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(10/23/07 1:13am)
Scoring hasn’t come easy lately for the IU field hockey team. \nBut on Monday afternoon at the IU Field Hockey Field, the Hoosiers broke a three-game scoreless streak and outlasted Stanford for a 2-1 overtime win. \n“It was just good to finally get on the board,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “It kind of seemed like we had a seal on the lid there for awhile, but to finally get that goal was a big relief.” \nThe Hoosiers (7-8, 0-5) overcame an early Stanford goal and steady rain throughout the game to come away with the victory. \n“It feels really good to come away with a win,” senior forward Kate O'Connell said. “We played well despite the rain, and it’s always a good feeling getting an overtime win.”\nAfter a goal at the three-minute mark by Stanford’s Midori Uehara, IU picked up its attack and put the pressure on the Cardinal defense. The Hoosiers attempted 21 shots and earned 15 penalty corners on the game. \n“We’ve been working on our passing and just moving the ball into the circle to create chances,” sophomore forward Haley Funk said. “I think we did a pretty good job of that today.”\nThe Hoosiers failed to turn their scoring chances into a first-half goal, but finally broke through for a goal in the second half. Senior midfielder Amanda Oyler scored off a penalty corner to tie the game at 1-1 in the 53rd minute. \nThe Hoosiers battled back and forth with Stanford for the rest of regulation, and the game remained tied at the final whistle. \nWith seven-on-seven play in overtime instead of the normal 11-on-11, the pace of the game was much faster, and both teams used the open field to create good scoring opportunities.\nStanford’s best chance in overtime came on a shot off a penalty corner, but senior goalkeeper Haley Exner made a diving stop for one of her three saves on the game. \nWith less than five minutes remaining in the overtime period, Funk took a pass from senior midfielder Meredith Brown at midfield and found herself on a 2-on-1 breakaway with freshman forward Katie Griswold. With the Stanford goalkeeper charging from net, Funk fed Griswold, who found the back of the net and gave the Hoosiers a 2-1 victory. \n“It was an amazing feeling to get the game-winning goal,” Griswold said after the game. “We really wanted to get this win today.”\nThe overtime win was the first of the season for IU and the first since a 2006 overtime win against Northeastern. \n“I think we really scratched and clawed during the overtime period,” Robertson said. “We kind of had that mentality that in no way are we going to let this game go.” \nWith only two regular season games remaining before the Big Ten tournament, the Hoosiers will look to carry the momentum from this game through to the rest of the season. \n“This game kind of takes away that doubt,” Robertson said. “We know we can score, now let’s just go out and play and give everything we have.”
(10/22/07 3:54am)
The frustration was evident on the faces of the IU field hockey team. \nAs Michigan State players gathered near midfield at the IU Field Hockey Field and sang their fight song to the visiting fans, the Hoosier players trudged back to the bench with heads held low.\nAfter the final whistle following a 2-0 Michigan State victory, the No. 7 Spartans celebrated with their fans. \nWhile Michigan State enjoyed its fourth victory in five Big Ten games, IU was left searching for answers after falling to 0-5 in Big Ten play.\n“This is a hard one for us to take, because we really did a lot of things on the field that we had been working on in practice,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “At no point in the game did I really feel that we were outplayed by Michigan State.” \nMichigan State wasted little time getting on the scoreboard with a third minute goal by Charlotte van der Laag. The Spartans pushed the lead to 2-0 with a goal in the 30th minute by Amy Schneider off a penalty corner. \n“Michigan State really took advantage of their chances,” \nRobertson said. “They really know how to execute, especially on their penalty corners. They have some tall girls with really long swings, and they are hard to defend.”\nIU had scoring opportunities all game long, including nine second-half shots and 10 penalty corners for the game. But the Hoosiers, who have struggled scoring goals all year long, were shutout for the third consecutive game. \n“We just couldn’t find the goal,” Robertson said. “We had 10 penalty corners on the game and went 0-10. That’s just a mentality that you have to have on the field. No matter what play is called or who is taking the shot, you just have to find a way to create an opportunity and finish with a score.”\nThe Hoosiers have little time to dwell on the loss, as they face Stanford today at the IU Field Hockey Field. \n“We just have to take this loss as motivation and use it for the game against Stanford,” sophomore back Lucy Ireland said.\nThe Michigan State loss was tough, but the Hoosiers believe they have what it takes to be successful.\n“We’re frustrated, but we just have to keep digging deep and playing with heart,” senior back Amanda Oyler said. \nWith a day off between games on Sunday, Robertson said the team will have a light practice with an emphasis on penalty corner execution. \nWhile Robertson and the IU players continue to look for answers that will produce results on the field, they remain focused on the rest of the season.\n“Hopefully we can use this frustration that we feel and turn it into a positive out on the field,” Robertson said. “We only have a few more games in the regular season, and I think we are really motivated.”
