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(11/09/07 5:27am)
In the short exhibition season, the IU women’s basketball team proved it can score points.\nAs the Hoosiers open the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday at Assembly Hall against the University at Albany, they hope their defense will follow suit.\n“As you can see, we can score the ball,” IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said after an exhibition win against the Showtime Skins. “But we need to improve our defense.”\nSophomore point guard Jamie Braun paced a balanced offensive attack for the Hoosiers in the exhibition games scoring 17 and 18 points, respectively in the two contests. Senior Nikki Smith, juniors Whitney Thomas and Amber Jackson and freshman Ebony Jackson all scored in double figures in one of the games. \n“We have a lot of scorers on our team,” Braun said. “That definitely isn’t something that we lack.”\nAfter the game against the Showime Skins, Legette-Jack said the main priority before the Albany game would be defense and boxing out. \n“Everything revolves around our defensive purpose, and I think defense begins and ends with a box out,” she said. \nLast year the Hoosiers played a matchup zone defensively for most of the year. This year it is taking a bit of time to bring eight newcomers up to speed. \n“Our returners are comfortable because we ran it all last year,” Thomas said. “We just have a lot of newcomers and it’s just a really complex defense. We’re in that process of learning it and then getting comfortable with each other doing it.”\nLegette-Jack knows that there will be some growing pains, but she says eventually the team should get used to the zone. \n“It’s uncomfortable to talk and it’s uncomfortable to say next pass, because right now everyone is trying to figure out where they need to be in our matchup,” she said. “Once we get more comfortable with our role in the defense we’ll be a little bit more excited to help others.”\nThe Hoosiers believe that a defense-first mentality will help the offense continue to work. \n“It all starts with our defense.” Thomas said. “We work so hard on our defense and that creates our offense for us.”\nIn a short week of practice following a Tuesday game, the Hoosiers took time to scout their opponent, but the focus remains on their own play.\n“We watched some film, but it’s really focusing on ourselves first,” Thomas said. “We’ll look at them right before and see what they do and see some of their tendencies.”\nAfter two competitive exhibition games, Legette-Jack says the Hoosiers will be ready for their home opener.\n“Absolutely we’ll be ready,” she said. “In the sense that we don’t have a choice.”
(11/07/07 4:41am)
The IU women’s basketball team concluded its exhibition schedule Tuesday night at Assembly Hall with an 80-37 win over the Showtime Skins, a touring team from Australia. \nIU opened the game on a 19-0 run and never slowed down, jumping to a 53-13 lead at halftime. \n“It’s exciting to see that we came out so focused,” IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. “I thought our first half was fantastic. We came out there and didn’t care who was playing against us. We went out there and decided that we were going to make \na statement.”\nAfter an impressive first half, Legette-Jack said the Hoosiers struggled to maintain the same intensity in the second half.\n“The second half, I think that we looked at the score and played to (their) level,” she said. “We tried to stay focused on just playing basketball, but it was really difficult to see that score and keep our focus intense.”\nSophomore guard Jamie Braun led IU in scoring with 18 points. Junior forward Amber Jackson added 14 points, and freshman forward Ebony Jackson tallied 11. \nFor Amber Jackson, a transfer from San Jose State, it was a relief to have the nerves of her first game at IU \nbehind her.\n“After the first game, I made it a point to not put so much pressure on myself,” she said. “Last game was my first game, and I was, in a sense, very nervous. Tonight I felt relaxed and felt like myself.”\nThe IU defense harassed the Skins for most of the game, forcing 29 turnovers. Ebony Jackson, freshman guard Whitney Lindsay, senior guard Nikki Smith and junior guard/forward Kim Roberson each recorded three \nsteals apiece. \n“On defense, that’s where I’m comfortable,” Lindsay said. “I know that I play with a lot of intensity, and I think that really helped our team tonight.”\nDespite the defensive statistics, Legette-Jack saw plenty of room for improvement on the defensive end. \n“Our defense has to define us,” she said. “Tonight, their shots weren’t falling. I don’t think that we did a good enough job to stop them from actually scoring, but we’ll get better.”\nAnother cause for concern for Legette-Jack was team rebounding. \n“Having this team that wasn’t really tall and wasn’t really strong out-rebound us is really going to be something that we look at tomorrow in film and certainly is going to be something we work on tomorrow in practice,” she said. \nWith a short week of practice before Friday’s regular season opener against Albany, Legette-Jack said the emphasis in practice will be on defense and boxing out.\nFor the players, the Albany game shouldn’t be much different from the two exhibition games.\n“We’re going to go in and work hard and keep the level of intensity up,” Amber Jackson said. “We have to play unselfish basketball, everyone work hard and do what they’re supposed to do.”
