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(09/24/12 4:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team broke even after a two-game weekend.After Friday’s 7-1 loss to No. 6 Penn State, the Hoosiers came from behind and defeated Lock Haven 2-1 on Sunday.After the loss at Penn State, IU Coach Amy Robertson said that where her team is ranked is not high on the priority list.“We don’t need to figure out what rank we are as a team,” she said. “We need to figure out how to get better every day.”Penn State scored first and never looked back, scoring six additional goals before senior forward Morgan Fleetwood scored IU’s only goal in the 65th minute of play. Although her team lost by six goals, Robertson also talked to her team about how there is no degree to losing.“I told the team it was a hard loss, but it was still a loss,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it is 20-0 or 1-0, it is still a loss.”Freshman forward Rachel Stauffer talked about how the team kept a positive mindset following the game.“It wasn’t good coming off that loss, but we knew we couldn’t let it get us down,” she said. “Every game is the next big game, so we just have to come back and stay positive.”Junior midfielder Emily Bowker said that because the loss happened in their first Big Ten match, they can use it to help them moving forward.“I think it was better for it to happen early in the season than later,” she said. “We’re able to take it to our next Big Ten play.”The Hoosiers didn’t have to wait long. On Sunday, they were back in action against Lock Haven. The Hoosiers were down 1-0 early in the second half, but they rallied to earn the 2-1 win. Junior forward Mariella Grote scored the game-tying goal off a deflection.The end of regulation drew near, but in the 68th minute of play, Stauffer netted the game-winning goal. Stauffer’s goal was also the first of her career.“Coming off the bench, I had to bring as much energy as I could,” Stauffer said. “Being a freshman, I have to prove myself, I was really doing it for my teammates and it was really exciting.”Sunday’s game was the first time IU and Lock Haven have ever played against each other. Although Robertson didn’t know what to expect, she admitted she thought her team was under a lot of pressure during the game.“In games where you think you should be the team that wins and you find yourself down or you find yourself even, it increases the pressure you put on yourself,” she said. “In your mind, you have to win this game, and you don’t want to make a mistake.”Bowker explained how she was happy with the win but that she expects their level of play to change.“We’re happy that we got the W, but we aren’t content with it at all,” she said. “Everyone is ready to pick up the intensity level at practice to match Big Ten play, and we are all ready to take it up a level and get a little more physical.”
(09/21/12 3:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team is reaping the benefits of its 5-1 start to the season with a No. 24 ranking.This is the Hoosiers’ first time in the rankings this season.IU will put their standing to the test as they travel to State College, Pa., to face the Penn State Nittany Lions at 3 p.m. Friday in the Hoosiers’ first Big Ten match this season.The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 6 in the country and have an 8-2 record this season heading into Friday’s contest. IU Coach Amy Robertson said she is aware Penn State is a great team, and although her players aren’t picked to win, they are excited and looking forward to the challenge.“I don’t think we have anything to lose,” Robertson said. “On the map, we are underdogs, but in our hearts we expect a good game out of this, and we are playing to win.”Robertson also noted the team isn’t playing with a tremendous amount of pressure, and becausethe Nittany Lions have a lot of experience, they may experience more pressure due to extra expectations.Robertson acknowledged one of the biggest challenges for her team heading into this game is dealing with the speed of Penn State and creating scoring opportunities for themselves.“We need to manage their speed and make sure we are organized defensively,” she said. “We have to try to put a lot of pressure on them in the right places, to give ourselves good opportunities on the attacking end.”Robertson mentioned that the balance of her team is a direct contrast from the opponent they are up against.“Their whole team is good, don’t get me wrong, but they rely on a few individuals to provide a lot of the scoring, although their team is athletic,” Robertson said. “I think we are really balanced overall, and we are different in that respect.”She also said the teams are similar in terms of playing hard and competing.She expressed the team’s focus was on the defensive side because of Penn State’s ability to eliminate with the ball.Robertson said it feels good for the team to be ranked and she always felt they should be, but they want to go higher.“To be a Big Ten program, we do expect to be in the top 25 or 20 each season,” she said. “But right now, I think we are right where we should be, and we hope to keep improving and keep climbing up the ladder.”
