August 15, 2007
FARMVILLE, Va.-- Longwood University field hockey head coach Nancy Joel has announced the signing of seven incoming student athletes for the 2007 season. Joining the Lancers will be sophomore Sara Aridas/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne), junior Carla Binnewies/Hamburg, Germany (Carl von Ossietzky Gymnasium), and freshmen Erin Bollinger/Midlothian (Clover Hill), Lauren Sullivan/Fredericksburg (Stafford), Kimberly Sullivan/Falmouth (Stafford), Martha Warriner/Chester (Lloyd C. Bird) and Lauren Van de Kamp/Midlothian (Trinity Episcopal School). Joel, who is going into her tenth-year as head coach of the Longwood field hockey program will look to lead the Lancers into their first season of full NCAA Division I eligibility.
Aridas joined the Lancers during Spring workouts and will look to make an immediate impact in the back line of Longwood. A four-year letterwinner in both field hockey and soccer while at Princess Anne, Aridas earned honorable mention her junior year.
“Sara comes from a quality program at Princess Anne,” explained Joel. “After spending the Spring season with us we are looking for Sara to add strength to our defensive unit.”
Binnewies will add force to an already strong midfield. A native of Germany, Binnewies was a member of the German National indoor and outdoor Club Championship team from 1999-2003 and took part in the European Championship. She helped her team to a fourth place finish in the German Nation Championships in 2002 and was on the third place European Cup squad in 2003.
“Carla will be an impact player for us this year,” stated Joel. “We recognize the contribution that international players are having in NorPac. The European style of play consists of short passing and a lot of intensity. Carla’s going to bring a different prospective to us that we can all learn from.”
Bollinger is a goalie and four-year leterwinner for both field hockey and soccer from Clover Hill High School. Bollinger earned Second-Team All-District honors and team MVP during her senior season and was a three time defensive MVP for Clover Hill. In 2004 Bollinger helped lead her team to a District Championship, Regional Championship, and State Semi-Finals appearance. Bollinger is also strong in the classroom, earning the Principal’s Award, PTSA Scholarship, NAHS Scholarship and the Woodlake Women’s Club Scholarship.
“We have been watching Erin over the past year and feel her skill will be valuable in a specialized position,” stated Joel. “This is the first time we have carried three goaltenders and I’m looking forward to giving Erin some time between the posts this season.”
L. Sullivan will add fire power to the Longwood offense after finishing her four-year career at Stafford, earning multiple accolades her senior year. Finishing her senior year with 31 goals and 27 assists and tallied the game winning goal in the State Championship game, Sullivan, broke Stafford’s season goal record with 31 and is the all-time leading goal scorer with 82 during her career. Sullivan also was a two time First Team All-District and All-Region member and made her way to First Team All-State her senior year and earned All-State Honorable Mention her junior year.
“Lauren has that uncanny knack to be in the right place at the right time as her stats have indicated,” said Joel. “She is patient and efficient and has a long reach to help her up front. Lauren comes from a successful program which many of our former players have come from, including past All-American Laurie Watts ‘04.”
K. Sullivan is a midfielder from Stafford High School where she was a four-year letterwinner in both field hockey and basketball. A two-time member of the All-District, All-Region and All-State First Team, Sullivan helped her team to a District and Regional Championship in 2004-06 and a State Championship in 2005. Sullivan was also named the Free Lancer Star Player of the Year her senior year.
“Kimberly has a lot to offer and will add strength to our midfield,” said Joel. “She comes in with a lot of experience at the regional and state level and knows the game.”
Warriner is another midfielder who hails from Chester and was a four-year letterwinner at Lloyd C. Bird for field hockey. Warriner was named team captain her senior year and was named the squads MVP while garnering Second Team All-State and First Team All-Metro and All-Region honors. In 2004 Warriner helped lead her team to the State Semi-Finals and took part in the 2005-06 Festival and won the J Pool. Warriner also took part in the Commonwealth games this past year.
“Martha had a strong senior season and we are looking for her to ride that into her first year as a Lancer,” stated Joel. “She is an intelligent player and can see the whole field.”
Van de Kamp is a 5-8 midfielder from Trinity Episcopal School where she was a two-time team MVP and earned All-Conference and All-State honors her senior year. Van de Kamp also participated in the National Futures Tournament and National Indoor Tournament in 2007, earning the E. Dale Travis Sportsmanship Award.
“Lauren has a large presence on the field and will press for time early on,” explained Joel. “With a long reach, Lauren will be a major player in our defensive line-up.”
The Lancers kick-off the 2007 season with a 10:30 a.m. meeting against Miami (Ohio) in Norfolk. Longwood is entering its first year of full NCAA Division I eligibility and can now take part in conference tournaments and NCAA post season. The Lancers who are entering their third year of the Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference (NorPac) finished the 2006 season with a 5-13 record and was 2-4 in conference play.
