Duo hopes to build on back-to-back postseason appearances

Megan Bird Bio
Alyssa Juszczyk Bio 

RINDGE, N.H. (July 18, 2012) – The Franklin Pierce University field hockey team has announced that midfielder Megan Bird (Laconia, N.H.) and back Alyssa Juszczyk (Warren, Mass.) will serve as senior co-captains for the 2012 season. Both players started every game in 2011, as the team earned a second straight postseason berth for just the second time in program history.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have Alyssa and Megan lead our field hockey team this fall," said head coach Meighan Guiney. "Both young ladies bring composure, poise, talent and direction to the field. They are the complete package and are determined to have successful senior seasons."

Bird enjoyed a breakout season offensively in 2012. After scoring no points while playing largely as a reserve as a freshman, she moved into a starting role in her sophomore season, and while contributing solid play defensively, tallied four points on a goal and two assists. It turned out to be just a prelude to Bird's junior campaign, when she set a school record with eight assists in a season and added a goal to finish with 10 points. She tied for fifth in the Northeast-10 Conference in assists and 16th in the nation in assists per game (0.42). Bird had a three-game assist streak to start the season and later added her first career multiple-assist game with two helpers at Southern Connecticut State on Sept. 24.

"It is an honor to be able to help lead such a great group of girls; Alyssa and I are so excited," said Bird. "It is important that we continue to play and grow as a team and come to preseason in shape and ready to go."

After her eight assists last season, Bird heads into her senior campaign fifth in school history with 10 career assists. She was named to the Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in three of her first five semesters on campus (the spring 2012 Academic Honor Roll has not yet been released).

Juszczyk takes charge of a defensive unit that graduated two of the greatest defensive forces in school history in Beth Haight '12 and Kim Jaksina '12. Fortunately, for the Ravens, Juszczyk is well prepared as a three-year starter, as she started every game in both her freshman and junior seasons, surrounding a sophomore campaign in which she missed half the season due to injury. After spending parts of her freshman year as a two-way threat, tallying one goal and two assists for four points on her way to a Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team selection, she has played almost exclusively defensively the last two seasons, including last year, where she took over a leadership role on the backline with Haight. Juszczyk thrived in the role, finishing tied for seventh in the nation and tied for fifth in the Northeast-10 with four defensive saves. The number matched the second-most defensive saves in a season in school history.

"It is a real honor to be selected as captain of a team that has enormous potential to have a very successful season," said Juszczyk. "Meg and I will have the honor to lead a team that is full of drive and is eager to prove to the Northeast-10 that we are a force to be reckoned with. I am excited for the season and can't wait to see what's to come."

Through the end of her junior season, Juszczyk is tied for fifth in program history with four career defensive saves. She is a two-time selection to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Academic Squad and landed on the Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in three of her first five semesters in Rindge.

The Ravens will begin their quest for a school-record third consecutive postseason appearance as they open the 2012 campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 4, when they travel to Adelphi for a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Motamed Field in Garden City, N.Y. Franklin Pierce's first home game is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 6 against Assumption at 6 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).