(09/17/12 3:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On Saturday the IU women’s field hockey team had its second consecutive game end in a shootout after three scoreless overtime periods.This time, though, the Hoosiers snagged the victory, defeating No. 22 Cal Golden Bears 2-1 in three overtime periods.IU Coach Amy Robertson said she was pleased with the fight and fortitude her team showed. Although the Golden Bears tied the game late, she said she wasn’t too concerned.“I am absolutely thrilled that we showed the strength to battle an entire game and come out with the win,” Robertson said. “I never felt nervous, even when they tied it up with a few minutes to go. That can be a heartbreaker for most teams, but we just play minute by minute.”Senior forward Morgan Fleetwood said her team was confident going into overtime.“We had a sense of confidence because we had been in that place before,” Fleetwood said. “We knew what it was like to win but also what it was like to lose, so (we) just (had) the confidence that we could get the W.”Fleetwood was the first to score, finding the back of the net 11 minutes into the game. She had the lone goal until the Bears scored in the 67th minute of the game. After three overtimes, the teams were still neck and neck heading to a sudden death shootout.The Hoosiers made their next four shots, and sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Olson made the final save to clinch the game. Olson said nerves play a role in any overtime game, but this time she felt more at ease.“I felt more confident coming into this overtime than any other overtime period that we’ve played.” Olson said. “Everyone was really composed, and it was a vibe around the team, like ‘we are going to take this game,’ and I’m glad we did.”Robertson expressed her satisfaction with her team for the way they kept their composure in the shootout.“I’ll tell you, that is the scariest thing you will ever have to do, all that pressure, and they stayed cool the entire time,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team right now.”Robertson said she is just happy with the win, and it doesn’t matter whether the opposing team is ranked or not.“I’ll be honest, I’m not caught up with who’s ranked,” she said. “I think Cal is absolutely a great team whether they’re ranked or not. I just feel really good about our performance against another really good team.”
(09/14/12 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team will face the California Golden Bears at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Hoosiers are 4-1 and coming off a loss to Ohio in a triple-overtime game that ended in a shootout. IU Coach Amy Robertson said the team’s self esteem hasn’t wavered, and its recent defeat has given players the motivation to play harder.“I think our team morale has been pretty consistent all season,” Robertson said. “This team hasn’t lost any confidence from the loss. If anything, it refocused us and made us more hungry.”Robertson also expressed that even if the team had pulled out the victory last weekend, it needs to have a hungry mentality all season.Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf said her team definitely took something from the loss to Ohio,“I think we learned a lot from Sunday,” Volgraf said. “Regardless if we won that game or lost that game, we took a lot from it.”Robertson said the main focus of the team is taking what the athletes have learned and using it to help them perform better.“Main focus is taking what we’ve learned, applying it and being able to build on it,” she said. “We don’t want to get too complicated. We want our fundamentals to be really sound, and everyone needs to understand exactly what we are doing.”Robertson said the coaching staff is encouraging the players to think and try to solve issues on the field instead of waiting for halftime to discuss problems. She also elaborated that defense is the key to any success her team hopes to enjoy and is always a focal point of the game plan.“Our defense will continue to always be an important factor to how we move forward,” Robertson said. “If this team wants to be successful, we’ve gotta defend hard. We’ve gotta defend as a team, and we have to defend smart.”California is currently ranked 22nd in the NCAA rankings. Though California is ranked, junior defender Hannah Boyer said she isn’t too worried about the status of the Golden Bears. She also said the team is focused on playing its own style of field hockey.Volgraf said having only one game this weekend could help them in preparation and confidence.“I think that coming into a one-game weekend, we really have a whole week to prepare,” Volgraf said. “We are really determined to get that W.”
