Meighan Guiney-Allison wrapped up her seventh season as Head Coach of the Franklin Pierce University field hockey program in 2012. Through her first seven years in Rindge, she holds a 45-85 record (.346 winning percentage) through 130 games to run her career record to 101-128 (.441) over 229 games through 12 years as a collegiate head coach. The team recorded at least nine wins in three straight seasons (2009-11), narrowly missing the program record (11) each time and giving Guiney-Allsion three of the five nine-win seasons in the program's 16-year history. She also spent six seasons as the Head Coach of the school's women's lacrosse team, before yielding to Brianna Cronin.
Inheriting a team that had fallen well below .500 in Northeast-10 play after back-to-back postseason appearances in 2000 and 2001, Guiney-Allison returned the program to postseason play with in just her third season with an appearance in the quarterfinal round of the Northeast-10 Championship in 2008. The Ravens also qualified for the postseason in both 2010 and 2011, and but for a tiebreaker that went against the club in 2009, would have posted a streak of four straight playoff appearances. The program's 18 wins in 30 Northeast-10 games from 2009 through 2011 was far and away the most successful stretch of Conference play in program history.
In her sixth season with the Ravens, Guiney-Allison coached her first NFHCA All-America selection, as Kim Jaksina landed on the Second Team in 2011. Over seven years at the helm of the program, Guiney-Allison has produced eight All-Northeast-10 selections, including four First Team selections, most recently Jaksina and Tia Levins in 2011. The 2008 season saw the only major conference award in program history, as Kristin Tormollan was named Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Year. In addition, Guiney-Allison has coached six Northeast-10 All-Rookie team selections and has sent 10 players to the NFHCA Division II North/South Senior Game.
The Ravens have seen immense success in the classroom under Guiney-Allison's watch as well. She has seen 43 of her players named to the NFHCA's All-Academic Squad (2012 Squad not yet announced), including five four-time selections: Danielle Dolan '12 (2008-11), Tia Levins '12 (2008-11), Lauren L'Heureux '12 (2008-11), Brittany Nyzio '12 (2009-11, plus a 2008 selection at La Salle) and Sam Newman '10 (2006-09). Most recently, the 2011 club had seven players land on the National Academic Squad: Dolan, Beth Haight '12, Julie Hemphill, Levins, L'Heureux, Nyzio and Jess Rogers. Both Hemphill and Rogers have earned two selections in two years on campus. The All-Academic Squad honors student-athletes with cumulative grade-point averages of 3.30 or higher.
The NFHCA also issues an Academic Team Award to any squad which posts grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher as a team. Guiney-Allison's squad earned the award in five of her first seven seasons in Rindge (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).
The Northeast-10 selects an Academic All-Conference Team of its own with more stringent requirements, as it attempts to equally count successes both on the field and in the classroom in its selections. Guiney-Allison has had eight players selected to the Academic All-Conference Team, including a pair of multiple-time honorees in 2011 in Tia Levins '12, who earned a spot for the third straight year, and Brittany Nyzio '12, who earned her second selection. Both earned the honor in each year they were eligible as Ravens. In addition, Levins earned the 2011 field hockey edition of the Northeast-10 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award, which honors one player in each Conference sport for their combination of athletic and academic accomplishments.
Most recently, an overwhelmingly youthful 2012 squad struggled to recover from the graduation of the program's most talented class, as the 2011 team graduated seven seniors, a group which arguably the best player in program history at each position (forward, midfield, back, goalkeeper). As a result, the 2012 campaign saw just one win in Northeast-10 play (1-9) and three wins overall (3-14), with all three wins coming in overtime. It was not a season without accomplishments however, particularly for a pair of seniors who left their name in program lore. Most impressively, Megan Bird, who had set the program's single-season record for assists in 2011, laid claim to the all-time career mark in 2012 and finished with 15 career assists. On the backline, Alyssa Juszczyk made six defensive saves, the second-highest total in school history, to finish her career second all-time, with 10. Along the way, Guiney-Allison picked up her 100th career victory with a 2-1 double-overtime victory in the home opener against Assumption on Sept. 6.
The 2012 season, though disappointing from a record standpoint, was not without recognition either. Bird was rewarded for her outstanding career by capping her senior campaign with a trip to the NFHCA North/South Senior Game in Lowell, Mass. It marked the fourth straight year the Ravens had sent a representative to the postseason event.
In 2011, a decorated senior class capped its career with arguably the most successful season in program history, as the Ravens finished at 10-9 and placed a program-best third in the Northeast-10 with a 7-3 mark, which allowed Sodexo Field to host its first-ever field hockey postseason contest. The Ravens qualified for the Northeast-10 Championship for the second straight season, just the second time in program history that had been accomplished, and set a new program high-water mark by returning to the postseason for the third time in four seasons. It also marked the first time the team has finished above .500 in Conference play in back-to-back seasons, with the 7-3 record trailing only 2000's 7-2 mark in terms of winning percentage. The 10 wins overall was the highest total under Guiney-Allison's watch, the second-highest in school history, and one behind the program record.
The Ravens capped the 2011 season with the most impressive haul of hardware in school history, puncutated by Kim Jaksina's selection to the NFHCA All-America Second Team. For the first time in program annals, two players were selected to the All-Northeast-10 First Team, as Jaksina and Tia Levins earned the honor. Meanwhile, Beth Haight made it a trio of All-Conference Ravens, as she capped a career as the best back in school history with a selection to the Second Team. Both Brittany Lepore and Taylor Libby landed on the Conference's All-Rookie Team, the fifth and sixth Ravens to be so honored over the past four years. Haight, Jaksina and Levins all represented Franklin Pierce at the NFHCA North/South Senior Game in Bloomsburg, Pa. at the conclusion of the season. In addition, the senior class left in possession of nearly every significant career record in school history. Goalkeeper Brittany Nyzio finished as the program's all-time leader in wins, goals-against average and shutouts; Levins finished as the all-time leader in goals and points; Danielle Dolan finished as the all-time leader in assists; and Jaksina finished as the all-time leader in defensive saves.
