There’s a lot of stuff that won’t look the same this fall sports season in the Lehigh Valley due to Covid-19. But on the field, Salisbury field hockey head coach Jane Brennan returns many familiar faces to a program that finished 4-12 in Colonial League play last season.

While the defense will look a bit different with the departures of goalie Josie DuBois and back defenders Emily Ringholm and Khyra Heiney, the Lady Falcons’ midfield and attacking positions largely remain intact from 2019.

Leading the charge are last year’s leading scorers in senior Neveah Robinson and sophomore Ella DeFazio, who each scored 8 goals for the Lady Falcons in 2019. Senior Riley Stauffer is also back after suffering an ankle injury last season. Stauffer is a student at Central Catholic High School, which does not have a field hockey team, and is a four-year starter for Brennan. Stauffer has led the team in goals in prior seasons.

“Our forward positions are solid with a number of returning players,” Brennan said. “New varsity starter Maggie Helsel is putting in effort and we expect great things from her, along with defensive players Gwen Schlack, Kendall Shaffer and Jillian Stoeckel.”

The trio of Schlack, Shaffer and Stoeckel will play a key role on the back line in front of a new goalie, a position that is still taking shape as practice continues.

“We have two new goalies that have been adjusting to play and expectations,” Brennan said. “They, along with an entirely new backfield, have been a lot of our preseason focus.”

Transitioning the ball from defense to offense is a talented unit of midfielders in Katherine Lovelidge and Rory Watson. The duo hopes to generate more chances for the Lady Falcons, who were held to a goal or less in 10 of their 16 league games in 2019.

“Generally speaking the strength and glue of our team is our two returning midfielders-Katherine Lovelidge and Rory Watson-who work both sides of the field and set the pace,” Brennan said. “Rory has amazing talent and led the team in assists, controls, and will be a dominating force. Her grit and determination is unparalleled.”

Salisbury would sure like to improve on last season’s win total after going above .500 in league play two years ago. But with a season that was in limbo just a few months back, the Lady Falcons are glad to just be playing in the fall.

“In a normal season, I would expect to vastly improve on last year’s record, post an above .500 record, and potentially vie for postseason Colonial League play,” Brennan said. “This year, however, the normal metrics are thrown out with only having 10 games, and a different viewpoint of what interscholastic athletics mean. We are all just ecstatic to have to an opportunity to compete and represent our team, our school and our community in the face of uncertain outside influences. The team is not taking this for granted.”