(10/19/07 3:23am)
When the IU field hockey team takes on No. 7 Michigan State on Saturday at the IU Field Hockey Field, the Hoosiers will be looking for their first Big Ten win of the season and a measure of revenge for last season. \nLast year, Michigan State handed IU two of its five losses, including a 3-1 victory in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, ending IU’s season. \n“Michigan State has always been a great program,” senior back Erin Isler said. “They have had some very good teams in the past, and we feel like we’re finally to the point where we’re on the same level with them. We are looking for a bit of redemption to prove we can play at that level.”\nThe Hoosiers (6-7, 0-4) have found the going tough all year long in the Big Ten. Two of IU’s conference losses came in overtime against No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Iowa, and the other losses came to Ohio State and No. 9 Penn State.\nWith two conference games remaining, the Hoosiers hope they can gain some confidence before the Big Ten Tournament. \n“We still have two huge Big Ten games left,” senior midfielder Margie Stoll said. “Hopefully we can get two wins and have some momentum before we head into the Big Ten Tournament. I think we just need to play how we know how and concentrate on our game.”\nIU coach Amy Robertson said she is pleased with the growth of the team throughout the season. \n“I think this team has shown the most growth of any team I’ve coached,” she said. “We’ve had to fix some things in practice, but we get better each time we’re on the field. The focus hasn’t been as much on game results as it has been on moment-to-moment results.”\nIn the 1-0 overtime loss to Michigan last Friday, Robertson said she was impressed with her team’s performance and hopes it will carry over to the game against Michigan State.\n“We showed really good energy until that overtime period,” she said. “We played with complete and comprehensive determination, and we looked really confident on the field. I think we need to bring that again in this game. Once you experience that, it is easier to recall it again when you’re out on the field.”\nDespite the two losses at the hands of Michigan State last year, Robertson said the Hoosiers won’t focus too much on redeeming themselves this year.\n“It will be a little extra motivation, but I don’t think we will make it too important,” she said. “It’s another big game, and we just have to take care of ourselves. I think we’re playing some of our best hockey and it’s a good time for that.”
(10/15/07 4:57am)
After holding No. 5 Michigan scoreless through regulation Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich., the IU field hockey team dropped a disappointing 1-0 game in overtime. \nSeventy minutes of play produced no goals for either team, but Michigan’s Paige Laytos scored a breakaway goal nine minutes into the overtime period.\nThe Hoosiers battled a tough Michigan attack and some controversial calls, and in the end it was too much to overcome. \n“It was a heartbreaking, devastating loss for the girls,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “We really put ourselves out on the line and showed good confidence and determination. We had some controversial calls that went against us, but that is part of the game. Sometimes they go your way and sometimes they don’t.”\nIU had two goals that were called back due to penalties, including one with 12 minutes to go in the game. \nThe Hoosiers came out slow and struggled to establish any offensive threat, and Michigan outshot IU 6-1 in the first half. IU picked up its play in the second half, but the Wolverines still held a 15-6 advantage in shots for the game and a 12-5 edge in penalty corners. \n“They really came out fast and set the tempo from the beginning, which we didn’t want to happen,” senior midfielder Meredith Brown said. “We were reacting to their game. Eventually we got better in the second half, and we had the ball near their end a lot. We didn’t get a ton of shots, but we were placing the ball well.”\nThe Michigan offense consistently put pressure on the IU defense, but senior goalkeeper Haley Exner and the rest of the defensive players were up to the challenge. The Hoosiers excelled on their penalty corner defense, and Exner recorded eight saves on the game.\n“I thought our defensive corners were phenomenal,” Robertson said. “They had been one of our weaknesses, but we turned it into a strength in this game. We were on every ball and we had great flow and executed well.”\nIn the overtime period, IU continued to build on its strong second half, but Michigan was able to capitalize on its only opportunity of the period. \n“I think we were still fresh in overtime, and we controlled the game pace,” sophomore midfielder Meg O’Connell said. “We held possession for most of the period. Overall it was a good overtime for us, but they just got one chance and were able to score on it.”\nDespite the loss, Robertson said she was pleased with the effort and improvement of the Hoosiers. \n“I’m really proud of the way the girls handled the situation,” she said. “To see our team perform like this really gives us optimism and confidence for the next couple of weeks. In my eight seasons of coaching, I think this team has shown more improvement throughout the season than any other team. It’s a really good thing to see with four big games coming up and then the Big Ten tournament.”
