Dahmus Named Player of the Year, Three Others Earn All-Conference

By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College field hockey team saw four Eagles earn All-Landmark Conference honors at the end of the 2013 season headlined by senior Emma Dahmus (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) who was selected as the offensive player of the year.  This is the second consecutive year that Juniata has placed four on all-conference teams.

"Emma is definitely right up there with the other players in our program that have achieved at the highest levels," said head coach Caroline Gillich.  "Players that could easily do so much by themselves, but clearly field hockey is a team sport, so they end up being players that really raise the level of all those around them."

Dahmus is a three-time all-conference selection and the first Eagle since 2009 to earn player of the year honors.  The midfielder started every game she appeared in this season and finished second on the team in goals and points.  She shot over .600 on goal while playing over 1,200 minutes in the field.

Sophomore Sarah Bilheimer (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) earned her second consecutive second team award.  The forward led the team in goals, assists, and points with an .804 shots on goal percentage.  She started every game and was one of six Eagles to play over 1,000 minutes this season.

"Sarah is an incredibly talented player," said Gillich.  "But beyond that she works and is so willing to work out of the forward or midfield position.  She can generate attack."

Making their first appearances among the all-conference elite were junior Shelby Miller (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) and sophomore Kelsey Leibelsperger (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood).   The pair helped Juniata record two shutouts and hold opponents to just one goal nine times during the year.  

Miller split time in the cage but was effective when tapped. She finished the season with 56 saves and was ranked nationally in save percentage and goals against average.  Leibelsperger also notched her place in the national rankings after putting in over 1,300 minutes of game time.  She grabbed seven defensive saves to finish second in the league and 27^th in the country.

"It's certainly exciting to have two on the defensive end reaching those national heights," Gillich added.  "Shelby really did an outstanding job in the cage for us.  She really helped keep us in games and organize the defense.  [Kelsey] is a player that we don't want to take out of the game.  Her tackles are fearless.  She doesn't back down."

Juniata has earned at least three all-Landmark selections each year since joining the league in 2007.

Follow Your Eagles! Stay up-to-date on your Juniata College Eagles by logging onto www.juniatasports.net.  And don't forget to follow us on twitter (@JuniataEagles) and on Facebook (Juniata Eagles).