400 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(09/29/06 3:57am)
After winning their last nine games, the Hoosiers are one victory away from tying their all-time record for consecutive games won. \nHowever, the team isn't very concerned about the streak.\n"Absolutely not," IU coach Amy Robertson said when asked if she was thinking about her team's winning streak. "I just think about how we can get better tomorrow and focus on things that require attention."\nRobertson's attention is focused on her team's two home games this weekend. Today, the Hoosiers (9-1, 1-0) will play the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-6, 0-2) at Mellencamp Pavilion. IU will get only a day to rest before it then takes on the undefeated No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0, 1-0) Sunday.\nThe winning streak isn't something Robertson's team has harped on much this season. In fact, it isn't something a few of them even knew about.\nJunior goalie Haley Exner wasn't even aware of the team's proximity to the consecutive games streak until after Wednesday's practice.\n"I just really want to beat Iowa and Ohio State," she said. "The win streak is just kind of a plus."\nLast season, the Hoosiers rewrote their entire record book with a run to the Elite 8 and won 10 straight games from Sept. 9 to Oct. 14. Their streak came to an end last season when Iowa defeated them 2-1 Oct. 22.\n"It's not something we think about or talk about," junior back Erin Isler said. "We just go out and try and find a way to win."\nThe way the Hoosiers will try to win this weekend is by working on the team's fundamentals, not worrying about their opponent, Robertson said.\n"We're really back to some basics and sharpening up on the things we can control," Robertson said. "You can't change everything you want to fix, and I think we're in a good place right now."\nDespite the team's success this year, Robertson has said repeatedly this season that her team hasn't played up to its capability.\n"The best hockey for us is when you see the entire team flow. The ball is moving quickly, we play confident and we make less mistakes and value the ball," she said. "You can see when everyone is on the same wavelength, and we haven't hit that yet."\nThe team's play has remained high, as was evident in last weekend's victories against Northwestern and New Hampshire. Leading the way was All-American senior forward Lydia Schrott, who tallied four goals in two games and scored her 100th career point for the Hoosiers.\nThe Hoosiers have also received strong play of late from their freshman class, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Robertson said freshmen backs Fenna Geuskens and Brittney Hacken have impressed her lately, especially under pressure.\nIU will have plenty of pressure on it this weekend, but the team is excited about the opportunity to face two of the Big Ten's best.\n"I think this weekend we'll really show people what we're capable of," Isler said. "The teams we've played before have been good matchups ... but I think we'll come out strong and show the Big Ten what we can do."\nFor the Hoosiers to play well, they'll have to start well -- which has been difficult for them.\n"We haven't started strong in the first 10 minutes," Exner said of this season's games. "We always have to score and come back, which is a great skill to have, but this weekend we'll need to come out strong and score first."\nRobertson agreed with her goalie's sentiment.\n"We haven't had the whole team on the same page much this year," she said. "It's rare, but I think this weekend would be a good time for this to occur"
(09/25/06 4:23pm)
"Oh! Meg's out! Someone get her out!" junior Kate O'Connell yelled from a stationary bike on the sideline of Mellencamp Pavilion. This comment came after Meg was struck in the leg with a ball on a practice penalty corner.\nIs that Kate being a concerned teammate?\nNope. Try a fun-poking sister. After joking around and screaming loud enough for everyone in the pavilion to hear her call her sister out, Kate's sister-side came out when freshman Meg O'Connell returned to the sideline.\n"You OK, Meg?"\nThat's the way things go for the O'Connell sisters. After all, they started playing field hockey when their sticks were just about "a foot and a half long," Kate said. They might both play field hockey for the Hoosiers, but that's about where the similarities end.\nThey aren't exactly the modern day Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito (probably because they aren't twins), but the St. Louis natives have about as much in common as the Hollywood duo.\n"I think off the field, they are very, very different," Kelly Yates, the sisters' mother, said. "They play different, but they have different personalities, too. They bring out a little extra competition in each other."\nYates isn't only a mother giving her opinion; she's also a coach. Yates coached her daughters throughout their high school careers as a prominent figure in Midwest field hockey. She is also the founder of Gateway Field Hockey and, among a myriad of other impressive accomplishments, was the 2004 National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Junior Coach of the Year.\n"She is like Miss Field Hockey in the Midwest," IU coach Amy Robertson said. "She knows field hockey, appreciates it and is a great supporter of the sport and program."\nWhen Meg was visiting some of her other top school choices such as Michigan, Iowa and Ohio State, Kate always made sure to text message her younger sister after an IU victory. \nEventually, Kate's text messaging paid off, as Meg followed in her sister's footsteps and is a freshman at IU this fall. She holds the national career record for assists in high school and has several individual achievements to her name. She also has succeeded as becoming a big part of the IU team.\n"When I heard Meg was coming, I wasn't sure how it'd work out between the sisters," junior goalkeeper Haley Exner said. "But they are great together. On the field, you can see when they make a pass that it wouldn't happen with someone else and them."\nThat special connection the sisters have on the field is something their coach recognizes as well.\n"Right from the very beginning, when Meg would get the ball, it's like she already knew where Kate would be," Robertson said. "I don't even see her look. It's not a coincidence. They definitely have a connection on the field."\n"We just connect on the field," Kate said. "It's weird. We've been playing so well even though we hadn't played together in a while."\nMeg agreed, noting that most of their "chemistry is on the field."\nThough they succeed when on the same team, when pitted against each other in practice, they go to battle.\n"There is some competition," Meg said. "Whenever we do things, we get really competitive with each other until we fight some."\nFrom Meg's coach, that is a major understatement.\n"When they compete one-on-one, it's awesome." Robertson said, "They really go hard at each other. The sibling rivalry sparks up in a good way."\nSo far, the O'Connell sisters have gained 11 points total this year for the Hoosiers. Their contrasted play has helped the Hoosiers get off to a 8-1 start this season.\n"Kate is strong and hits the ball harder, and Meg is small and fast," Yates said of her daughters' play. "They are both very good passers, very smart on the field."\nAfter her sister poked fun at her in practice, Meg explained how their childhood squabbles unfolded.\n"We'd get in some fights, but I was younger, and I would just cry and get my way," she said.\nThe O'Connells might not be teammates for very much longer, but they'll always be sisters.