(10/12/07 4:55am)
What a difference a year can make. \nLast year, the IU field hockey team was 3-0 in Big Ten play before Michigan handed the Hoosiers their first Big Ten loss of the season. \nThis year, IU will try to return the favor. \nHeading into today’s matchup in Ann Arbor, Mich., the Hoosiers are 0-3 in the conference and will look to spoil No. 5 Michigan’s perfect 4-0 conference record. \nBut to record its first Big Ten win, IU will have to trip up the Wolverines, who have won eight games in a row . \n“They are a team that has had great success this season,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “They have been able to capitalize on opportunities all season long. We have to take care of our chances and be sure not to give them any open windows.”\nWhile Michigan has cruised through its last month of play, IU has stumbled, losing five of its last seven games. \nThe Hoosiers have played close to the competition, though, with only one of those five
(10/12/07 4:09am)
Junior forward Amber Jackson has participated in late-night basketball practice events before, just not in front of thousands of fans decked out in cream and crimson. \nJackson, a transfer from San Jose State University, said she is expecting a completely different experience when she steps on the floor of Assembly Hall on Friday night for Hoosier Hysteria. \n“We opened the season with a midnight practice at San Jose State, but it was mostly just friends and family in the crowd,” she said. “To go out there in front of 17,000 fans will definitely be new and exciting.”\nHoosier Hysteria marks the first official practice of the season for the women’s team. With a young and promising roster, including seven freshmen, the Hoosiers are looking forward to getting back on the court. \n“I think we’re just excited to get the season started,” junior Whitney Thomas said. “We have some really good incoming players, and we’re just looking to get going.”\nIU has been going through offseason workouts and has used the time to develop team chemistry with the newcomers. \n“I’ve been here since January, and I was here during the summer,” Jackson said. “I’ve had a chance to get to know the players and bond with the rest of the team.”\nThe women’s basketball team will begin its portion of Hoosier Hysteria following the 7 p.m. volleyball match against Michigan State. IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack will address the crowd while the Hoosiers warm up. A three-point shooting contest will follow Jack’s speech, with the winner facing the men’s champion later in the evening. \nSenior Nikki Smith is the reigning champion in the women’s three-point contest and is looking forward to defending her title. \n“It’s always a fun time, because it’s the first competitive event of the year for us,” she said. “Whatever happens, I’m not too worried, but this is my last go-around and hopefully I can make it two years in a row.”\nSmith said she will have some good competition this year from sophomore Jamie Braun and freshmen Andrea McGuirt and Jori Davis. She also said she hopes the champion can take down the men’s winner. \n“It’s always competitive between the girls and the guys,” she said. “The guys have some really good shooters, but I think they might underestimate us a little bit. It should be a really fun event for the crowd.”\nThe Hoosiers know that when they step on the floor, the crowd will share their sense of excitement. \n“Hoosier Hysteria is always pretty crazy,” Smith said. “It’s the one time where most every fan can get a ticket. Even for those who don’t have season tickets, it’s a chance for IU fans to come out and support their two favorite teams. It should be nuts for the new men’s team, and hopefully we can build off of that support.”
(10/08/07 4:08am)
After losing two of their last three games, the IU field hockey team had an opportunity to record two big wins this weekend in front of home fans at the IU Field Hockey Field.\nThe Hoosiers were impressive in a 2-1 win over Miami University of Ohio on Friday, but fell to No. 9 Penn State 2-0 on Sunday.\nAgainst Miami, IU controlled most of the game after charging out to a 2-0 lead only 10 minutes in. \n“I think we knew we had to step it up as a team, and we got back to playing Hoosier hockey,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “I think we took more control and were more proactive in our approach.”\nIU outshot Miami 21-10 on the game and earned a 10-5 advantage in penalty corners. \n“We had good goal-scoring opportunities the whole game and took a lot more shots,” Robertson said. “We were aggressive and we took smart risks.” \nSenior midfielder Amanda Oyler scored the first goal for the Hoosiers off a penalty corner, and sophomore midfielder Meg O’Connell scored minutes later off of a pass from freshman back Brenna Moeljadi. \nMoeljadi earned her first start of the season and made the most of the opportunity. \n“It felt amazing being out on the field as a freshman,” she said. “I put in a lot of effort in practice and during the preseason. It was just nice to be able to contribute for the team.”\nAfter holding a 2-0 halftime lead, the Hoosiers gave up a second half goal to the Redhawks, but hung on for the 2-1 victory.\n“I feel really good about this win,” Robertson said after the game. “Not just because it was a win, but because of how \nwe played.”\nAgainst Penn State, IU was the team that fell behind in the first half. The Nittany Lions made the most of their first half opportunities, scoring two goals on only four shot attempts and one penalty corner.\n“I thought we had good control on offense in the first half,” Robertson said. “We just needed to tighten up the defense a little more and get more organized.”\nIn the second half, Penn State wore down the Hoosiers with their aggressive play, and IU was unable to score a goal in their comeback effort.\n“I was really impressed with how Penn State kept the pressure on us the whole game,” Robertson said. “They just kept fighting and were very aggressive and very physical. I think eventually, our fatigue caught up with us.”\nThe loss brings IU’s record to 6-6 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten. After three close Big Ten losses, the Hoosiers haven’t lost their focus.\n“We’ve been competing well against really good competition,” senior midfielder Meredith Brown said. “We’re just going to go out and play our hardest every game and work on being ready to surprise some teams at the Big Ten tournament.”