(09/14/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although it is early in the season, six of the 10 teams in the Big Ten Conference are ranked. The IU field hockey team will have its first taste of Big Ten action on Sept. 21 as it takes on defending Big Ten champion Penn State on the road, a matchup to be televised on the Big Ten Network.IU has an all-time record of 23-65 when facing Big Ten opponents. Last season, the Hoosiers had a 2-4 conference record that consisted of a 2-1 record at home and a 0-3 road record. The two conference wins last year were Sept. 23, 4-1 against No. 15 Northwestern and Oct. 9, 4-2 against Michigan State.The six ranked Big Ten teams at the time of publication include No. 8 Penn State, No. 10 Iowa, No. 11 Northwestern, No. 15 Michigan, No. 20 Michigan State and No. 23 Ohio State. IU Coach Amy Robertson said it’s not clear how her team will perform in conference play because of the unpredictability of the Big Ten, but she said they do know which teams to watch out for. “It’s hard to say because the Big Ten changes so much,” she said. “Right now, Penn State is having a lot of success. Iowa and Northwestern seem to be the teams to beat.”Robertson also said the team’s youth could work to its advantage against some conference opponents.“Iowa has a lot of experience, Penn State has a lot of experience, so we’re probably the younger team, but I think that makes us more of an unknown,” Robertson said. “I think there is less pressure on this team, and they have the freedom to just go play instead of big expectations.”Senior forward Morgan Fleetwood said the Big Ten is always strong and maybe even stronger this year, but she shared her optimism about competing in conference play.“It’s going to be hard, but we’re gonna keep practicing, get better each weekend,” Fleetwood said. “And the Big Ten season couldn’t start at a better time for us.”Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf said her team would have a better idea of how it will do in Big Ten play after the set of games against Louisville and Ohio on Sept. 7 and 9. The team won 3-2 in the match against Louisville and lost 2-1 to Ohio.She also said the experience and new mindset should work in their favor.“In our first three games, practices and even our scrimmages there is just a different mentality on the team this year,” Volgraf said. “It is definitely a mentality that will take us further than last year.”
(09/13/12 2:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team has jumped to a 4-1 record in the early part of the season. IU Coach Amy Robertson said the team’s off-the-field bonding has helped its performance on the field.“They can hold each other accountable because ‘I know you have my back,’” Robertson said. “‘You’re saying something and holding me accountable because you believe in me, and I know you trust me so I can give you that feedback.’”The team chemistry was on display even during interviews. When senior forward Morgan Fleetwood was asked about a bonding experience, she looked to her teammates for help.“You guys want to help me with this?” she said. Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf and junior defender Hannah Boyer were nearby to assist.They discussed how the team bonds during team meetings. They said no one immediately goes back to their room afterwards, but they all stay and enjoy each other’s company.After her teammates helped her with the first question, Fleetwood said closeness off the field helps them on game day.“It helps because you know that you are working towards something, and you are working for your teammates because you have good relations with them,” Fleetwood said.Volgraf said everyone on the team is more than just a teammate, and that is when they are on the field.“Everyone on the team is definitely a teammate, but also, everyone is a friend.” Volgraf said. “You can talk to them about anything you need, but then you know you have them behind you and in front of you on the field.”Robertson said the players are excited when rooming assignments are given out, no matter who they are rooming with.Boyer agreed.“Everyone anticipates hearing who their roommate is on road trips because we know no matter who it is, we are going to have a great weekend,” Boyer said.Boyer also said the bonds the team started with in the preseason have progressed each day. She attributed the togetherness of the team to everything they have been through together. “We have gotten even closer with each week, from training every day to the hardships that we have faced,” Boyer said. “Especially with a loss on our record now, it has brought us even closer.”
(09/10/12 3:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team had a weekend determined by late game heroics.On Friday, the Hoosiers were the beneficiaries of a game-winning shot in overtime from senior forward Morgan Fleetwood that capped a 3-2 victory against the Louisville Cardinals.On Sunday, IU fell to the Ohio Bobcats in a best-of-five shootout after a 1-1 tie following two overtime periods.After Friday’s win against Louisville, IU Coach Amy Robertson said she told her team they had a slight advantage over the Cardinals coming into the game.“I told the team, we actually have a little advantage because we played pretty even with them in the scrimmage, and the score didn’t show how close the game really was,” Robertson said.Fleetwood helped the Hoosiers get on the board early, scoring just three minutes into the contest. However, Louisville later retaliated with a goal, and the score was tied at one heading into the half.The Cardinals scored in the 48th minute and had a 2-1 lead until late in the game when sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf scored to tie the game 2-2. The score was 2-2 at the end of regulation.Just two minutes into the overtime period, Fleetwood found the back of the cage for the game-winning goal for IU. Although Fleetwood took the shot, she credited her teammates for her ability to keep her composure.“I really relied on my other teammates,” Fleetwood said. “It helps a lot to look at them and know that they believe in me and we believe in each other.”The win increased the Hoosiers’ record to 4-0 on the year, with a chance Sunday to go 5-0 for the first time in team history.But the accomplishment eluded them as they lost to the Ohio Bobcats 2-1 in a shootout. Robertson said the final score was a result of the lack of focus toward the shootout.“You have to fault me, because we haven’t practiced that a lot.” Roberson said. “I just didn’t think that on this team, no one would score in two overtimes, so that’s something we have to practice so the players can feel really confident.”