(09/25/06 4:04pm)
First might be the worst, but the Hoosiers would disagree if you told them second was best.\nAfter finishing as the runners-up in the Big Ten regular season and conference tournament, the IU field hockey team looks to contend in this year's conference title races with new additions to its strategy.\nThe Hoosiers are a much different team since losing their season opener against Virginia, 3-2. Since their game against the Cavaliers, the Hoosiers have had three weeks to work on a newly implemented zone defense. \nIU coach Amy Robertson recently announced the addition of Pietie Coetzee to the coaching staff. Coetzee, who has been working with the offense, is a nine-time member of the South African national team and a two-time Olympian.\nWith new tactics at hand, the Hoosiers prepare to adjust to the competitive and grueling Big Ten schedule.\n"There is only one difference with the Big Ten games," Robertson said. "It's that you don't have to convince your players it's a big game. If you win Big Ten games, you win a conference, you win a championship."\nFamiliarity is one reason the Big Ten season is more competitive. Robertson noted that because teams share tapes, there is more scouting and strategy in conference games.\n"We know these teams. We know their styles. There is no mystery in what you are going to face," she said.\nThe Hoosiers have one team in mind when it comes to seeking revenge: the Penn State Nittany Lions. After finishing second to them last season, the Hoosiers look forward to their season finale game versus Penn State Oct. 29.\n"They always have intensity and speed, and last year they took the title away from us," senior back April Levins said. "We have a little bit of resentment, and we are eager to go out there and beat them and accomplish our goal."\nWhen asked who the Hoosiers' biggest conference rival was, junior forward Kate O'Connell agreed with her teammate.\n"It's definitely Penn State. We've never beaten Penn State. They are the only team in the conference we've never beat in six years," she said.\nOne year removed from the Nittany Lions beating the Hoosiers at Mellencamp Pavilion for the Big Ten title, the Hoosiers use the bitter memory as inspiration this season.\n"I'll never forget when they brought out the boxes of T-shirts and hats and celebrated on our field," junior goalie Haley Exner said. "You have to remember how that felt and go out and get it. I can see us with the hats and the Gatorade this time."\nExner said she thinks the team's improvement in chemistry and cohesiveness is a reason it is excelling on and off the field.\n"We're trying to set a standard for how high Indiana field hockey plays," she said. "Knowing that, every weekend we just need to work even harder in practice."\nThe Hoosiers opened the conference season Sept. 22 on the road against Northwestern. The Michigan Wolverines will host the Big Ten Championship this year, Nov. 3-5.\nWhen discussing this year's goals, coach Robertson said she thought her team had the "personnel and attitude to get to the NCAA Tournament again." \nAbove that, she has her focus set on something else.\n"I think we're especially hungry to compete in the Big Ten and win a championship," she said.
(09/25/06 4:23am)
Coming from behind in two games this weekend, the No. 14 Hoosiers extended their winning streak to nine games, the second longest in team history.\nIU (9-1) needed double overtime Friday to win its Big Ten season opener 5-4 versus the Northwestern Wildcats.\n"If we would have lost that game it would have been a whole different season," senior back Morgan Miller said. "It would have been really tough to bounce back from that."\nThe Hoosiers were able to come out victorious despite surrendering a season-high four goals.\n"You never like to give up four goals. I think we're a better team than that," IU coach Amy Robertson said. "There were times when we weren't poised in our circle, and we just let it rattle us a little bit."\nBoth teams played on the attack the entire game, with the Hoosiers outshooting the Wildcats 19-17. Up 4-3 late in the second half, the Hoosiers lost the lead to the Wildcats in the closing seconds of regulation.\n"It's tough when you are up with 30 seconds to go and you make one mistake, and the opponent is desperate and are going for it," Robertson said. "They capitalize and get a corner with no time on the clock and score. That is a huge momentum swing in favor of your opponent, and for us to come out of that and step up in overtime really shows some fortitude to finish the game when we were barely walking."\nAll-American senior forward Lydia Schrott led the Hoosiers to victory against the Wildcats with a milestone day. Schrott notched her fourth career hat trick, with her third goal serving as the game-winner in double overtime.\nSchrott -- who is IU's career leader in goals, assists and points -- scored the 100th point of her career on the game-winner versus the Wildcats.\n"That goal couldn't have come at a better time," Robertson said. "She brought the stick back, and it seemed like five seconds passed before she shot it. That was probably the most dramatic goal you could have for your 100th point."\nDespite her coach's praise, Schrott downplayed the personal achievement and instead focused on what it meant to IU field hockey.\n"I think it's great for our program," Schrott said. "To be around only seven years and have someone accomplish it is really great for IU."\nIU's program continued to have success Sunday when the team defeated the New Hampshire Wildcats 3-1 at Mellencamp Pavilion.\nThe Wildcats got off to a hot start against the Hoosiers, scoring off a rebound in the seventh minute. The Hoosiers were able to tie the score by halftime when Schrott converted on a penalty stroke in the 31st minute.\nFreshman Haley Funk scored two goals in the second half, and the Hoosiers were able to win their ninth-straight game. The Hoosiers were also aided by strong defensive play, which held the Wildcats to one second-half shot.\nAfter not playing how they wanted to in the first half, the tri-captain Miller said members of the team were forced to make a mentality adjustment in the second half.\n"We had the mentality of thinking, 'No shots on Haley," Miller said, referring to junior goalie Haley Exner. "As a defense, we needed to knock it out and make sure they weren't getting any shots."\nIU's offense also was forced to make adjustments after seeing a New Hampshire defense unlike any other it has seen this season.\n"They played a different style than anyone we've played," Schrott said. "It was hard for us to get in the holes. Sometimes our backs would think we were open when we weren't."\nThe game featured an abundance of officiating whistles that hindered both teams from finding an offensive rhythm\n"We had to fix what our forwards were doing defensively," Robertson said. "We had a better matchup defensively, which allowed everyone to play their role and not someone else's as well."\nWith a nine-game winning streak in hand, the Hoosiers will look to continue their success versus two Big Ten opponents this weekend. The Hoosiers will host Iowa Friday and play against Ohio State Sunday.
