Page 51 - Rutgers Field Hockey 2019

In regard to how Rutgers will replace it’s scoring production, Civico
named several players ready to fill the void. “Throughout the preseason,
Alanna Gollotto has been performing really well and is also a captain. I
expect that she will provide a lot of leadership. She always plays with a
lot of grit and energy. She really wants to win and really drives this group
of forwards.”

Civico continued, “Clayre Smith has been playing really well last spring
and throughout the preseason. Kassidy Shetler has impressed us every
day in training. Rachel Houston is
a freshman from Northern
Ireland who is really exciting. She
is a natural forward who likes to score goals. She has fantastic
instincts, can press, swings at everything, so I think she will add a lot
to that group.”

In regard to additional newcomers that could step up and help
right away, Gollotto said, “Maggie Long is going to come in and do
well in our midfield rotation.” She also mentioned the return of
Larmour, saying she is “a huge key to our success.”

Larmour mentioned Rachel Houston as
well, saying “she is really hungry and
has a great eye for scoring goals. She’ll take whatever she is given in the circle
and swing at anything. We need that goal scoring mentality.” Larmour said
the overall impact of the freshman has been huge, saying “Maggie Lamb,
Annie Walsh, Amanda Beck, and Isabella Mancini have all really stepped up.
It’s a not given every returning player will keep their spot. These freshmen are
pushing for places. It’s unfair to say who might make an impact among them
because I think they all already have.”

Having the newcomers be able to step in so quickly for this season was all part
of the plan of Civico. “We had all of our freshmen except one on campus this summer in school and
training with the team”, she explained. Continuing, “they have seamlessly fit right in this preseason. Having
that jump has really helped them fit into the team. The culture is stronger than ever and are a very tight knit
group who really want to win. That culture has been one of our biggest strengths throughout the
preseason.”

As far as defensively, Rutgers returns First Team All-Big Ten and First Team All-Region goalkeeper Gianna
Glatz. She had the fifth best save percentage in the country last season
at .785, allowed just 1.27 goals per game and posted nine shutouts. In
addition, the back line returns everyone from a group that was seventh
in the country in goals allowed last season. They are led by Austyn
Cuneo and Kerrie Burns.

In asking Civico how she felt about the team from a defensive
perspective, she didn’t mince words, stating that she was “really
confident. I think the defensive group is playing so well together. It’s a
strong unit and they have so much confidence in each other. They
have a lot of trust with each other. We saw it increase and improve
even more in the two preseason scrimmages. We played Syracuse this
weekend and I thought that group did a fantastic job leading out of
the back. I think we will continue to improve in that area and be a
strength for us again. They are a tight group on and off the field and
aren’t letting the ball in the goal.”