(09/07/12 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team will put its undefeated 3-0 record on the line when it faces the Louisville Cardinals (3-1) at 3 p.m. Friday. Earlier in the season, the Cardinals were ranked No. 23, but they fell out of the top 25 after losing 3-2 to the Northeastern Huskies in the season opener. Although IU fell to Louisville during exhibition play in mid-August, IU Coach Amy Robertson said one big difference is that this game counts. She added that the two teams are forming a very intense rivalry.“We are kind of each other’s heartbreaker at times, one will be having a great year and the other will come and take them off of the throne.” Robertson said. “It is always a great matchup and a great battle.”Senior forward Morgan Fleetwood said that during her previous years at IU, a rivalry definitely existed between the Hoosiers and the Cardinals.“They started the battle of the border, and we get the stick if we win,” Fleetwood said. Robertson said she feels this game against Louisville will be a true test for her team.“Not to discount the teams that we have played, but I think these two teams are much more even than any team that we have played,” Robertson said. “I think we will test them and they will test us.”Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf said she feels many changes have been made since the exhibition meeting with Louisville.“Everybody has been giving 110 percent every practice,” Volgraf said. “I think our general play has gotten better, but we’ve also become one unit as a team over these last couple weeks after we scrimmaged Louisville.”In addition to practice going well this week, Volgraf said, the team is focusing on one game at a time, which has allowed them to concentrate on Louisville’s structure and play.Although her team has enjoyed recent success, Robertson said this team still has to make people realize that their achievements up to this point aren’t a fluke. “Doubters, I welcome them to come doubt us, and hopefully we can earn their respect and prove them wrong,” Robertson said.
(09/04/12 2:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team kept its winning streak alive Friday, defeating Missouri State 5-1 and pushing IU’s record to 3-0.IU Coach Amy Robertson said there are more positives to take away from the game than just the record. She said her team is looking at more than the final score of the game.“I think the good thing about this team is that they aren’t just satisfied with the win,” Robertson said. “The team is very capable of analyzing their play and performance and being honest about it. You can lose a game and play the game of your life, so I think it is looking at the performance rather than the outcome.”The Hoosiers had a large lead in penalty shots Friday against the Bears with 11 in each half, bringing their total to 22, compared to the Bears’ three.The Hoosiers’ abundance of penalty shots added to their scoring opportunities Friday. IU had 35 shot attempts, while the team’s defense allowed Missouri State to take seven shots Friday night.Robertson said the team focused on penalty shots during practice last week. While she said Missouri State’s goalkeeper did well, her team did much better on shot attempts this game.“I think their goalkeeper played great,” Robertson said. “She made a lot of saves, and nothing was getting by her, but we just missed the goal a couple of times. We are putting the ball in better places, and we should begin to see better output in our goals once we figure things out.”Three of IU’s five goals were penalty shots from senior forward Morgan Fleetwood, sophomore forward Audra Heilman and junior defender Hannah Boyer respectively.Junior forwards Emily Bowker and Mariella Grote added IU’s other two goals.Heilman said she played a good game on the defensive side along with her goal and that her defensive effort came with the direction of the game.“It was the flow of the game,” Heilman said. “I did anything I could to try to stop the ball.”The Hoosiers stopped the Missouri State shot attempts, preventing the Bears from gaining much momentum with two shots on goal during the match. Fleetwood said what made the defense so effective was the ongoing communication of players.“When Missouri State came up with the ball, we were talking instantly of who needed to pressure the ball and who needed to drop,” Fleetwood said. The Hoosiers are back in action at 3 p.m. Friday at homeagainst the Louisville Cardinals.
(08/31/12 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team comes off a victorious opening weekend, going 2-0 against Kent State and Vermont and now look toward the team’s home opener against the Missouri State Bears at 4 p.m. Friday.Freshman back Sydney Supica said her team is at an advantage going into this game.“We have good team chemistry, which makes us really composed in the field and especially when we are attacking, we know what to do with the ball,” she said. Supica, named Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week last Tuesday, said she is happy because the team received more recognition from the award.While the Hoosiers have had success in the first two games of the season, IU Coach Amy Robertson said the difficult aspect of this upcoming game will be to take the momentum from last week and use it to start strong.“I think we can be very happy with our results and relax a little, so I think the challenge is to stay on our edge and to keep shooting for the next level of our performance,” Robertson said.Robertson said the team had a strong focus on scoring in practice this week after the game against Vermont,in which the Hoosiers had many scoring opportunities, but only three found the back of the net. Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf said she feels their practices will help the team score more this game.“We took this week to work on offensive movement, and we are really looking to put the ball in the back of the cage this weekend,” she said.Volgraf said the team applies the criticism they hear about their play on the field to future contests.“We hear things left and right about us being the underdog, and I think that is a good position for us to be in because I think we are in a great stance to show some teams up this year,” Volgraf said.The Bears come off a 6-1 loss at Virginia Commonwealth. Robertson said for her team to win the game they have to be more efficient and productive at the attacking end.“We have to keep our communication really high,” she said. “The times where our communication is high on the field are the times when we have been playing at our best.”