(09/22/06 4:23am)
The No. 14 Hoosiers (7-1) will begin their Big Ten season and look to extend their seven-game winning streak this weekend when they take on two different schools of Wildcats.\nFriday, IU plays against the Northwestern University Wildcats in Evanston, Ill., Friday and returns for Sunday afternoon's battle with the Wildcats of the University of New Hampshire in Mellencamp Pavilion at 1 p.m.\nBoth of the Hoosiers' opponents this weekend share a mascot, but their name is about all they have in common. IU will take on Northwestern (5-4) in the Hoosiers' Big Ten season opener. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 5-2, but the Hoosiers have had the upper hand recently, winning the last two contests.\n"To date, right now, absolutely, this is our most important game of the year," IU coach Amy Robertson said. "Northwestern has had a very solid style for the past few years. Even under a change of leadership ... they play very good defensively and are disciplined."\nWith wins coming in their last seven games, the Hoosiers will look to continue the streak this weekend. The high expectations don't have the Hoosiers losing any sleep.\n"There's no extra pressure, just extra excitement," senior midfielder Rachel Telian said. "Every Big Ten game is a big deal. It's such a strong conference, and you have to be ready for every opponent."\nThe strength of the conference is just one of the intangibles that make Big Ten play different to the Hoosiers.\n"It brings the competition up a notch," Robertson said. "Every game is so important. It's hard to describe; it's extra excitement. The game counts -- it really counts."\nDespite the seven-game winning streak, Robertson still sees room for improvement for her team. Robertson noted the team is taking too many shots and not scoring enough and struggling at times converting penalty strokes.\n"We've been getting a lot of opportunities, but there are going to be games when we don't get as many opportunities," she said.\nSunday's game for the Hoosiers is against the New Hampshire Wildcats (1-6), who the Hoosiers defeated in their season opener last year, 3-1. New Hampshire has struggled so far this season, with its only win against Harvard University, 2-1 in overtime.\nThe Hoosiers aren't focusing on their opponents' records or statistics. The team is going in with the mind-set that its play will be the biggest factor affecting the contest's outcome.\n"We said at the beginning of the week we were going to focus on ourselves," freshman back Lucy Ireland said. "We like to play our game as opposed to adjusting to what they do."\nWhat Ireland and her team have been focusing on is the team's new press, which forces the Hoosiers to play more aggressively than they were earlier in the season.\n"We still have the same idea to not let people receive, but we're also cutting off more passes," Telian said. "We're trying to leave them flustered so they turn it over."\nPlaying an aggressive style, the Hoosiers will need their health this weekend in order to produce favorable results. Robertson and her training staff were urging the team to drink plenty of liquids, eat plenty of Vitamin C and get plenty of rest to avoid and combat seasonal illnesses.\n"A few of us have fevers, and the rest of us are sick in one way or another," Ireland said, who also noted there was a "team bug going around."\nRobertson doesn't think the team's small bout with the cold will have any affect on this weekend's contests.\n"Right now we want them to rest and give them every opportunity to be 100 percent, but come game day, no matter how they are feeling that day, I know they'll be ready to play," she said.
(09/18/06 3:33am)
After her team's 3-0 victory against the University of Maine Sunday, after she gave her post-game speech to her team and after she received multiple congratulations from friends and families of the Hoosiers, IU coach Amy Robertson proudly summed up her team's play this weekend.\n"Today, we played IU field hockey," Robertson said.\nWhile that might sound overly simple, the way Robertson defines "IU field hockey" tells the entire story.\n"We played with a lot of confidence. We moved the ball. We made a lot of quick decisions and trusted them. A lot of people stepped up today," she said.\nWith their shutout victory against Maine Sunday, the No. 14 Hoosiers extended their winning streak to seven games. The win follows an overtime victory against Central Michigan Friday.\nTrailing nearly the entire game, the Hoosiers looked as though they would be unable to score against the Chippewas' defense, despite an abundance of opportunities.\n"Our backs were against the wall," Robertson said. "The more time that went by, the more confidence our opponents gained. The more shots we missed, the more we got that feeling, 'What else can we do?'"\nThat changed in the 66th minute, when All-American senior forward Lydia Schrott scored to send the contest to overtime.\n"Our team responded. The more pressure, the better we played. We played with more poise the more pressure there was, which is incredible since it's usually the other way," Robertson said.\nIn the overtime period, the Hoosiers continued to dominate the possession battle. Tired and worn out, the Hoosiers were desperate to end the game with a victory. Senior back Meredith Brown granted her team's wishes by ending the game in the 81st minute with a goal off a penalty stroke.\n"She was thinking, 'I am so tired, and I don't want to run anymore, so I'll just put this goal in the net.' You could see it," Robertson said.\nAdmitting to being very tired, Brown said, "Penalty strokes are all about confidence. I just walked up and thought we really had to win this game."\nThe Hoosiers had a less stressful path to victory Sunday against the Black Bears. Senior back Morgan Miller scored an unassisted goal in the sixth minute, and the Hoosiers were able to relax and work on their newly implemented press.\n"I felt like everything clicked today," sophomore Danitra Castro said. "From the backs to the midfielders to the forwards, we really put it together today."\nAfter struggling to finish earlier this season, IU made a specific effort this weekend to play more aggressively. The Hoosiers accomplished that without giving up their discipline.\n"We were confident and taking a lot more chances, but they were smart chances," Brown said. "We were able to play with a lot of poise and connected as a team."\nThe Hoosiers utilized their depth Sunday while playing their exhausting aggressive style. Eight Hoosier substitutes played, including freshman Haley Funk, who scored in the first half.\nBrown, who is a tri-captain for the Hoosiers, praised her team's depth and ability to replace one another.\n"The great thing about this team is, if we take one player off the field and put another one on -- you don't notice," Brown said.\nBrown's coach also thought the depth of her team factored in to their victory, knowing the depth enables her team to play aggressively.\n"I wanted to see them in there giving 100 percent," Robertson said. "When you get tired, you make mistakes. Plus, we have a young squad, and I want to give these players some experience."\nThe Hoosiers travel to Evanston, Ill., Friday where they will take on Northwestern in the Big Ten season opener.