(11/02/07 3:38pm)
Much has changed in the last three years of IU field hockey. Games have moved from Mellencamp Pavilion to the new IU Field Hockey Field, players have come and gone and lineups \nhave been altered. \nBut if one thing has remained constant, it has been the presence of senior goalkeeper Haley Exner in net.\nExner, who has started all but one game over the last three years and earned All-Big Ten honors the past two seasons, will make her final home start Sunday when IU (7-9, 0-5) plays Northwestern on Senior Day. \nDuring her career, Exner played a crucial role in the growth of Hoosier field hockey, and her skill and leadership in goal have made her the face of a young program now established as a national power. \nExner grew up in San Diego, Cal., where field hockey was just becoming popular. Originally a basketball and softball player, Exner backed into a field hockey career her freshman year at Scripps Ranch High School. She had friends who played and thought she would give it a shot. After playing as a defender for the first two weeks, Exner’s coach tried her in goal. A week later, Exner was the starting goalie. \n“I’ve been a goalie ever since,” Exner said. “I’ve grown to like it, and I think it has become a part \nof me.”\nExner made a smooth transition to goalie and was one of the best goalkeepers in the country by the end of her high school career. \nWhile Exner was setting records in goal for Scripps Ranch, IU was experiencing the growing pains of a new program. After former IU Director of Athletics Clarence Doninger reinstated field hockey as a varsity sport in 2000, the Hoosiers had only one win in each of their first two seasons. The program showed signs of improvement, however, in 2003 when the Hoosiers went 8-10. \nWhen Exner chose to play at IU, she said her decision had little to do with the history of the program. IU was a team that needed a goalie, and the coaches, players and school were all the right fit. \n Exner waited her turn to start as she backed up \nKatie Kanara her freshman season. She saw action in only two games, and the Hoosiers recorded their first winning season with a 12-8 record. \nAs a sophomore, Exner was thrown into the mix as the starting goalie on a veteran team.\n“It was intimidating to start in a leadership position as a sophomore,” Exner said. “But the players listened to me and respected me, and I learned \na lot.”\nDuring that year, Exner’s play in goal took IU to new heights, earning the team a 17-5 record and its first ever trip to the NCAA tournament. \nIU coach Amy Robertson remembers games that year where Exner simply took over. \n“Against Ohio State two years ago, they just couldn’t score against her,” Robertson said. “She was making saves that no goalkeeper should’ve made. Against North Carolina in the NCAA tournament she made save after save against current members of our national team. A lot of the most memorable moments in IU field hockey have come because of Haley’s play in net.” \nExner’s career statistics speak for themselves: a 37-19 record, 315 saves and \neight shutouts. \nPerhaps what is most striking about Exner, though, is her intense passion on the field mixed with her gentle kindness off it.\n“Haley is a fierce competitor, but she is also the nicest person you’ll meet,” Robertson said. “She’s caring and thoughtful, but she’ll do whatever it takes to win.”\nIt is this contrast that has made Exner a natural leader among her teammates. Playing a position that demands leadership, Exner embodies every characteristic a goalie should possess, including the ability to direct a defense, her \nteammates said.\n“She is a fantastic communicator, and I’ve never seen someone organize a defense like she does,” backup goalkeeper Jobi Manson said. “It’s just instinctual for her.” \nThis season represents a new challenge for Exner because the young Hoosier squad has struggled at times. In a season characterized by near misses and heartbreaking defeats, Exner is the first to admit that it has \nbeen tough.\nIU carries an 0-5 Big Ten record into its game against Northwestern, but has yet to lose by more than two goals. Two of the losses have been overtime defeats to top-five opponents Michigan and Iowa. \n“It’s frustrating,” she said. “It has been challenging for me as a goalie and a leader. There has been a lot of adversity, but it is my job to make sure we \nstay positive.”\nAs a veteran leader, Exner knows that the most important part of the season is still ahead. A run in the Big Ten tournament can erase the sour taste of the close defeats. \nAnd if the Hoosiers are to make noise in the postseason, it will all start between the posts.
