey Flowers (Darien, Conn./Darien) and Carly Tschantz (Omaha, Neb./New Trier) have both made an impact at preseason camp and are expected to contribute.

The biggest change in 2008 comes at the goalie position.  Two newcomers, Kait Fiore (Milburn, N.J./Milburn) and Kristie Hart (Blacklick, Ohio/Columbus Academy), have been battling it out through preseason practice.  They are expected to split time early in the season.

For the second full season the Big Red will call Deeds Field-Piper Stadium their home field.  The move from an all grass field to the FieldTurf at Piper Stadium has had a tremendous impact on the game, not only at the national level, but the conference level as well.

"The play in our conference has gone up tremendously due to the turf," stated Soteriades.  "We only play four games on grass so that should definitley help our consistency."

Denison will open their home schedule on Sept. 10 against Earlham College at 4:30 p.m.