(09/15/06 4:37am)
It's been three weeks since the No. 14 Hoosiers played their first game of the season, but Friday afternoon's game against Central Michigan University will mark their first at home.\nIU will take on the Chippewas (3-1) Friday and follow up with another match against the University of Maine (3-3) Sunday. The Hoosiers will play their first game at home this season riding a five-game winning streak, That doesn't mean they aren't excited to come back to Bloomington.\n"We're all ready to go," junior forward Kate O'Connell said. "I think everyone is so excited that there won't be any pump-up speech needed."\nDespite playing on the road all season so far, the Hoosiers have maintained a steady level of success and have gathered valuable experience, said IU coach Amy Robertson.\n"I think it was good for us to be on the road at first as a test and a challenge," Robertson said. "Now that we are at home, we are going to appreciate it 10 times more than we would have."\nMuch like O'Connell, Robertson said she doesn't expect the team to need much rallying before the game.\n"I anticipate that there will be some extra excitement," Robertson said. "If anything, in pre-game we'll probably have to relax a little bit."\nThis week provided valuable practice time for the Hoosiers to organize themselves and work on some of the technical aspects they've been hoping to improve.\n"We're doing a whole new press, thanks to Pietie (Coetzee)," O'Connell said. \nCoetzee is IU's new assistant coach who arrived from South Africa a week ago to join the Hoosiers. Coetzee, who is considered one of the best strikers in the world, has been working with the Hoosier forwards in improving their attacks.\n"She has such good ideas that are so simple, it just clicks," O'Connell said.\n"We've had some really interesting and educational discussions behind the scenes," Robertson said of Coetzee. "I love some of the ideas that she brings in terms of perspective and changes that can be made."\nAlso aiding the Hoosiers offensive attack is Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week senior forward Lydia Schrott. The All-American currently leads the Hoosiers in goals (seven) and points (16).\nThe offense isn't the only side of the ball the team has been working on this week. After leaving its man-to-man identity at the start of the season, the Hoosiers have altered their defense, which has shown improvements.\n"Switching to a zone defense is completely different," senior back April Levins said. "It's all about the defense communicating with one another and organization."\nIn practice Wednesday, the Hoosiers also received help from a different kind of leader: a mental coach. A sports psychologist came to the Hoosiers' practice and "discussed and stressed setting goals, energy management, visualization and relaxing," said senior goalie Haley Exner.\n"I think in all sports, you hear about people working in the weight room and injuries," said Exner. "But I think 90 percent of sports is mental"
(09/11/06 3:23am)
After making the short trek to Ohio this weekend, the No. 15 Hoosiers extended their winning streak to five games.\nThe IU field hockey team defeated Ohio University Friday and Radford University Saturday, improving its overall record to 5-1.\n"It's been a tough week, and it's absolutely great to come away with four wins in a week," IU coach Amy Robertson said. "We might not have played our best hockey, but we did some good things and finished well."\nThe Hoosiers competed in a defensive battle against Ohio University and won 1-0. With only seven shot attempts in the game, IU scored its lone goal in the 29th minute via the stick of All-American senior forward Lydia Schrott.\nThe Hoosiers lack of offense was compensated by their lockdown defense, led by junior goalkeeper Haley Exner. Exner had her second shutout of the season and registered all five of her saves in the second half.\nIf defense was the theme of Friday's game versus the Bobcats, Saturday's game versus the Highlanders was an offensive slugfest.\nThe two teams exchanged goals back and forth the entire game, but the Hoosiers managed to overpower Radford 5-3.\nDisplaying their team's depth, the Hoosiers had five goals from five different players. Junior forward Kate O'Connell scored the team's first goal in the fifth minute of play. After a Highlander goal, senior back Morgan Miller scored in the ninth minute of the game off an assist from O'Connell and senior back Meredith Brown.\nIn the second half, the Hoosiers netted three more goals to put the Highlanders away. Scoring for the Hoosiers were freshman forward Haley Funk (44th minute), senior midfielder Rachel Telian (61st minute) and sophomore forward Katie Kiper (67th minute).\n"We don't have any one person that's a superstar," Robertson said. "We have a couple of people that always play at a high level. You can't just focus on one person."\nAfter struggling in the game versus the Bobcats to register shot attempts, the Hoosiers were more aggressive Saturday, outshooting the Highlanders 14-8.\nThe Hoosiers have now won five consecutive games, all on the road. After playing back-to-back games this weekend, the Hoosiers will get a chance to rest and practice before their next game.\n"We haven't had a chance to practice anything new," Robertson said. "We've just been preparing for new opponents. I'm hoping to get organized and take our game to the next level."\n*A new face*\nA new face will join the Hoosiers in practice to help them improve their play. Last Thursday, Robertson announced that Pietie Coetzee was hired as an assistant coach. Coetzee is a nine-time member of the South African National Team and has scored 198 goals in 196 international games. Coetzee will work \nprimarily with the IU forwards, who will be able to benefit from her wisdom, Robertson said.\n"She'll be working with the forwards, telling them some of the shortcuts, technically and tactically," Robertson said. "I have a lot I can learn from Pietie, too. It's not just the players."\nCoetzee had been the head coach for the University of Johannesburg since January 2005. Along with being a two-time Olympian, Coetzee has been coaching field hockey at different levels for four years.\n IU will play its first home game against Central Michigan at 3 p.m. Friday in Mellencamp Pavilion.\n"It's the perfect time to be home," Robertson said. "It will be nice to rest and not have to get on a bus and travel"
(09/08/06 4:07am)