(11/02/07 4:25am)
The IU field hockey team saw the season come to a sobering end Thursday afternoon with a loss in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. \nThe Hoosiers suffered their worst loss of the season in an 8-2 defeat to Iowa in Columbus, Ohio. \n“This was a really hard way to go out,” said IU coach Amy Robertson. “But I’m proud of the way we continued to develop as a team throughout the year.”\nIowa forced the action all game long, firing 20 shots to IU’s four and earning a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners. \n“They did a good job of beating our press,” Robertson said. “Our press has been our bread and butter all year, but they took good risks and were able to find the openings. We aren’t used to seeing teams do that to us, and it put us in some pretty tough situations.”\nAfter Iowa scored a fifth-minute goal, Hoosier senior forward Kate O’Connell tied the game at one with a goal off a reverse shot. \n“There was a scuffle for the ball about ten yards out,” O’Connell said. “I was able to find the ball and get off a reverse shot. I didn’t even really see it go in.”\nIowa quickly responded with three unanswered goals before O’Connell scored another goal off a penalty corner to make the score 4-2. \n“After that goal, we had a lot of momentum,” O’Connell said. “We kind of let it slip by us though.”\nIowa responded again, this time scoring four more goals to win the game 8-2. \n“They just kept coming at us,” Robertson said. “They are one of the best outletting teams in the country. I think they outworked us a little bit and just played an unbelievable game.”\nFor the Hoosiers’ six seniors, the loss was a tough way to finish their careers.\n“I’m just trying not to focus on this one game,” said senior midfielder Meredith Brown after the loss. “It’s been kind of a rough season, but I think I’ve learned a lot and grown from it. I’ve had a ton of great memories over my career, and I’m just going to try to remember those memories and not this loss.”\nLike Brown, O’Connell said she will also not let this loss define her career.\n“It’s been a great experience for me, and I’ve had a lot of fun,” O’Connell said. “I think all the seniors will be able to look back on some really positive memories.”\nThe loss brings IU’s final record to 8-10 overall and marks the end of an up-and-down season.\n“It’s been a challenge this year,” Robertson said. “It’s been an ongoing journey to find answers to some problems we had as a team, and I think we were able to fix some of those things. It’s disappointing now, but I really enjoyed watching the way our team grew throughout the year. That’s what I’ll remember most about this season.”
