Catasauqua head field hockey coach Carrie Saul views this past season as one filled with anxiety and anticipation.

The Roughies recently concluded their season with a 7-0 defeat to Northern Lehigh in the opening round of the PIAA District 11 Class 2A playoffs and finished with an overall 10-9 record.

It was the third consecutive appearance in the postseason for the Roughies in as many years as Saul has been in charge of the program. Yet, there were also some bittersweet moments for them this fall.

"Overall, we had a good season," said Saul. "We did enter the year without a goalie who had been a starter for nearly four years and we also lost some key players. In the beginning of the season, we did lose our leading scorer (Hannah Edwards) and we thought she wouldn't miss the whole season. That was a big blow for us.

"But we had a number of young players get valuable experience. We had a small team and everyone really got playing time. We will have a good unit coming back who all gained some valuable experience during the season."

Among those back will be leading scorer and All Colonial League First Team selection junior Quinn Bachman, who led the team with 22 goals and nine assists. Senior Shiloh Sziy, who scored seven goals and had two assists, gained Honorable Mention honors.

"(Bachman) definitely led our scoring," said Saul. "She is a good overall player who will continue to get better next year. Shiloh (Sziy) was an excellent defender and she also played the center back that helped her get some goals."

Saul will be looking to replace senior goalie Tiffany Murawski, who played her first varsity season this fall as she played JV three seasons and also behind perennial standout Janae Matos.

"Tiffany (Murawski) really had a good season for us," said Saul. "This was a new experience for her because she had been playing JV. But she grew in her position as the season went on.

"Now, we will have to find someone to fill that spot."

Saul also hopes to continue to build the middle school program. She also plans to hold a series of mini-camps to help attract and expose younger players to the program.

Another part of her plan is to explore the options to have her team reach the next level of the district playoffs, as they have been eliminated in the opening round the past three seasons.

"There are other schools that begin field hockey programs in second grade," she said. "We're at a disadvantage with those schools because we have girls who are starting in seventh grade. I want to hold some camps to let the younger girls know about our program.

"We do have a lot of girls who will be playing during the summer to help us. We have accomplished a lot in the past three years, but we have to keep working to reach the next level."