The Hoosiers are on the road again.\nAfter playing the first four games of their season away from Bloomington, the No. 15 Hoosiers (3-1) will travel to Athens, Ohio, Friday for a weekend doubleheader against Ohio University.\nThe Bobcats (1-3) have gotten off to a rocky start this season but defeated perennial Big Ten contender Penn State in overtime earlier this season.\n"Ohio is a strong offensive team," said junior goalkeeper Haley Exner. "They are strong girls, and it's going to be a physically tough game. I know I'll have to be on my toes."\nOn Saturday, the Hoosiers will stay the night in Athens and take on the Radford Highlanders the next day. This is the first time the Hoosiers and the Highlanders (2-2) have ever played each other.\nWith two games in two days, IU coach Amy Robertson recognizes that fatigue and stamina will be issues with her team, but she isn't worried about her players pacing themselves.\n"We have a lot of depth this year. I have no problem playing 19 to 20 players," Robertson said. "I know we'll use a lot of reserves and switch people in and out. We'll do it on Friday and go to it some more on Saturday."\nThe Hoosiers play the weekend doubleheader after defeating Miami University of Ohio on Tuesday, 2-1. The Hoosiers were led with goals from senior back Morgan Miller and All-American senior forward Lydia Schrott. Exner aided the Hoosiers by registering six saves.\n"I just go out there with the mentality that they can't score," Exner said. "Poised and aggressive is kind of my thing. Another big thing for me is I'm not alone out there. Communication is key and has been a huge part in not letting other teams score."\nExner and the Hoosiers have allowed just four goals in four games this season. And while they have been struggling to score in the first half, they have been scoring when it counts most.\n"In the second half, our forwards really broke out offensively and stepped it up," Exner said of the Miami game. "Coach told us this game would make us or break us. We were a little down from the (University of) Virginia and Ball State games so we expected to play better."\nRobertson purposefully put the added heat on her team before the game.\n"I put a lot of pressure on them," Robertson said. "This is a big year for Miami. They've grown a lot and are a very good team. If we came out and played our best and stepped up, then I knew I could see us as one of the top teams in the country."\nThe Hoosiers did step up late in the game. Both of the Hoosiers' goals came in the second half for the second straight game, extending IU's power outage in the first half.\n"I just think as the game goes on and things get more competitive, you are going to start taking more risks and going after it more," Robertson said of her team's second-half scoring.\n"I think we come out a little bit flat sometimes," said junior forward Kate O'Connell. "We changed our warm-up a little bit, and it helped us because we were a little more dynamic. We weren't just going through the motions."\nO'Connell, who scored a goal versus Ball State on Sept. 2, said she thinks the Hoosiers will continue to score as long as they keep getting penalty corners.\n"You go into a corner thinking, 'Great, we can get a goal here,'" O'Connell said. "If the insert's good, the stop's good and the hit's good, we should score every time."\nThe Hoosiers will finally play their home opener against Central Michigan at 3 p.m. next Friday, Sept. 15 in the Mellencamp Pavilion.
(09/07/06 4:00am)
This is the kind of music even white guys can find the rhythm to.\n"Game Theory" is the name of the new album released by the most musically gifted group in hip-hop, The Roots. Combining the beat prowess of ?uestlove and the dominant flow of Black Thought, "Game Theory" is the greatest hip-hop record this year.\nThis is the type of music that makes Levis and Coca-Cola commercials. The kind that where the entire town storms Main Street and jumps on the giant celebration float while hundreds of other gorgeous citizens cheer on the product like it's the second coming of freedom.\nAfter some of the group's fans whispered the group had gone too alternative, The Roots have come out with their darkest, most intense hip-hop album to date. Featuring more jazz and rock than rap, The Roots truly showcase their appreciation for different genres of music on "Game Theory."\nBefore the release of "Game Theory," the band from Philly signed with a close friend's record company. That friend just so happens to be some small rapper from New York who goes under the moniker Jay-Z. Ring any bells? Hova and his label, Def Jam Records, signed The Roots last September, marking the band's acceptance into mainstream hip-hop.\nWhat makes this album stand out from other Roots releases is Black Thought's masterful rhymes. Every time he says a verse you subconsciously become one with the beat, bobbing up and down. You know when athletes are given credit for not taking any plays off and playing 110 percent? The same can be said about Black Thought's rhymes. \nThe Roots send a political message in their song "False Media." In Black Thought's verse, he raps about President Bush and the ongoing war. "Hey it's me a monster ya'll done created / I've been inaugurated," he says at one point. Later in the song he raps, "Aim, fire, holla about a dolla, nothing is scared/We goin' pimp the shit out of nature /Send our troops to get my paper/Tell 'em stay away from them skyscrapers." \nThe cool and mellow sound of "Clock With No Hands" demonstrates The Roots' ability to change gears and slow it down. If there were hip-hop piano lounges, this song would be the mold. Roots crew keyboard player Kamal plays a lullaby-melody in the background that soothes the listener. \nThe album's title track, "Game Theory" is the 8 Mile song of the record. The song, like the entire album, is an abstract musical masterpiece. The song sounds like the type of song that's played as boxers enter the arena as they walk into the arena. This song could put life into Ted Williams's abdomen. \nThe entire album is noteworthy and showcases why The Roots, always highly-regarded, deserve even more of the hip-hop world's attention
(09/07/06 2:13am)
This is the kind of music even white guys can find the rhythm to.\n"Game Theory" is the name of the new album released by the most musically gifted group in hip-hop, The Roots. Combining the beat prowess of ?uestlove and the dominant flow of Black Thought, "Game Theory" is the greatest hip-hop record this year.\nThis is the type of music that makes Levis and Coca-Cola commercials. The kind that where the entire town storms Main Street and jumps on the giant celebration float while hundreds of other gorgeous citizens cheer on the product like it's the second coming of freedom.\nAfter some of the group's fans whispered the group had gone too alternative, The Roots have come out with their darkest, most intense hip-hop album to date. Featuring more jazz and rock than rap, The Roots truly showcase their appreciation for different genres of music on "Game Theory."\nBefore the release of "Game Theory," the band from Philly signed with a close friend's record company. That friend just so happens to be some small rapper from New York who goes under the moniker Jay-Z. Ring any bells? Hova and his label, Def Jam Records, signed The Roots last September, marking the band's acceptance into mainstream hip-hop.\nWhat makes this album stand out from other Roots releases is Black Thought's masterful rhymes. Every time he says a verse you subconsciously become one with the beat, bobbing up and down. You know when athletes are given credit for not taking any plays off and playing 110 percent? The same can be said about Black Thought's rhymes. \nThe Roots send a political message in their song "False Media." In Black Thought's verse, he raps about President Bush and the ongoing war. "Hey it's me a monster ya'll done created / I've been inaugurated," he says at one point. Later in the song he raps, "Aim, fire, holla about a dolla, nothing is scared/We goin' pimp the shit out of nature /Send our troops to get my paper/Tell 'em stay away from them skyscrapers." \nThe cool and mellow sound of "Clock With No Hands" demonstrates The Roots' ability to change gears and slow it down. If there were hip-hop piano lounges, this song would be the mold. Roots crew keyboard player Kamal plays a lullaby-melody in the background that soothes the listener. \nThe album's title track, "Game Theory" is the 8 Mile song of the record. The song, like the entire album, is an abstract musical masterpiece. The song sounds like the type of song that's played as boxers enter the arena as they walk into the arena. This song could put life into Ted Williams's abdomen. \nThe entire album is noteworthy and showcases why The Roots, always highly-regarded, deserve even more of the hip-hop world's attention