(11/02/07 4:20am)
Coming off a 19-win season and a third-round appearance in the women’s postseason NIT, the IU women’s basketball team will return to the court for its first exhibition game of the season against the Hoosier Lady Stars on Saturday at Assembly Hall. \nThe IU women’s basketball team will take on a look distinctly different from last year’s team. \nOnly four players from last year’s team are returning – senior Nikki Smith, juniors Kim Roberson and Whitney Thomas and sophomore Jamie Braun. The Hoosiers welcome junior Amber Jackson, a transfer from San Jose State. \n“We’ve been working a lot on the little things,” IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said. “We’re focusing on talking on defense, boxing out and things like that. There are some things you can’t always control, like whether the shots go in, but we want to be on top of the things that we can control.”\nThis Hoosier squad is young and still looking for its identity, but Legette-Jack said good defense should be a trademark all season. \n“I think our identity will have to come from our defense,” she said. “We will defend our opponents and challenge on every possession.”\nWith a team that will rely on contributions from six freshmen, much of practice has been devoted to bringing the freshmen up to speed. \n“As a coach, the freshmen never come along fast enough,” Legette-Jack said. “They’re working hard, though, and every day they are getting better.”\nThe game against the Hoosier Lady Stars will be the first chance for the freshmen to represent IU on the court. \n“I don’t really know what to expect,” freshman center Georgia Follmer said. “It will be a new experience, and I’m incredibly excited. It’s my first college game and it’s a chance to show that I deserve to be out there.”\nWhile the game won’t count toward IU’s regular-season record, it is a chance for the Hoosiers to evaluate where they are as a team.\n“We’re looking to improve every practice and every game,” junior guard Kim Roberson said. “This is a chance for us to fine-tune for the regular season and get out all the kinks now.”\nFor a team that has been practicing for the last three weeks, the game will also be a welcome break from preseason routine\n“It will just be nice to get out there and play against someone other than ourselves,” Roberson said.
(11/01/07 1:42pm)
The regular season is in the books for the IU field hockey team. \nWhile an 8-9 overall record and a 1-5 mark in the Big Ten is not what the Hoosiers envisioned, the Big Ten Tournament offers a chance to end the season on a high note. \nNo. 6 seed IU will begin the tournament with a first round matchup against No. 3 seed Iowa today at North Turf Field in Columbus, Ohio. \n“This is a whole new season for us,” junior forward Katie Kiper said. “The records don’t matter except for seeding. It’s going to be a battle and anyone can win.”\nIU will be in for a tough test against the Hawkeyes, last year’s tournament champions. In their game this year, Iowa outlasted the Hoosiers with a 2-1 overtime win. \n“I feel pretty good about how we match up with Iowa,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “They are a team that really outlets well, but I think we press up field pretty well. Their big strength is their attacking corners. We have one of the best goalkeepers in the country (senior Haley Exner) though, and I think they will have a hard time scoring on our defense.”\nAfter playing Iowa tight in their earlier contest, IU feels confident this time around. \n“They are a tough team and we played them toe-to-toe,” junior back Danitra Castro said. “We definitely feel that we can beat them and I think we are more prepared after the first game.”\nAfter a busy stretch last week, including four games in eight days, the Hoosiers are still trying to regain their fresh legs.\n“I think we’re headed there,” Robertson said. “Our bodies are still in recovery a little bit. I think once the games start we’ll be ready. The fitness aspect of our season is all behind us.”\nThe Hoosiers underwent a rough Big Ten regular season, but their 1-5 conference mark was a bit misleading. They lost three games by one goal, including two in overtime. Their other two losses were by two goals. \n“I think when we look back on the season, we’ll see that we played close and competed with all the teams,” Robertson said. “I think some of our losses were because of inexperience. But I think now we know we can do it.”\nIf nothing else, IU’s struggles in the Big Ten will leave the team hungry for success in the tournament. \n“I think we are unsatisfied with how we finished,” Robertson said. “I think that will fire us up. This is what matters for us, because this is our chance to get into the NCAA tournament.”\nIU has shown marked improvement over the course of the year and hopes it will continue in the tournament.\n“All the teams will be together, and it will be a chance to showcase our progress,” Castro said. “We want to get to the big show.”