(08/27/12 2:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team started its regular season on a high note, winning two contests during opening weekend. IU defeated Kent State 5-3 Friday. The team beat Vermont 3-0 Sunday to jump to an early 2-0 record.IU Coach Amy Robertson said team play impressed her the most from opening weekend.“We’re moving the ball well, and our defense is well organized,” she said. “We have a lot of threats and have a very versatile team that has a lot of different people that we can put in different places.”Robertson said she was happy with sophomore midfielder Gaby Olshemski’s consistent play during the weekend.“I’m really pleased considering the minutes and the time she has been in that she has been very productive,” Robertson said.Olshemski scored two of five goals in the win against Kent State. She said the goals were a product of her teammates’ play.“My teammates pretty much gave me the perfect passes,” she said. “They set me up very well.”The team defeated Vermont 3-0 in a neutral site game in Kent, Ohio. Sophomore forwards Nicole Volgraf and Audra Heilman and senior forward Morgan Fleetwood scored goals. Volgraf, who scored in both games, said the team has a high confidence level following the opening weekend success.“The confidence level is really good,” she said. “We were really tested against Vermont because we didn’t start out as strong as Friday’s game, but it was important to see the team turn it around and control the second half.”Robertson said the key to regulate the team’s confidence is in the training.“We will have a practice on Tuesday, as if we are preparing for a game,” she said. “We have to compete hard against each other. By no means is the starting lineup set in stone, so the players know they are competing for position.”Volgraf said the biggest takeaway from the weekend was not to overlook the opponent.“I have learned to not underestimate any of the opponents,” she said. “We went into both games taking them as if it was the biggest games of our careers.”Junior back Danielle McNally said she noticed the team’s improvement on the defensive side of the ball against Vermont.“Our team definitely stepped up on defense,” she said. “We put pressure on them immediately, and they didn’t have many attacking chances.”Though the team is 2-0, Robertson said the team needs to perform better in circle play.“The goalkeeper had 18 saves, so we need to make sure we are capitalizing on shots better,” she said. “We will work more on circle play, a lot of repetition and goal scoring. The team needs to play more relaxed and purposeful in the circle.”
(08/24/12 3:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team struggled last season with a road record of 1-6, yet the team was successful defending its home field with a 6-1 record.“It shouldn’t matter if you’re on the road or at home,” IU Coach Amy Robertson said. “We’re trying to be really consistent, and we are going to prepare the same way on the road as we do at home. It starts with practice.”The Hoosiers start the new season noon Friday at Kent State.To ensure players are ready for the season opener, players such as senior forward Morgan Fleetwood are receiving additional help to develop the right mentality to compete away from home.“We’ve been talking with our team psychiatrist, and she has been helping us with our mindsets and the best way to prepare when on the road,” Fleetwood said.Robertson said some returning players will fulfill different roles this season.Sophomore forward Audra Heilman is one player who will have to become a leader, Robertson said.Heilman said she was a quiet freshman last year and now has to be a more verbal player to help the team.“I have to be more vocal this year because I’m not the freshman anymore,” Heilman said. “I have to teach what I’ve learned over the summer and this past year to the freshmen.”The Golden Flashes struggled last year with a 8-13 record.Though Robertson said the Hoosiers weren’t the same team away from Bloomington last season, she also said she has faith in the gameplan, and that the team’s two exhibition games have it in regular season mode.“I feel like the team feels confident with what we are going to do,” Robertson said. “I’m expecting us, after having two scrimmages under our belt, to come in like it is the third game of the season and take steps forward.”Unlike most years, classes began before the field hockey season was underway, leaving the players eager to start the season, Robertson said.Several freshmen will receive their first official playing time Friday. Though they might be nervous, Robertson said she expects them to play through it.“They are excited and can’t wait to have opening weekend,” Robertson said. “The freshmen will have their first playing time, and there will be some nerves that first game, but we should play through them pretty quickly.”Robertson said the freshmen aren’t the only members of the team ready to play.“Team morale is definitely high, very upbeat,” Fleetwood said. “We are ready to go for this weekend.”