(09/05/06 3:34am)
Coming off a 2-1 victory against Ball State on Saturday, the No. 10 Hoosiers (2-1) will try to extend their winning streak today against Miami University of Ohio (2-2).\nThe IU field hockey team defeated the RedHawks last season 4-0 in its regular season finale. It was the last game the Hoosiers played before they made their NCAA Tournament run to the Elite 8.\n"They are a very aggressive team and are scrappy and take a lot of chances," IU coach Amy Robertson said. "They have a lot of depth, so they put people in and out of the game. It's a team that will try and put a lot of pressure on us, so we have to respond with confidence and move the ball and keep possession."\nLeading the Hoosiers against the RedHawks will be All-American senior forward Lydia Schrott, who currently leads the Big Ten in points (10) and goals (5). Schrott also scored a goal in last year's victory versus the RedHawks.\n"Lydia inspires the entire team," Robertson said. "When she gets near the goal, she's either setting someone up or looking to score. She's very fast, and her stick work is unpredictable."\nUnwilling to focus on her personal accomplishments, Schrott said the team must play strong in the first half against the RedHawks.\n"Coming into practice today, we were all on the same page," Schrott said. "We know we need to come out at the beginning of the game and start out well."\nAt the end of practice Monday, Robertson huddled the team together and stressed the speed and pressure the Hoosiers will face against Miami.\n"I told them to look for opportunities to break the press they will be putting on us," she said. "They need to not stay flustered and stay strong on the ball. We want to continue to play our game and see what they are giving us."\nThe Hoosiers will attempt to neutralize the RedHawks' speed with their zone defense, which features junior midfielder Meredith Brown.\nBrown said the team struggled a bit during the Ball State game since it was used to playing a man-to-man defense. But after doing some drills in practice Monday, Brown said the defense looked much better. \n"We worked out a lot of the kinks," she said.\nIn the midst of six consecutive road games, the Hoosiers will play their first of three games in Ohio against the RedHawks. This weekend they will take on Ohio University Friday and Radford University Saturday.
(09/04/06 4:26am)
In a game that was much closer than the rankings would have suggested, the No. 10 Hoosiers (2-1) defeated the Ball State Cardinals 2-1 Saturday.\nThe IU field hockey team was bolstered by goals from senior All-American forward Lydia Schrott and junior forward Kate O'Connell.\nThe in-state rivals played evenly the entire game. Both teams failed to score in the first half, saving the scarce scoring for the second half. The game remained tied at 0-0 until O'Connell scored in the 43rd minute off an assist from junior midfielder Amanda Oyler.\nThe Cardinals responded with a score in the 50th minute, but the All-American Schrott scored her fifth goal of the season in the 57th minute to push the Hoosiers in front for good.\nJunior goalkeeper Haley Exner held the Cardinals to a lone first half score while also recording nine saves. The Hoosiers managed to outshoot the Cardinals 14-13 for the game.\nBefore the game Saturday, Exner expected her team to play steady defense due to a strategy change made this season. The Hoosiers have implemented a zone defense, moving away from the man-to-man strategy used last season.\n"We've been working on our defense a lot playing together in practice everyday," Exner said Friday before the Ball State match-up. "It takes a lot of time to learn a zone defense. I think now that we've worked on that a lot in practice that we're more confident going into a game."\nAt 2-1, the Hoosiers record is above .500 for the first time this season. They will continue their streak of away games Tuesday when they take on Miami (Ohio) in Oxford, Ohio.\nIU coach Amy Robertson sees the games on the road as an opportunity to not be distracted by things at home and stay focused on the field.\n"When we went to Virginia (earlier this season), it was the same time all the students were coming back to campus," Robertson said Friday. "I think with all of the distractions that were here it was good to be in a hotel and get a good night sleep and focus on field hockey"
(08/31/06 4:00am)
Tom Petty is one of those artists that I have become associated with solely due to the fact that my parents listened to him. Having said this, I'm not a Tom Petty fan per se. I respect him as a musician and acknowledge his great talent. Thus, this is a bit of a stretch for me to review something like this. But I'm not one to dismiss an album based on the fact that it's not something I regularly listen to. Well, on to the review. \nHighway Companion is Petty's third solo outing in nearly a dozen years. Simply put, it's an album about passing the time by. As cheesy and cliché as it may seem, Highway Companion is just that: an album to take with you on a leisurely road trip. The first track, Saving Grace, is spot-on blues rock, the sort of driving down Route 66 type of rock. Square One is a very somber, slower track. Beautiful, yes, but I'm afraid I would fall asleep at the wheel. But things pick back up with Flirting With Time. Just a feel-good track worth singing along to; this is one of the more upbeat songs on the album.\nPetty is an amazingly talented artist in general, and of course a rock icon. On Highway Companion, he plays many of the instruments himself, including the drums, showing how versatile a musician he is. Night Driver is probably the most eclectic (and most enjoyable) track out of the twelve, with bluesy and acoustic guitars, electronic piano, and unusual lyrics. Golden Rose, the final track on Highway Companion, is very Beatles-esque, in that mellow, heartfelt pop sort of way. And it will get stuck in your head as well.\nMost of these songs sound very similar and share similar tempos. This is the main flaw of the album; things tend to get very boring very quickly. It's worth a listen all the way through one time, but the replayability of this record is pretty low. Tracks like Jack and This Old Town are skippable sleep-inducing tracks. And you're not going to find any classic Petty tracks on here like Runnin' Down A Dream or Free Fallin'. Did I mention it's a very short record as well? Well, it really is.\nAll biases aside, this is a well-produced, enjoyable record. A little too twangy in some places, but not country enough to the point of me having to shut it off. But it's an album that you can just relax to; it's very bluesy and very mellow. As far as the road trip analogy is concerned, I'd rather listen to some fast metal or punk to keep me awake. Tom Petty has a very distinctive voice and a lot of talent, and it's amazing that he's still running strong after thirty years. Petty fans will be thrilled that he's back with more classic rock that are sure to impress.
