MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (0-0, 0-0 CAC): The men's and women's cross country teams begin their fifth season of varsity competition Saturday at the Baltimore Metro Meet hosted by Towson University. The Blazers will be competing against such Division I programs as Coppin State University and Morgan State University as well as regional Division III rivals Johns Hopkins University, Goucher College and McDaniel College. Hood's top runners from a year ago return to the fold in sophomore William Andrews on the men's side and junior Danielle Sgro on the women's side. Hood has bolstered its cross country roster to 35 runners for 2007.

FIELD HOCKEY (0-0, 0-0 CAC): The Blazers are the only squad to open up the 2007 fall campaign at home. Hood hosts Marywood University Saturday at Thomas Athletic Field, marking the first-ever meeting between the Blazers and Pacers. The Blazers posted a 3-12 record last season in their final year of allegiance with the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference. Head coach Staci Thomson, now in her sixth season at the helm, returns 11 letterwinners from her 2006 squad. Seniors Lauren Lieb and Christa Lundskow along with junior Crystal Parker will serve as Hood's tri-captains.

MEN'S SOCCER (0-0, 0-0 CAC): The Blazers will engage in Hood's first intercollegiate contest of 2007 Friday against LaRoche College at the Frostburg State University tournament. Hood will tangle with the Bobcats Saturday at 4 p.m. Fourth-year head coach Brian Wall returns 10 letterwinners from 2006 and welcomes 12 newcomers to the pitch. Hood's top two scoring threats, Tom Noonan and Marcelino Rabara, return for their senior campaigns. Noonan is the program's all-time scoring leader with 60 points (22 goals, 16 assists) for his three-year career, while Rabara ranks second all-time with 48 (17 goals, 14 assists). Sophomore keeper Shawn Fernholz enjoyed a stellar rookie season and will battle freshmen Kyle Hodum and Michael Hardman for time in the net.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (0-0, 0-0 CAC): Hood begins the 2007 season with a pair of road games in North Carolina. The Blazers travel to Fayetteville to take on Methodist University Saturday before journeying to Greensboro College Sunday. Second-year head coach Jen Wood welcomes back seven letterwinners from last year's squad, which boasted a 10-5-3 record. A crop of 10 newcomers will challenge the veterans for playing time at every position. Senior midfielder Courtney DeSisto and junior defender Liz Rakowski return as Hood's leading offensive threats from 2006. Both contributed four goals apiece last fall. Freshman Rachelle Buhrman, who comes to Hood from nearby Middletown High School, has the tall task of serving as Hood's starting goalkeeper as the Blazers begin their inaugural season in the Capital Athletic Conference.

VOLLEYBALL (0-0, 0-0 CAC): Hood's senior-laden volleyball squad is anxious to get the 2007 season underway. The Blazers return all six starters from the 2006 team which advanced to the championship match of the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference tournament. Head coach Judy McGraw, now in her fifth season with the Blazers, will take her squad of eight seasoned veterans and six eager newcomers to Winchester Saturday to begin the fall slate against Trinity University (D.C.) and Shenandoah University. Senior Lindsey Nagy enters her final season in the blue and grey ranked sixth on Hood's all-time kills list with 576 while classmate Caroline Woodhams lists second all-time in career assists with 1,278.


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