Oct. 23, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - It is unusual for a freshman to step right into a collegiate team and be a significant contributor. It is also unusual for a defender to lead a field hockey team in goals and points. But that has been the case with rookie Rebecca Chylack of the La Salle field hockey team.

The Souderton, PA native scored in her first collegiate game and hasn't stopped since. She set a new program record for points by a freshman and heading into today's game versus Saint Joseph's, Chylack leads the team with nine goals and 21 points.

"It's an honor," the three-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week said of setting the freshman scoring record. "So much comes from the penalty corners so I have to give the credit to my teammates. I just swing my stick and hit it."

And hit it she does. Although her shot has never been clocked, it is fair to say it gets to the back of the cage pretty quickly. All nine of her goals have come via a penalty corner this season.

"I just rip it as hard as I can," Chylack said.

That strategy has proved successful and given the Explorers a chance to score every time they line up for the penalty corner. With junior Beth Carey sending the ball into senior captain Haley Froshour, the formula has provided La Salle with nearly half of its goals this season.

"It all starts with Beth," Chylack said. "Then it comes to Haley for the stick stop, who I think is the best in the A-10 at setting it up.

"I have to give all the credit to the upperclassmen," she continued. "There's no drama on this team or jealousy that I get to shoot off the corner."

Chylack spurned West Chester, Temple and Saint Joseph's to attend La Salle, primarily because it allowed her to pursue a nursing major. After working with ESL (English as a Second Language) students at Souderton, Chylack is hoping to be a traveling nurse following graduation.

"I worked with some refugee boys from Africa last year at Souderton as part of the ESL program," she said. "It changed my life."

"We helped them adapt to the culture and helped them buy groceries," Chylack said. "It was a great experience."

But her immediate goals are to help the Explorers to the Atlantic 10 Tournament. This weekend will be critical in the team's hopes, with games against city rivals Saint Joseph's and Temple.

"We need to come out like we did against Villanova," Chylack said of the 2-0 victory over the Wildcats. "If we do, we can beat almost anyone."

La Salle will continue to try to accumulate corner opportunities for Chylack. When the ball hits the back of the cage and the Explorers celebrate, it won't matter that she's a freshman defender.