(08/31/06 2:43am)
Tom Petty is one of those artists that I have become associated with solely due to the fact that my parents listened to him. Having said this, I'm not a Tom Petty fan per se. I respect him as a musician and acknowledge his great talent. Thus, this is a bit of a stretch for me to review something like this. But I'm not one to dismiss an album based on the fact that it's not something I regularly listen to. Well, on to the review. \nHighway Companion is Petty's third solo outing in nearly a dozen years. Simply put, it's an album about passing the time by. As cheesy and cliché as it may seem, Highway Companion is just that: an album to take with you on a leisurely road trip. The first track, Saving Grace, is spot-on blues rock, the sort of driving down Route 66 type of rock. Square One is a very somber, slower track. Beautiful, yes, but I'm afraid I would fall asleep at the wheel. But things pick back up with Flirting With Time. Just a feel-good track worth singing along to; this is one of the more upbeat songs on the album.\nPetty is an amazingly talented artist in general, and of course a rock icon. On Highway Companion, he plays many of the instruments himself, including the drums, showing how versatile a musician he is. Night Driver is probably the most eclectic (and most enjoyable) track out of the twelve, with bluesy and acoustic guitars, electronic piano, and unusual lyrics. Golden Rose, the final track on Highway Companion, is very Beatles-esque, in that mellow, heartfelt pop sort of way. And it will get stuck in your head as well.\nMost of these songs sound very similar and share similar tempos. This is the main flaw of the album; things tend to get very boring very quickly. It's worth a listen all the way through one time, but the replayability of this record is pretty low. Tracks like Jack and This Old Town are skippable sleep-inducing tracks. And you're not going to find any classic Petty tracks on here like Runnin' Down A Dream or Free Fallin'. Did I mention it's a very short record as well? Well, it really is.\nAll biases aside, this is a well-produced, enjoyable record. A little too twangy in some places, but not country enough to the point of me having to shut it off. But it's an album that you can just relax to; it's very bluesy and very mellow. As far as the road trip analogy is concerned, I'd rather listen to some fast metal or punk to keep me awake. Tom Petty has a very distinctive voice and a lot of talent, and it's amazing that he's still running strong after thirty years. Petty fans will be thrilled that he's back with more classic rock that are sure to impress.
(08/28/06 3:09am)
After losing seven seniors from last season, the No. 10 Hoosiers found a solution to their potential problem by replacing them with seven freshmen.\nWith its combination of young and old players, the IU field hockey team split the first two games of its season.\nOn Saturday, the No. 19 Virginia Cavaliers edged out the Hoosiers 3-2. Freshman forward Haley Funk and senior All-American forward Lydia Schrott each scored in the losing effort. Funk's goal in the second half was her first career score for the Hoosiers.\nIU coach Amy Robertson took advantage of her team's depth, and seven Hoosiers made their first career appearances in game action. Along with Funk, making their first appearances for the Hoosiers were freshmen Lucy Ireland, Fenna Gueskens, Brittney Hacken, Meg O'Connell, Elizabeth Schmidt and Alina Valenti.\nSenior back Morgan Miller said she believes the new players didn't have a negative effect on the outcome of the game.\n"I don't think that's why we lost," Morgan said of the new players. "The freshmen that played played great. It had a lot more to do with communication and spacing on the field."\nThe Hoosiers rebounded from their Saturday loss with a 5-0 victory against the Longwood Lancers on Sunday.\nSchrott followed up her goal Saturday with three more Sunday, which marked her third career hat trick. Schrott has notched three of the four hat tricks in IU field hockey history.\n"Lydia lifts the team every second she's out on the field," Robertson said. "She never has a day when she gives half effort, in practice or games. She really is a champion."\nAlong with Schrott's hat trick, Miller added two goals of her own for the Hoosiers. Miller said she believes the reason the Hoosiers were able to win their second game was because of an emotional -- not physical -- adjustment.\n"The biggest difference was confidence," Miller said. "We already had one game under our belts, and we knew what it'd take to be successful. We attacked more and were much more aggressive."\nRobertson was also impressed with her team's play this weekend.\n"I think the new faces have provided a lot of energy for us," Robertson said. "They are all very smart hockey players. It doesn't feel like they are freshmen."\nThe freshmen have had help this season meshing with the rest of the roster. Miller cited the senior class as the people who have helped the freshmen bridge the gap with the rest of the squad.\n"We have a really dynamic senior class," Miller said. "I think all of the freshmen can find someone in the senior class who is like themselves and thinks like them."\nThe Hoosiers travel to Muncie to take on Ball State at 2 p.m. Saturday.
