The IU field hockey team is set to kick off its fourth season this weekend with matches against two Mid-American Conference opponents. The season opens today with a 1 p.m. match against defending MAC champion Central Michigan at the Mellencamp Pavilion. After Friday's match, the Hoosiers will prepare for Saturday's 1 p.m. match against Miami (Ohio). \n"I'm very confident that we are prepared for this season," said junior midfielder Kayla Bayshore. "This has been one of our strongest preseasons as far as preparation and intensity is concerned."\nThe Hoosiers have been practicing against each other and are eager to finally test themselves against competition. Last season, the Hoosiers set school records in goals (22), assists (12), and goals per game (1.16), and they said they believe they can improve that mark. \n"We haven't scrimmaged any outside teams," coach Amy Robertson said. "So it's an understatement to say that we're really excited to finally play an opponent outside of ourselves." \n"We look really strong this year," senior goalkeeper Molly Pulkrabek said. "We already look twice as good as we did last year. I'm really excited to see how well we do." \nCentral Michigan is coming off a strong 14-7 season and return junior Kristy Reed who led the MAC in scoring in 2002. But the Hoosiers are not intimidated by the MAC champs. \n"They play very hard," Robertson said. "They're a good team that plays in a very good conference. But I think we'll match up very well against them."\nPulkrabek sees a lot of potential in this team and thinks IU will have a good weekend.\n"I have no doubt that we will match and beat these teams," Pulkrabek said. "I think we're a lot stronger team this year, and I think our level of play has increased a lot. So I think we're going to go out and kick their butts."\nCentral Michigan and Miami will be a tough challenge for the Hoosiers so Robertson said she is trying to make her team focus on what they do best.\n"We're focusing on trying to go to our strengths, play our tempo and play the game that's going to help us be most successful," Robertson said. "We're a very fast-breaking team, we also have good possession. We like to control the ball and be patient and then go with our speed."\nMiami provided the Hoosiers with a 4-1 victory on opening day last season. The Hoosiers hope to get the same outcome on Saturday. \nIU is counting on a strong core of returning players including junior midfielder Kayla Bayshore, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors her sophomore season, and Pulkrabek, who posted a 2.12 goals against average last year. \nBut with senior midfielder/forward Erica Nilsson recovering from a knee injury, the Hoosiers will be without their leading scorer in 2002 for the start of the season. But Robertson sees strength in some of her younger players that will help compensate for Nilsson.\n"We have a trio of sophomores," Robertson said. "Leslie Wiler is a very dynamic player. Morgan Albini, in the backfield, is very athletic and a very strong back for us. Mallory Reabold, on our forward line, is very exciting to watch. (Nilsson) is just starting to come back, hopefully within a week or two she'll be able to play."
-- Contact staff writer Charlie Gillingham at cgilling@indiana.edu.