(10/05/07 4:13am)
After losing two of the last three games, including two tight Big Ten match-ups, IU field hockey coach Amy Robertson found herself searching for that extra something to help the team get back on track. \nIn the week of practice leading up to this weekend’s games, she believes she may have found an answer. \nWith the Hoosiers hosting Miami University of Ohio on Friday and No. 9 Penn State on Sunday at the IU Field Hockey Field, Robertson said the coaches treated practice this week as open tryouts for starting positions. \n“We’ve had a pretty consistent starting lineup for most of this year,” she said. “We’re going to try something new and keep the starting lineups open. We are looking for consistent effort in practice. Those who perform in practice, despite talent or who has started in the past, will be the ones to start in the games.”\nRobertson admitted she was a bit hesitant to make this change, wondering how the players might respond. But after a good practice Tuesday, she was reassured that it might work for the team. \n“We had some really good intersquad competition,” she said. “We were very clear with the players about what we were expecting, and we kept the lines of communication open. I think it has been a real positive so far, and it has been exciting to watch the girls compete.”\nAfter a 2-1 loss to Ohio State and a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Iowa, the Hoosiers hope their spirited play in practice carries over into the games. \n“We’re just trying to forget about the past and look toward the future,” freshman forward Lena Grote said. “Against Iowa, we played hard throughout regulation time, and then when overtime came, we hit a little bit of a lull. This weekend, we need to come out and play with heart and will for the whole time.”\nDespite their recent struggles, IU is not treating this weekend any differently. \n“Every game is big because it’s competition,” sophomore midfielder Elizabeth Schmidt said. “We are just looking to outplay our opponents and get a couple wins against two good teams.”\nWhen IU meets Penn State on Sunday, the players should not need any extra motivation, Robertson said. \n“We have a lot of players from Pennsylvania on our roster,” she said. “Our games against Penn State are never lacking for effort or heart. They are a tough team and have played some great competition this year.”\nThe Hoosiers have also faced a tough schedule this year. While they haven’t been able to record a marquee win, they have come close. \n“We are getting better and better as a team, and we continue to take steps in a positive direction,” Robertson said. “There’s no question that we have the talent and ability, but we’re still searching for that big win at home.”
(10/04/07 4:00am)
The line:\n"He looks stiff."\nThe setup:\nA friend's mother while watching "Dancing with the Star"
(10/01/07 4:18am)
The IU field hockey team traveled to Iowa City, Iowa, this weekend with thoughts of upsetting the No. 6 Hawkeyes. After 70 minutes couldn’t determine a winner, the Hoosiers upset bid was spoiled in a 2-1 overtime loss. \nIU played Iowa tough before the Hawkeyes scored a goal in the first overtime period. \n“This was probably the toughest loss of the whole season,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “It was one of those games that could have gone either way. We fought really hard and knew we were capable of winning the whole time.” \nIowa struck first, scoring a first-half goal off of a penalty corner. The Hawkeyes put the pressure on the IU defense all game long, notching 21 shots and earning 12 penalty corners. \n“I think we did a good job of defending their corners,” senior goalkeeper Haley Exner said. “That was something we had been working on in practice, and I think we didn’t let them execute how they wanted to.”\nAlthough the Hoosiers defended the corners well, Robertson was concerned with the amount given up to the Hawkeyes. \n“We executed well on our corner defense, but we have to work on giving up less corners,” she said. \nTrailing 1-0 at halftime, IU bounced back with a second-half goal of its own. Freshman forward Katie Griswold scored on a reverse chip, leveling the score at 1-1. \nThe game stayed tied until the overtime period, when Iowa scored the game-winning goal. \n“We played really hard for 70 minutes, and I think we were a little tired in the overtime period,” sophomore midfielder Meg O’Connell said. “The overtime is played seven-on-seven, so it was a lot of running and kind of a different style of game. We didn’t get much of an attack going and they scored a breakaway.”\nIU struggled to create scoring chances against a strong Iowa defense, recording only seven shots in the game. \n“I thought we did a pretty good job with the ball from the 50 to the goal, but we just didn’t generate enough shot opportunities,” Robertson said. “We didn’t get enough penetration inside the circle to create decent shots.”\nAlthough the Hoosiers were outshot 21-7, they held their own over the course of \nthe game.\n“I thought it was a pretty even game,” O’Connell said. “We were aggressive and were pretty organized on defense. We were able to create some good opportunities, but we just didn’t finish.”\nExner was busy in goal all game long and recorded an impressive nine saves. Despite her good performance, she was still disappointed in the result. \n“It was a little bittersweet because I had some good saves and I thought I did everything I could out there,” she said. “To lose like that in overtime was pretty heartbreaking.”