(10/30/07 2:56am)
CHICAGO – In a women’s basketball season that promises to be wide-open, a few things were clear at Big Ten Media Day on Sunday – a precious few things. \nOhio State is the favorite to defend its Big Ten crown, Wisconsin’s Jolene Anderson is the pick for conference player of the year and after that, nothing is really clear.\nThe Buckeyes are tabbed to win the conference in both the preseason coaches and media polls. They are followed by Wisconsin and Illinois in the coaches poll and Michigan State and Wisconsin in the media poll. IU is picked to finish ninth in both. \n“Rightfully so,” said IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack of her team’s preseason ranking. “We have six freshmen coming in and only three returning starters. It makes sense, but in the end, we are the ones who determine if it makes sense at the end of the year.”\nAfter leading the Big Ten in scoring last year, Anderson is projected as the player of the year by the coaches and the media.\nWhile Ohio State is picked as the clear favorite, most coaches agreed that the race for the conference title is still up for grabs. \n“Anybody has a chance,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “There are a lot of teams who can beat anybody in the conference. It could come down to who can stay injury-free throughout the season.”\nThis year marks a changing of the guard in the Big Ten, with four new coaches and an influx of young talent. \n“There are a lot of new faces,” Northwestern coach Beth Combs said. “There are new coaches and new players and a lot of good talent that graduated last year. A lot of teams will rely on newcomers, but we have some of the most heralded recruits in the country coming to play in our conference this year.”\nWith so many contenders in the conference, consistency could be a key in determining who wins the regular season title. \n“Nobody is going to give anyone an easy game,” Legette-Jack said. “Whether it’s the first-place team or the last-place team, it’s going to be intense. If you don’t come to play on any given day, it will be the death of you in this conference.”\nLast year, the Big Ten received only three bids to the NCAA tournament. This year, the coaches feel that number should increase.\n“Last year, we had the number one conference RPI early in the year, but it dropped dramatically by the end,” Jack said. “I think we took the three bids as a sign of disrespect for the conference, but in the end, it is the play of the teams that decide how our conference is viewed.”\nWith Ohio State targeted as the team to beat, Buckeyes coach Jim Foster said they shouldn’t feel pressured to repeat as conference champions. \n“I didn’t read it in the New York Times today,” he said of the predictions. “We’re a young team, but we are talented. We’re going to be a different team from last year.”
(10/25/07 3:51am)
The IU field hockey team will have a rare chance to play under the lights when it heads to Louisville to face the No. 13 Cardinals at 7 p.m. today at Trager Stadium.\nThe Hoosiers (7-8, 0-5) are fresh off a 2-1 overtime win against Stanford on Monday and will try to carry that momentum with them to Louisville. \n“We just have to keep going from last game,” senior goalkeeper Haley Exner said. “We scored two goals last game and we know we have to continue to score to win.”\nAfter a Monday game this week, IU took Tuesday off before getting back on the practice field Wednesday. \n“We’ll be back to practice tomorrow,” IU coach Amy Robertson said Tuesday. “We’ll watch some game film and work on a couple of things that need to be fixed before the next game.” \nIU broke a three-game scoreless streak Monday when it scored two goals against Stanford. The Hoosiers will need another good team effort to get results against Louisville. \n“Louisville is a very strong team,” senior forward Kate O'Connell said. “They are very composed and skillful. We just need to move the ball around and play our game.”\nRobertson said IU will also need to be on top of its mental game because Louisville is not a team that beats itself.\n“They are a very well-coached team,” she said. “They don’t rely too much on any one player. They have a very team-oriented system. They’re really organized on defense and they make good decisions.”\nThe Hoosier defense has been strong all season long and has yet to allow more than two goals in any game. IU will have to continue its strong play to contain the Cardinals’ attack. \n“They are very quick on offense and are very similar to Stanford,” Exner said. “Stanford got off to a fast start against us, and I think Louisville will try to do the same. We have to be ready to play strong in the first half.”\nIU and Louisville have split the last two match-ups in the series, with Louisville winning at home last year 2-0. \n“It’s always an exciting game between Louisville and us,” Robertson said. “There has been a lot of parody in the past and the games have usually been decided by one goal. They’re also kind of our neighbor rival, so I think we’ll be ready.”
(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.”