"Connection and chemistry on and off the field," is the big message fourth-year head coach Jill Dixon is preaching heading into the 2021 season. With two classes comprising nearly 50 percent of the roster, plus second-year assistant coach Rebekah Hess taking the field for the first time in terms of competition, The College of Wooster field hockey team enters the year with a lot of excitement and energy to see what the team can accomplish.

"We're building off the small squad we had in the spring," explained Dixon. "Grit is the first thing that really comes to mind with that group. They were dealing with so much off the field. It was really fun to see how close they became on the field. I'm excited to see what that turns into."

With "preparation and execution" more important than ever, Dixon's hopeful a veteran forward line will "take some of the younger players under their wing to create scoring threats." Seniors Syd Schuster, a three-time all-conference selection, who led the North Coast Athletic Conference in points (47) and goals (21) in 2018, and Caitlyn O'Connor, a 2018 all-conference pick with 29 career goals, are back with the program and will be counted on heavily to create scoring chances. Fellow senior Katie Agatucci, the team's 2019 leader in points (21) and assists (7) is someone who can score and distribute, which will hopefully open up scoring chances for the Scots' senior leaders in addition to a host of sophomores and first-years who will play in the attacking end.

"I feel a lot better about our attacking side this fall than the last time we competed," shared Dixon, who also returns junior Jill Murray, a 15-game starter in 2019, and sophomore Ciara O'Connor up front. "Caitlyn and Syd are bringing really great energy back with them."

An ability to "mesh early and stay healthy will position the team to be in good shape for the whole season," per Dixon, and one area that's going to be at the forefront is the midfield, where Wooster "will most likely play around with some different formations" early on to see where the players' strengths lie and make decisions from there, according to Dixon. A rising sophomore class led by midfielders Elizabeth Braun, Delaney Gross, Olivia Nengel, and Maddie Peek will be counted on heavily as part of the midfield, as Wooster graduated most of its core since last taking the field in 2019.

Junior Lucy Agurkis is the lone returning starter in the backfield, while senior Katie Thompson brings another veteran presence to the group. Junior Clare Leithauser, a two-year starter on the lacrosse team and Wooster's leader in groundballs (41) this past spring will make her official debut with the field hockey team this fall after joining the squad as a sophomore. In the cage, the Scots return juniors Lucy Segal and Zoë Semersky, who will be competing for the starting role following the graduation of four-year standout Katie Shideler.

"We're returning some experience on the defensive side," said Dixon. "We'll be looking to Lucy Agurkis to lead as both a captain and in the backfield. We could see some new faces on the back line as well this fall. I'm excited to see who steps up and where our backfield and goalkeepers are when we get back."

First-years Ashley Reynolds and Lindsay Walker round out this year's squad.

Wooster's season opens on Saturday, September 4 at noon at Washington & Jefferson College, while the Scots host Ohio Wesleyan University in the home opener at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15. Games against NCAC teams that count in the official conference standings start on Tuesday, October 5, and with not having played since 2019, Dixon feels the Scots have an advantage since "no one really knows what we're capable of."