(09/28/07 4:33am)
When the IU field hockey team travels to Iowa City to take on Iowa on Sunday, they will have an opportunity to get their first Big Ten win over one of the top teams in the country. \nA week after losing their Big Ten opener to Ohio State 2-1, the Hoosiers (5-4) are focused and ready to head into a matchup with the No. 6 Hawkeyes. \n“We only have one game all week,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “I think that should be an advantage for us. We feel fresher and have had a chance to rest and rebuild our fitness. We’ve had a good plan for this week, and we’re focused on playing up to our potential.”\nWith a longer week of practice, the IU coaches have been able to stress some of the little things they have noticed throughout the season.\n“It has been a great time to revisit some of the things we have been working on all year,” Robertson said. “We’re trying to identify what we need to improve and then find the mental and tactical solutions. Then we have to be gritty enough to apply those during the game.”\nIn its last game, the IU offense exploded for eight goals, beating Missouri State 8-0 in Columbus, Ohio. Scoring has not come easy this season, but the Hoosiers are hoping to build on their most recent offensive performance. \n“It all starts in the backfield with good outlets,” sophomore forward Alina Valenti said. “And then it goes to the midfield with good lead passes. If we can make good connections on the field we’ll be able to create good scoring chances.”\nRobertson said she hopes the team will continue to attack like they did in the win over Missouri State. \n“We have to keep the pressure on the opponent and play with confidence,” Robertson said. “We are a capable team, and we just need to go out and put it together out on the field.”\nAfter a good week of practice, the Hoosiers are ready for the challenge before them. \n“We’ve been practicing really well this week,” Valenti said after Wednesday’s practice. “Today we had another good practice. I think we’ve had good focus and we’re ready to go.”\nSince Michigan upset Iowa last week, the Hawkeyes will also be looking for their first Big Ten of the season. \n“It’s a really big game for us and for them,” sophomore back Lucy Ireland said. “Every Big Ten game is big, but this one is really important for us bouncing back from the Ohio State loss. We have a great opportunity to beat a really good team. It would be huge for us and our confidence.”
(09/26/07 11:59pm)
The last two seasons, the IU field hockey team has finished in second place in the Big Ten regular season. This year, as the Hoosiers try to outpace a loaded conference and break through for a Big Ten title, they know it won’t be easy. \n“The Big Ten is so tough this year,” senior goalkeeper Haley Exner said. “I think almost all the teams are ranked in the Top 20. Every game is going to be huge and everyone is going to be gunning for each other.”\nThe Sept. 12 STX/NFHCA Coaches Poll has three of the seven Big Ten field hockey teams ranked in the Top 20. Iowa, Penn State and Michigan State are all ranked in the top ten, while Michigan is ranked No. 15. Indiana fell just outside of the Top 20 after being ranked No. 19 previously. \nLast year, IU finished 4-2 in the Big Ten during the regular season with losses to Michigan and Michigan State. After earning the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament, The Hoosiers were upset again by the Spartans in the first round. \nAfter two disappointing losses to Michigan State, IU is hoping to return the favor this season.\n“Michigan State was really young last year, but we lost to them twice,” senior forward Kate O’Connell said. “We are definitely looking to beat them this year.”\nWhen IU coach Amy Robertson was asked about the other Big Ten teams, the first she mentioned was Iowa. Robertson grew familiar with the Hawkeyes after coaching the Regional High Performance team over the summer, which consisted of the best players in the Midwest. The team had several Iowa players on the roster, giving Robertson a good look at what the Hawkeyes have to offer this season. \n“Iowa has had some really good success against some ACC schools early this year,” Robertson said. “They return a lot of their players and have good leadership. I think they will be one of the strongest teams in the conference.”\nAs the Hoosiers saw last year when they were upset by Michigan State, they can’t look past any team in the Big Ten.\n“We have to come in to each game with a winning mentality and play our game,” O’Connell said\nIU opened Big Ten play Sept. 21 when it faced Ohio State in Columbus. The Hoosiers lost to the Buckeyes 2-1. The Big Ten season will also conclude in Columbus with the conference tournament beginning Nov. 1.\nWhile the Big Ten regular season title is a goal for the Hoosiers, Robertson said this team’s focus has to be on the Big Ten tournament. \n“We are a fairly young team,” she said. “We are just trying to improve, improve, improve throughout the season. I think the tournament is much more important for us.”\nThe only automatic bid for the NCAA tournament comes from the Big Ten tournament winner, so Robertson is preparing her Hoosiers for the end of the season.\n“It is rarely the team that wins the regular season who wins the tournament,” she said. “It is usually the team who performs the most consistently throughout. It’s the team who is peaking and is most hungry for the NCAA tournament.”
(09/26/07 11:58pm)
IU freshman midfielder Kelsey Kiper remembers watching her older sister Katie play field hockey in high school. After Kelsey quit field hockey in sixth grade, Katie renewed her interest in the game.\n“In eighth grade, I would see her playing for our high school team, and I think that influenced my decision to play in high school,” Kelsey Kiper said.\nAfter four years of field hockey at Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Ky., Kelsey Kiper followed in her sister’s footsteps again, joining Katie Kiper at IU. \nEarly on in the season, the decision has paid off for the Kipers and the Hoosiers as the sisters have wasted no time blending with one another on the field. \nIn the season opener against Pacific, Katie Kiper assisted Kelsey Kiper on the first goal of the year for the Hoosiers.\n“It was a really cool feeling,” Katie Kiper said of the goal. “I just made a move and looked up and saw Kelsey open. Hopefully we’ll have some more of those.”\nEven though their early season success would indicate otherwise, this is the first time that the siblings have competed together on the field.\nKatie Kiper, a junior forward on the team, and Kelsey Kiper both played high school field hockey at Sacred Heart, but never together. Sacred Heart has a freshmen, junior varsity and varsity team, and by the time Kelsey Kiper made junior varsity her sophomore year, Katie Kiper was a senior playing varsity.\nKelsey Kiper said she talked with Katie Kiper during her college search, but her decision to play at IU was never set in stone. \n“In the beginning I sort of viewed the whole sister thing as a negative,” Kelsey Kiper said. “I sort of wanted something different for myself, and (I) didn’t really want to follow that same path.”\nBut Kelsey Kiper treated the search objectively and decided that IU was the right place for her. \nSince Kelsey Kiper arrived at IU, her older sister has made the transition to college easier for her both on and off the field. \n“I think it has been easier for her than it might have been otherwise,” Katie Kiper said. “She stayed with me this summer and got to know some of the teammates ahead of time.”\nKelsey Kiper said she can lean on Katie Kiper for help, whether it’s what to do in practice, how to find a building on campus or how to handle a load of laundry.\nThe early success of the sisters on the field has pleased IU coach Amy Robertson, who said she has enjoyed watching the girls compete in practice and in games.\n“I love that they are perfectionists,” she said. “They have a great drive to get better. They are so determined that sometimes their only weakness is not recognizing their strengths, but you can never say that they don’t work hard. They are strong, tough and gutsy competitors. They cheer hard for each other but they also compete hard with each other on the field.” \nThe experience is new for the Kipers, but they are enjoying sharing it together.\n“It’s not very often that sisters get to play together at the NCAA level,” Katie Kiper said. “It’s definitely new for us, but it has been fun.”