(08/25/06 4:13am)
The IU women's field hockey team opens its season in a familiar position but an unfamiliar location.\nAfter finishing last season ranked No. 9 in the nation, the Hoosiers open this season one slot lower. The No. 10 Hoosiers will make their first trip ever to Charlottesville, Va., this weekend to take on the No. 19 Virginia Cavaliers Saturday. From there, they will travel to Farmville, Va., to play the Longwood Lancers. \nAfter making a run in the NCAA Tournament all the way to the Elite Eight last season, the Hoosiers will attempt to recreate similar success with a revamped roster.\n"This team is so much different from last year's team," senior back Morgan Miller said. "Last year we had a lot of good individuals. This year we have a good team that has a lot of unity."\nIU coach Amy Robertson agreed. \n"Our team chemistry has been outstanding," she said. "They have really good energy. They're a very positive group, and they push each other while still having a lot of fun and staying focused."\nThe team has been playing well despite losing seven seniors, including standout midfielder Kayla Bashore, from last year's team.. Since graduating from IU, Bashore has become a member of the U.S. National Field Hockey Team. Bashore's former teammates will get a chance to cheer her on this weekend in Virgina when Bashore competes at the AstroTurf March on Madrid Tournament.\n"Kayla means a lot to this program," Robertson said. "We're proud of her and our program, and we're really excited to see an IU alum play for the U.S. team."\nThis year's team is centered around captains and seniors Morgan Miller and Lydia Schrott and junior Meredith Brown. The captains were elected by their teammates this summer.\nAfter starting every game last season, junior goalkeeper Haley Exner also returns for the Hoosiers. Exner, who is considered one of the top goalkeepers in the nation, recorded 138 saves last year and allowed only 35 goals the entire season. \n"This is an opponent which is out of our region, and it's a great opportunity to play them," Robertson said of the Cavaliers. "I predict that our teams will be pretty evenly matched. It all depends on who takes advantage of their opportunities."\nAnother opportunity the Hoosiers will have this weekend will be to prove skeptics wrong about this year's squad.\n"People around the country think because we lost seven seniors that it's a rebuilding year for Indiana," Miller said. "But we know we can get back to where we were last year"
(08/24/06 4:39am)
First Game Prep
(08/24/06 4:00am)
You know when events in your life have such a ridiculously high build-up that you're going to be disappointed no matter what?\nLadies and gentleman, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."\n"Talladega Nights" is Will Ferrell's latest comedic blockbuster featuring him in the role as NASCAR's best and dumbest driver, Ricky Bobby.\nMuch of Bobby's fame in the movie stems from his trademark phrase "shake and bake," which he shares with his teammate Cal Naughton Jr., played by John C. Reilly.\nArguably the movie's funniest actor, Sacha Baron Cohen, plays Jean Girard, the homosexual French Formula 1 driver. Cohen, who is best known as Ali G, perfects an exaggerated French accent in the movie and brings new flavor to the Ferrell comedies.\n"Talladega" deserves to be included in the Ferrell comedies that have reached fame recently ("Anchorman," "Old School," etc.). The reason this movie has been received differently is Ferrell's fans have grown up.\nWhen I went to see the movie, afterward, one friend said, "Oh, well that movie was pretty dumb. Everything was so ridiculous and overboard."\nWell, duuurrr. \nWere you expecting the sequel to "The English Patient"? In order to fully appreciate this movie, you have to dumb yourself down before going to the theater. It's not that bad; I do the same thing every time I watch Fox News.\nMy modern day litmus test for comedies is based on repeatability. If I go see a comedy and can recite four to five funny lines after the movie -- it's a success. Using that test, this movie is a success. It provides the punch lines you would expect.\nThe problem though is it doesn't do much else. The movie lacks depth. I don't think they'll have any problems showing this movie on TV without commercial interruptions because of the abundance of product placement. I could only remember four or five lines from the movie, but I'm pretty sure I could free-sketch the logos for eight sponsors from the movie while blindfolded.The movie was a slight disappointment in my view, but only because I hold Ferrell in such a high regard. If I had stumbled upon this movie randomly, I would be raving about it. \nIf you are looking for some laughs (although not sophisticated ones), this movie is well worth seeing. At least until "The English Patient: The Patient Strikes Back" hits screens.
(08/24/06 4:00am)
Apparently, the general public just doesn't understand Obie Trice.\nObie is quoted on his official Web site as saying, "I just want them to get an idea of the things that go on in Obie Trice's head and see who I am ..."\nWell, his fans get a chance to see just that on his sophomore album, Second Round's on Me. The second album continues Obie's "bar theme" and follows up his platinum debut, Cheers.\nSimply put, the thing that makes Obie's rap style effective is when he goes against the grain. He has several songs on his new album that are so generically gangsta it's painful.\nFor example, you know how you'll see "Scarface" memorabilia in every rapper's homes while watching MTV's 'Cribs'? Obie takes it a step further when he samples a "Scarface" quote in his appropriately titled song, "Kill Me a Mutha". The sample has so much swearing it would make Richard Pryor blush.\nBut Obie makes up for his stubborn rap songs with stimulating tracks such as "Wanna Know," which features a great Van Halen sample that gives the song a distinctive edge. You might have even heard the song before if you have HBO - "Wanna Know" was featured on an episode of "Entourage" last season.\nWhile recovering from a gunshot wound to the head earlier this year after being shot in a drive-by, Obie recorded "Cry Now," an emotional song declaring himself the king of rap in Detroit. He sings in the song, "the white boy stepped down, so I will accept the crown," a reference to his friend Eminem's retirement from rap.\nThe first single, "Snitch," is a song with Soul-Survivor Akon. Although it's been received with popular reviews, the song will never make MTV or similar companies because of the song's obvious anti-snitch agenda. This leads me to believe MTV could very well be snitching. And there's nothing we all hate more than a snitch. Or maybe that's just me.\nSecond Round's on Me takes a soulful turn when Obie recruits help from Trey Songz in two tracks, including "Ghetto". Songz could easily be mistaken for a gospel-singing R. Kelly and the song adds depth to the album's occasional dull hooks.\nTwo of Obie's more famous friends lend their voices to the album as well. 50 Cent sings the chorus on "Everywhere I Go," while Eminem has an impressive verse on "There They Go". Apparently, everyone Obie Trice knows has somewhere to go.\nSecond Round's On Me concludes with "Obie's Story". The song is centered around Obie bringing home a good report card, so his mother rewards him by purchasing him a new pair of shoes. But before you can ask, "Nikes or Reeboks?" gunshots fire off in the background, Obie's killing people, he hates his mother and he's screaming.\nThe last song on the album is symbolic to Obie's entire second album. At times, Obie shows he has as much potential as his friends, with his unique voice and impressive rhymes. But then Obie turns his back to his talent, and starts rapping about guns, money and drugs.\nHopefully, for his fans' sakes, that isn't what Obie's all about.