Behrens Locks in Four New Players as 2012 Recruits
5/21/2012 1:40:00 PM | Field Hockey
Millersville, Pa. – With 20 players returning to the Millersville field hockey team, there was not much space to add new players. However, with the few roster spots available head coach Shelly Behrens believes she has landed a few gems, as her 2012 incoming freshman recruiting class was announced Monday. Behrens landed one player from Solanco High School and three more from Lower Dauphin High School.
Coming from Solanco, Katie Jackson is capable of playing every position on the field. She will major in special education and early childhood education. She won four varsity letters during her career and was a two-sport athlete in field hockey in soccer. Her sparkling resume includes the MVP and an All-Star selection from the Lancaster-Lebanon League during her senior season.
“She had a great year with Solanco,” said Behrens. “Her growth as a college player is just beginning. She has done some great things in terms of team leadership. We just want her in with us so we can get her moving in our direction.”
The three other members of the class all graduated from Lower Dauphin, a school from which Behrens graduated and the head coach Linda Kreiser, is a member of the Millersville Athletic Hall of Fame and regarded as one of the best athletes in Millersville history.
Behrens' first member of this class to commit to Millersville was Abby Spanos from Lower Dauphin. “No question Abby will grow every day in this environment,” Behrens said of Spanos. Last season, Spanos was the captain of the PIAA AAA Keystone Division and District III Champion Falcons.
It was the team's third straight year as a division champ and, with Spanos, the team won a conference championship and PIAA State Championship as well in 2009. “I am excited to see how she competes in our systems," said Behrens. "Her strength and competitive nature make her a great fit in our backfield."
The second Falcon commitment Behrens secured was in the form of Lauren Gerhart. Behrens liked her style of play within five minutes of seeing her play. “It was Lauren's athleticism and playmaking ability that stuck out and is going to serve her well with us,” Behrens said. Gerhart, who was on the team as a freshman, topped her teammate (Spanos) as a four-time Keystone Division champ.
Individually, Gerhart was named to the 2011 All-PIAA Tournament Team, the Mid-Penn All-Star Team and was an All-PIAA Second Team member. She was a two-sport athlete in field hockey and lacrosse. “She is a fierce competitor; I love her energy,” said Behrens.
The final Falcon in Behrens' new arsenal is Megan Donlan, who had other opportunities to play softball collegiately, but chose the field hockey route instead. Donlan, like Gerhart, was a Mid-Penn All-Star, and added a Patriot News High School Softball Big 11 Second Team nod to her resume. It was a dream for Behrens to land her and secure all three Falcon players.
“Never once did I think she would have an interest in Millersville,” said Behrens. “It turned out that as time went on; her interest turned more toward wanting to continue with field hockey.” Behrens also credits a run in with two important members of Millersville – Chief of Police Pete Anders and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Aminta Hawkins-Breaux, who gave Donlan a personal tour. Behrens believes this experience showed Donlan a personal side of Millersville and secured her commitment.
The coach is excited about her new players and the process by which she chose them. “It was important for us to have the right person and athlete join us and help us get where we want to go,” said Behrens. “These young women were the best match for us academically as well as for where our program goals are athletically.”
Coming from Solanco, Katie Jackson is capable of playing every position on the field. She will major in special education and early childhood education. She won four varsity letters during her career and was a two-sport athlete in field hockey in soccer. Her sparkling resume includes the MVP and an All-Star selection from the Lancaster-Lebanon League during her senior season.
“She had a great year with Solanco,” said Behrens. “Her growth as a college player is just beginning. She has done some great things in terms of team leadership. We just want her in with us so we can get her moving in our direction.”
The three other members of the class all graduated from Lower Dauphin, a school from which Behrens graduated and the head coach Linda Kreiser, is a member of the Millersville Athletic Hall of Fame and regarded as one of the best athletes in Millersville history.
Behrens' first member of this class to commit to Millersville was Abby Spanos from Lower Dauphin. “No question Abby will grow every day in this environment,” Behrens said of Spanos. Last season, Spanos was the captain of the PIAA AAA Keystone Division and District III Champion Falcons.
It was the team's third straight year as a division champ and, with Spanos, the team won a conference championship and PIAA State Championship as well in 2009. “I am excited to see how she competes in our systems," said Behrens. "Her strength and competitive nature make her a great fit in our backfield."
The second Falcon commitment Behrens secured was in the form of Lauren Gerhart. Behrens liked her style of play within five minutes of seeing her play. “It was Lauren's athleticism and playmaking ability that stuck out and is going to serve her well with us,” Behrens said. Gerhart, who was on the team as a freshman, topped her teammate (Spanos) as a four-time Keystone Division champ.
Individually, Gerhart was named to the 2011 All-PIAA Tournament Team, the Mid-Penn All-Star Team and was an All-PIAA Second Team member. She was a two-sport athlete in field hockey and lacrosse. “She is a fierce competitor; I love her energy,” said Behrens.
The final Falcon in Behrens' new arsenal is Megan Donlan, who had other opportunities to play softball collegiately, but chose the field hockey route instead. Donlan, like Gerhart, was a Mid-Penn All-Star, and added a Patriot News High School Softball Big 11 Second Team nod to her resume. It was a dream for Behrens to land her and secure all three Falcon players.
“Never once did I think she would have an interest in Millersville,” said Behrens. “It turned out that as time went on; her interest turned more toward wanting to continue with field hockey.” Behrens also credits a run in with two important members of Millersville – Chief of Police Pete Anders and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Aminta Hawkins-Breaux, who gave Donlan a personal tour. Behrens believes this experience showed Donlan a personal side of Millersville and secured her commitment.
The coach is excited about her new players and the process by which she chose them. “It was important for us to have the right person and athlete join us and help us get where we want to go,” said Behrens. “These young women were the best match for us academically as well as for where our program goals are athletically.”
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