(09/24/07 3:59am)
After a 2-1 loss to Ohio State in Columbus on Friday, the IU field hockey team responded quickly with an 8-0 win over Missouri State on Saturday. \nThe Hoosiers had little time to dwell on the defeat and showed no ill-effect in their dominant victory less than 24 hours later.\n“I think we responded really well to the disappointment we felt after the loss to Ohio State,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “We made the right changes and overall it was really positive. I was proud of how we approached the game.”\nIU came out firing against Missouri State, outshooting the Bears 16-3 in the first half and 27-8 for the game. \nSophomore forward Haley Funk led the offense for the Hoosiers, recording her first career hat trick. \n“It was a good feeling being able to score those goals,” she said. “It was just nice to see us pick up our play after Friday.”\nSenior midfielder Margie Stoll recorded her first career goal, and senior forward Kate O'Connell scored her sixth goal of the season. Sisters Katie and Kelsey Kiper also found the back of the net, and junior back Danitra Castro put in a penalty stroke to round out the scoring for the Hoosiers. \n“We were able to develop good opportunities that led to goals,” Robertson said. “I thought we came out focused, and our tempo and intensity was high for the full 70 minutes. We played almost everybody, and some different players made contributions.”\nOne of those players was junior goalkeeper Jobi Manson, who replaced starter Haley Exner in the second half. Manson made the most of her playing time, making two key second-half saves.\n“It felt great to get in the game and prove what I can do to the team,” Manson said. “As a backup, you work hard in practice and put in a lot of time on and off the field, so it was really refreshing to be able to play like that in a game.”\nIn their Big Ten opener against Ohio State, the Hoosiers came out a little flat, and the Buckeyes made them pay. \n“Ohio State capitalized on their opportunities,” Robertson said. “It was frustrating because we didn’t really click out there. I thought it was the first time we didn’t play and progress from the previous game.”\nIU outshot Ohio State 9-8 for the game but managed only one shot in the second half. Sophomore Meg O’Connell was the lone scorer for the Hoosiers, recording her third goal of \nthe season. \nDespite the slow start in Big Ten play, Robertson isn’t overly concerned.\n“In the Big Ten there isn’t one team who is going to dominate,” she said. “There is great competition and it brings out the best in each other. It isn’t one game that will make the difference. We just have to focus on making IU better. We’re not going to change our style of play because of our opponents.”
(09/21/07 4:43am)
The IU field hockey team has seen a lot of the new IU field hockey field lately. But this weekend, the Hoosiers are in for a change of scenery.\nLast weekend, IU completed a three-week, five-game home stand during which the team went 2-3 against some top-ranked competition. This weekend, IU (4-3) will hit the road and head to Columbus, Ohio, to face Big Ten foe Ohio State on Friday and Missouri State on Saturday. \nWhile a home crowd and friendly confines are always nice, IU coach Amy Robertson said sometimes, a road trip can be a blessing in disguise. \n“I think sometimes it can be an advantage being on the road,” she said. “It’s a little easier mentally without having to worry about classes or some of the other distractions. We can do an easy walk-through before the game and get comfortable. Playing at home is great, but the road can be your best friend too.”\nThe game against Ohio State will mark the beginning of the Big Ten season for the Hoosiers. \n“We’re really excited to start Big Ten play,” senior midfielder Amanda Oyler said. “I think we’ve been playing well and are well prepared.”\nRobertson also said the Hoosiers are looking forward to Big Ten play, but will focus on their own improvement and not on the play of their opponents.\n“We’re just going to take one game at a time and continue the process of learning,” she said. “I think each practice we’ve improved something, but we’ve also found out some of our difficulties. Sometimes improving on the little things can make a big difference.” \nOne of the things IU is hoping to improve is its ability to finish on offense. The Hoosiers have created scoring opportunities all season but have struggled turning those chances into goals lately. \nIn their last two games, the Hoosiers managed only one goal despite attempting 11 shots.\n“We’re focused on getting good shot opportunities,” Robertson said. “We have to be smart and relentless in our attack.”\nIU played well against good competition last weekend, losing close games to No. 11 Ohio and No. 5 Wake Forest. The Hoosiers believe the experience will help prepare them for the games this weekend.\n“I think we’ve really stepped up our play,” sophomore back Brittney Hacken said. “We need to improve on some of the little things, but I think we’ll still go in to these games with the same game plan.”\nAfter a long homestand, the Hoosiers are ready for two tough road tests.\n“We are playing with confidence,” Oyler said. “We just need to step up to the challenge and put it all together out on the field.”
