Video presentation
The 1990 field hockey season not only was one of the most successful in program history, it also carried on the tradition the program was driving toward as an elite team at any level. The Lions captured the program’s fifth NCAA Division III title since the tournament began eight years earlier. It was also the second title in three years for the College with head coach Sharon (Goldbrenner) Pfluger directing the team through an unbeaten season for just the third time in program history.
The team finished the season with a record of 18-0-1 with that unbeaten season keeping a number of impressive streaks alive. By the time the season had finished, the College extended its unbeaten streak during the regular season to 54, while continuing to dominate at Lions’ Stadium pushing that run to 59 straight wins in regular-season play. The team also won their ninth straight New Jersey Athletic Conference title and at that time were the only program to win the title.
The team started the season with four straight wins with three of those coming by a shutout. Following a tie in conference play, the Lions finished the regular season with 10 straight victories as they geared up for the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The team opened the NCAA tournament with a 3-1 win over Oneonta State and then blanked Hartwick College 3-0 to move into the semifinals. Next, the Lions pulled out a 2-1 win over Messiah College setting up a big 2-1 win over Bloomsburg on its home field. The NCAA Tournament showcased the College’s balance as four different players recorded game-winning goals during the team’s run. Cathy Filipello, Denise Decker, and Jill Shipley recorded the first of those three, while Cathy Swezey made the most of her only goal of the season with the deciding score in the finals.
For the season, Decker and Gina Carey tied for the team lead in scoring as they each finished with 19 points, while Filipello was next in line with 18 points, including a team-leading 16 goals. Meghan Kelly and Kira Kuzman also reached double figures in scoring as Kelly collected 14 points and Kuzman had 12. A pair of Jills added to the potent attack as Jill Cosse and Jill Shipley each recorded six goals. Kelly was also honored as the Honda-Broderick Award Nominee signifying Division III’s top field hockey player.
The team’s offense earned high praise from the rest of the field hockey community as Carey was a first team All-American, while Filipello and Shipley were second-team honorees.
Not to be overshadowed by the offense, the defense was outstanding from start to finish allowing a mere eight goals all season finished with a team goals-against-average of 0.41. Wendy Trockenbrod led the way with 17 wins and 11 shutouts, while Sharon Goodwin did not allow a goal during her time in net and posted a shutout in her only start. The goals were well protected by a talented group of defenders that included Swezey, Sue Cooley, and Terry Doyle.
Adding to the magical season for the Lions were Ginny Shipley, Deb Duerholz, Leslie Lehr, Nicole Bush, Lisa Rebeles, Jennifer Dowling, and Melissa Wondrack.