In 2010, the club returned to the postseason for the second time in three years and finished at nine wins (9-10) for the second season in a row. The Ravens put together a 6-4 mark in Northeast-10 Conference play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth. It marked the first time the program finished above .500 in league play since a 7-2 run in 2000. At the time, the nine wins overall matched both the highest total under Guiney-Allison and the second-most in program history, behind only an 11-7 mark in 2000.
It was yet another award-filled season for Ravens field hockey, as four different players were honored by the Northeast-10. Junior midfielder Kim Jaksina earned the program's third-ever All-Northeast-10 First Team selection, while both senior midfielder Jordan Baillargeon and junior forward Tia Levins landed on the Second Team. Additionally, freshman back Renee DesPres was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team. Both Baillargeon and fellow senior midfielder Kayla Simeone went to Louisville at the end of the season to represent the program in the NFHCA North/South Senior Game. Meanwhile, junior goalkeeper Brittany Nyzio made her case as one of the greatest goaltenders in program annals, as she broke the school's record for career wins in just her second season.
The 2009 season continued to build on a productive 2008 campaign, as the team posted even .500 marks both overall (9-9) and in the Northeast-10 Conference (5-5), though it missed out on the postseason thanks to Northeast-10 tie-breaking procedures. It marked the first time the Ravens had cracked the .500 mark in either category since the 2003 squad went 9-9 (8-8 Northeast-10). Along the way, sophomore midfielder Kim Jaksina was selected to the All-Northeast-10 Second Team, while freshman forward Alyssa Juszczyk earned Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team honors. Meanwhile, senior forward Ashley Abernethy wrapped up a stellar, four-year career that left her tied for first in program history in assists (13), as well as ranked third in points (41) and goals (14).
The 2008 season saw an impressive turnaround for the program, as it posted a 7-13 record which included a 7-11 mark in Northeast-10 play, which allowed the Ravens to make their first appearance in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship since 2001. Freshman goalkeeper Kristin Tormollan was was named Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Year and landed on the All-Northeast-10 First Team, while freshman forward Danielle Dolan joined Tormollan on the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team. Meanwhile, seniors Stephanie Howard and Kayleigh Jaksina both played in the NFHCA North/South Senior Game.
Despite a 1-18 record in her second season leading the Ravens in
2007, the team made strides in Guiney-Allison's plan to transform
the program. Franklin Pierce lost 10 matches by one goal,
including five games in overtime, and also had a pair of one-goal
losses to nationally-ranked opponents. In all, seven of the team's
19 games in 2007 came against teams ranked in the top 10
nationally.
In her first season at Franklin Pierce in 2006, Guiney-Allison led the Ravens to a 6-12 overall record and a 6-10 conference mark. The six conference wins were the most for the program since 2003.
Before taking over at Franklin Pierce, Guiney-Allison served multiple roles at Worcester State as a coach with both the field hockey and lacrosse programs. She served as head coach of the Lancers field hockey program from 2001-05, posting a record of 56-43 (.566) in five seasons, leading the team to three ECAC Division III Tournament appearances (2001, 2002, 2004). Guiney-Allison was WSC's assistant coach for two seasons prior to taking over as head coach.
Guiney-Allison was also named head coach of the women's lacrosse program at Worcester State in 2004 after two years as an assistant coach. She led the Lancers to an 18-25 (.419) record in three seasons, capped by a 9-6 mark in her last season (2006), in which the team was runner-up in the New England Women's Lacrosse Association with a 5-1 record.
Guiney-Allison also gained experience as an assistant field hockey coach for two seasons at Salve Regina University while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island, as well as head freshman girl's basketball coach at Notre Dame Academy in Worcester. Guiney-Allison has spent time instructing at several field hockey camps and clinics, including the eponymous Guiney-Allison's Performance Field Hockey Camp in her hometown of Rutland, Mass.
Guiney-Allison was a three-year letterwinner for the University of Rhode Island field hockey team, earning Rhode Island's Team Senior Award in 1995. She graduated from the school with a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences (with a concentration in journalism) in 1999. Originally Meighan Guiney, she was married to Robert Allison in January 2013.
Career Record (101-128 (.441))
Franklin Pierce (seven
seasons: 45-85 (.346) overall, 33-57 (.367) in Northeast-10)
As Meighan Guiney:
2012: 3-14, 1-9 Northeast-10
2011: 10-9, 7-3 Northeast-10^
2010: 9-10, 6-4 Northeast-10^
2009: 9-9, 5-5 Northeast-10
2008: 7-13, 7-11 Northeast-10^
2007: 1-18, 1-15 Northeast-10
2006: 6-12, 6-10 Northeast-10
^ Northeast-10 Quarterfinalist
Worcester State (five
seasons: 56-43 (.566) overall, 29-22 (.569) in Little
East)
2005: 8-9, 5-6 Little East
2004: 11-8, 6-4 Little East^^#
2003: 9-9, 6-4 Little East^
2002: 13-9, 6-4 Little East^^#
2001: 15-8, 6-4 Little East^^^#
^ Little East Quarterfinalist
^^ Little East Semifinalist
^^^ Little East Finalist
# ECAC Tournament Participant