Hoosiers start NCAA tournament with Wake Forest

IU field hockey starts its second NCAA tournament campaign against Wake Forest at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The No. 13 Hoosiers (14-6) take on the No. 7 Daemon Deacons (12-6), who defeated them the last time they were in the tournament in 2005 by a score of 5-0.

“This is the benchmark where we want to be every year,” IU coach Amy Robertson said.

Five of the 16 teams in the tournament come from the Atlantic Coast Conference, including the Deacons. 

“I think they learned how hard it is to get in the tournament,” said Kelly Doton, IU field hockey assistant coach. “Hard work and determination pays off.”

IU has not beaten Wake in the six times they’ve played.

In the last meeting, the Deacons won 5-2 in Winston-Salem, NC on Sept. 13.
“Since we played them, we have made a lot of improvements in our game,” freshman midfielder Julia Raymakers said.

The Hoosiers are led by freshman forward Morgan Fleetwood, who has 15 goals this season, which is second for all-time single season goals.

Junior goalkeeper Alex Mann has made all 20 starts for IU and has 75 saves on the season.

Mann transferred to become a Hoosier after spending her freshman year with Wake Forest.

“We are ready for their attack and will counterattack on the field on Saturday,” senior back Lucy Ireland said.

IU has a history with the Demon Deacons.

Robertson was their assistant coach from 1997-1999 and Doton played there from 2000-2003.

“They’ve always had a very aggressive style,” Doton said. “Jennifer (Averill) recruits players that fit the system.”

Wake Forest field hockey coach Jennifer Averill has been with the team all 18 years, since the program began.

Last year the Deacons went 22-4, with a second-place finish in the NCAA tournament.

Forward Lizzie Rae with 11 goals and midfielder Lauren Greenwald leads wake Forest with 9 assists.

“Their style is similar to us,” Robertson said. “We have more inside on them, then they have on us.”
Throughout the year Wake Forest has managed to stay in the top 10. The game on Saturday will determine how the Hoosiers can compete with historically renowned collegiate field hockey programs.

“If we stay together and work as a team, then we can win on Saturday,” senior midfielder Meg O’Connell said.