(09/20/07 4:00am)
That's what she said ...
(09/17/07 3:13am)
The IU field hockey team had a tough weekend, dropping two hard-fought contests to No. 12 Ohio and No. 5 Wake Forest at the IU Field Hockey Field. \nThe Hoosiers raised their level of play to the competition, but fell just short in both games, losing to Ohio 1-0 and Wake Forest 2-1.\n“We didn’t get the results we wanted, but I think we had two good performances,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “The job of the coaches is to always be working on the next thing and always trying to be taking steps forward. I think we took some big steps forward.”\nIU (4-3) lost a heartbreaker to Ohio on Friday. The Hoosiers and Bobcats played evenly throughout the game, with Ohio outshooting IU 10-8 and earning a 5-3 advantage in penalty corners. \nIn the end, it was a penalty corner that made the difference. With just more than one minute left, Ohio’s Marcy Dull tipped in a shot off a penalty corner to give the Bobcats the victory. \n“It was a really hard-fought game, and in the end, it just didn’t go our way,” senior goalkeeper Haley Exner said. “I was really feeling a win, but we had a five-second breakdown and they took advantage on the corner.”\nThe Hoosiers had several scoring opportunities throughout the game, but were unable to take advantage. \n“We had some good chances, but we were a little bit anxious in the attacking zone,” Robertson said. “I think we need to attack with a little more composure and patience.”\nAgainst Wake Forest, the game was scoreless at halftime again, with neither team finding any real scoring opportunities. The pace picked up in the second half, and Wake Forest outshot IU 10-3, while earning an 8-4 edge in penalty corners for the game.\nThe Demon Deacons took a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the second half. Just two minutes later, IU junior back Danitra Castro tied the score at one with a goal off a penalty corner. Wake Forest took the lead for good less than two minutes later, with a goal of its own off a penalty corner. \n“I think we stepped up our game to a whole new level today,” junior forward Katie Kiper said after the Wake Forest game. “We came out and played well from the beginning.”\n Despite the loss, Robertson was happy with how the team competed throughout the game.\n“Wake Forest is a team we really respect,” she said. “I was pleased that we came out and felt we could win the whole time. We were never tentative and we really pressed and defended well. I was very proud of our effort.”\nWith their first Big Ten game of the season next weekend against Ohio State, the Hoosiers believe their level of play is just where they want it to be. \n“I think we are starting to peak at the right time,” Kiper said. “I don’t think anyone expected us to play this well. Once we start finishing on offense, there are endless possibilities to what we can do.”
(09/14/07 4:44am)
This weekend, the IU field hockey team will face its toughest challenge so far this season when it welcomes two top-15 teams to Bloomington. The Hoosiers will face No. 12 Ohio at 3 p.m. today and No. 5 Wake Forest at 1 p.m. Sunday at the IU field hockey field.\n“This will be a really exciting weekend for us,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “We are facing two of the top teams in the country and we are at home. I think the timing is right.”\nThe Hoosiers are fresh off a 2-0 victory over Ball State on Saturday, in which senior goalkeeper Haley Exner earned her seventh career shutout. After making a season high seven saves against the Cardinals, Exner earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. \nExner and the IU defense will be tested this weekend, beginning Friday with Ohio. \n“Ohio returns a lot of good players, and they are off to one of their best starts,” Robertson said. “They are really good on their attack corners, and they have girls who have been in the same role for a couple of years. Overall, they are just a smart and solid team throughout.”\nThe IU players are looking forward to facing a tough Bobcats squad.\n“I think we consider Ohio to be one of our rivals because of how close we are to them,” senior back Erin Isler said. “It’s friendly and fun, but I think we are going to be fired up.”\nWhen the Hoosiers take on Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon, they will try to get in the win column against a team they have never beaten. \n“Wake Forest has such a great tradition,” Robertson said. “They have great players and a great coaching staff. They play one of the toughest schedules in the country, and they are a team we really respect. We are (winless) against them, so it will definitely be tough.” \nSince 2003, the Hoosiers have lost to the Deamon Deacons four times, including a 5-0 loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2005. \nDespite the tough competition, the Hoosiers remain focused on playing their own game. \n“We haven’t really seen any film on either team,” said senior midfielder Margie Stoll. “We know their key players, but we have been playing a lot and scrimmaging in practice, so we aren’t trying to do a whole lot different.”\nRobertson said attacking on offense will be a key for the Hoosiers over the weekend.\n“I think we want to hold good possession throughout,” she said. “We have to be relentless and persistent in the attacking end. We’ve been getting good opportunities in the circle, but we have to increase our finishing percentage.” \nRobertson also hopes the aggressive mentality will carry over to the defensive side of the field.\n“We want to be confident in the backfield,” she said. “We want to have our opponents with their backs turned towards our goal.”\nEven with a young team, Robertson says the Hoosiers won’t be intimidated by \ntheir opponents’ rankings.\n“We are looking forward to the challenge,” Robertson said. “I think we will really see what we are made of. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about the players being ready for these games.”