(08/20/12 2:44pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team began its season during the weekend with two scrimmage matches.First, the Hoosiers traveled to Louisville on Friday. The team fell short, losing 3-0 to the Cardinals.Though the end result was a loss, the players said they viewed the setback optimistically and used it as a learning experience for their scrimmage against Miami (Ohio) on Sunday in Bloomington. IU won the match 4-2.“Louisville was a learning experience,” sophomore midfielder Gaby Olshemski said. “We fixed our press, and it definitely helped our attack.”The Louisville match was the first competition of the year and the first time this group has played together. Five freshmen experienced their first taste of collegiate playing time. Sophomore midfielder Audra Heilman said she noted a difference in demeanor for the younger players in Sunday’s scrimmage.“Louisville was our first time playing together, and we learned from it,” she said. “The younger players had more confidence today.”The Hoosiers started the game against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks very strong behind two unassisted goals from junior midfielder Emily Bowker and Olshemski. Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf found freshman forward Rachel Stauffer for another goal. The Hoosiers went into the half leading 3-0.The RedHawks showed signs of life during an additional overtime period after a goal by Valentina Rodriquez, bringing the score to 3-1. IU’s junior forward Mariella Grote retaliated with a goal 14 seconds later, giving the Hoosiers a 4-1 lead.Alyssa Logan of Miami scored the final goal of the game, ending with a 4-2 final score.IU Coach Amy Robertson said she was impressed by her team’s performance and improvement during the weekend.“We haven’t had any rest and are already battling fatigue,” she said. “I’m really impressed at the way we fought.”Robertson said her team has made improvements in their pace of play at the beginning of games, and she credits practice as the key to fixing this issue.“I told them that you have to continue to practice how you want to play,” she said. “Both games we started strong, and last year it took 10 to 15 minutes to get started, and practice has helped that.”Players said they now recognize how critical practice is as the official start to the season draws near.“Since the team is very young, we have to do all the little things right and take the good practices and bring them to the game,” Heilman said.The team begins regular season play at noon Aug. 24 as they travel to Kent State to face the Golden Flashes.
(08/20/12 3:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU field hockey team began its season during the weekend with two scrimmage matches.First, the Hoosiers traveled to Louisville on Friday. The team fell short, losing 3-0 to the Cardinals.Though the end result was a loss, the players said they viewed the setback optimistically and used it as a learning experience for their scrimmage against Miami (Ohio) on Sunday in Bloomington. IU won the match 4-2.“Louisville was a learning experience,” sophomore midfielder Gaby Olshemski said. “We fixed our press, and it definitely helped our attack.”The Louisville match was the first competition of the year and the first time this group has played together. Five freshmen experienced their first taste of collegiate playing time. Sophomore midfielder Audra Heilman said she noted a difference in demeanor for the younger players in Sunday’s scrimmage.“Louisville was our first time playing together, and we learned from it,” she said. “The younger players had more confidence today.”The Hoosiers started the game against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks very strong behind two unassisted goals from junior midfielder Emily Bowker and Olshemski. Sophomore forward Nicole Volgraf found freshman forward Rachel Stauffer for another goal. The Hoosiers went into the half leading 3-0.The RedHawks showed signs of life during an additional overtime period after a goal by Valentina Rodriquez, bringing the score to 3-1. IU’s junior forward Mariella Grote retaliated with a goal 14 seconds later, giving the Hoosiers a 4-1 lead.Alyssa Logan of Miami scored the final goal of the game, ending with a 4-2 final score.IU Coach Amy Robertson said she was impressed by her team’s performance and improvement during the weekend.“We haven’t had any rest and are already battling fatigue,” she said. “I’m really impressed at the way we fought.”Robertson said her team has made improvements in their pace of play at the beginning of games, and she credits practice as the key to fixing this issue.“I told them that you have to continue to practice how you want to play,” she said. “Both games we started strong, and last year it took 10 to 15 minutes to get started, and practice has helped that.”Players said they now recognize how critical practice is as the official start to the season draws near. “Since the team is very young, we have to do all the little things right and take the good practices and bring them to the game,” Heilman said. The team begins regular season play at noon Aug. 24 as they travel to Kent State to face the Golden Flashes.