(09/10/07 4:09am)
The IU field hockey team knew it would be in for a tough battle against Ball State this weekend, but it didn’t know it would also have to battle Mother Nature. \nIn the end, the Hoosiers weathered both storms, overcoming a feisty Cardinal squad and a second-half downpour to earn a 2-0 victory Saturday afternoon at the IU Field Hockey Field. \nIU was holding a 1-0 lead with just more than ten minutes left in the second half when the skies opened and rain started to fall. \n“We’ve never faced anything like that at home,” IU coach Amy Robertson said of the heavy rain. “I think the girls enjoyed playing in the elements, though.”\nThe rain was something new for the Hoosiers, who played indoors at Mellencamp Pavilion for the last seven years before the construction of the new outdoor field. \nThe Hoosiers seemed unfazed by the weather, however, and scored their second goal of the game on the rain-soaked field. Senior forward Kate O’Connell took a pass from senior midfielder Amanda Oyler on a penalty corner and scored to put IU up for good. The rain continued for the rest of the game as IU kept Ball State off the scoreboard to earn the victory. The Hoosiers possessed the ball for most of the game, outshooting the Cardinals 22-9 and earning a 12-1 advantage in penalty corners. \nIn the first half, the Hoosiers had 13 shots and seven penalty corners but were unable to crack the scoreboard. The best opportunity of the half came when IU earned a penalty stroke, but senior midfielder Meredith Brown’s shot hit the left post and bounced away from the goal.\n“In the first half, I thought we made the simple, sound play, which was good,” Robertson said. “We had a lot of opportunities but couldn’t take advantage. I think we need to work on setting up good scoring opportunities with purpose.”\nAfter a scoreless first half, IU broke through for an early second-half goal. Sophomore midfielder Meg O’Connell worked her way down the left side of the field, dribbling past several Ball State defenders before feeding a wide-open Haley Funk for the goal. \n“It was great,” Funk said of the goal. “Meg carried the ball the whole way and made it so much easier for me. I think that goal really lifted the spirit of the team.”\nAfter taking the lead, the Hoosiers’ defense continued its solid play and kept Ball State in check. Senior goalkeeper Haley Exner recorded seven saves in the game.\n“We were pretty happy with our defense,” junior back Danitra Castro said. “I think our organization was good and we did a good job of staying behind the ball.”\nRobertson was also pleased with her team’s effort.\n“We’re happy to take this victory,” Robertson said. “We faced an opponent that was hungry to beat us and played a really good game and still found a way to get a result.”
(09/07/07 4:44am)
During the preseason, the IU field hockey team defeated Ball State 5-3 in its lone scrimmage before regular season play. Despite the outcome, IU coach Amy Robertson wasn’t overly impressed. \n“We won by score,” she said. “But if you ask Ball State, I bet you they feel like they won the scrimmage.”\nIU, now 3-1 on the season, will face Ball State again, as the Hoosiers welcome the Cardinals for a 2 p.m. home contest Saturday at the IU Field Hockey Field. This time, the Hoosiers have more game experience and are poised for a sharper performance. \n“We want to play a complete game for 70 minutes with intensity and focus,” Robertson said. “I’d like to see better decisions and finishing when we’re in good position. We have to be able to handle the pressure inside the circle.”\nThe Hoosiers will look to tighten up the defense this time around after giving up three goals to Ball State in the scrimmage. \n“I think defense is the starting point and that includes me,” senior goalkeeper Haley Exner said. “We have to have good marking and not let them receive the ball and get good shots. We need a little more organization and to continue to get tougher out there.”\nIn their last game, IU shutout Saint Louis 8-0, allowing only one shot and giving up no penalty corners. Senior forward Kate O’Connell would like to see a repeat performance against Ball State.\n“I think another shutout would be great for our defense,” she said. “I think if we play our game, we are capable of doing that.”\nAgainst Saint Louis, the offense put on a show, and four Hoosiers scored their first career goal. Freshman forward Katie Griswold scored two goals. Freshmen Lena Grote and Brenna Moeljadi also scored along with junior Danitra Castro.\nIU constantly attacked the circle, taking 19 shots and earning 16 penalty corners, something Robertson believes the Hoosiers can build upon for the game on Saturday. \n“I think we can take a lot from how well we moved the ball and penetrated the offensive side of the field,” she said. \nThe Saint Louis game showcased the depth of the team as the Hoosiers saw big time contributions from their bench. \n“Several girls came off the bench and had huge performances,” Robertson said. “It was important for me to see that if I stick someone else in they can go out there and play their personal best. I think we have more options than we originally thought.”