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(10/11/02 7:08am)
Some games just mean more than others. And that will surely be the case for the field hockey team (3-8) on Saturday against the No. 5 ranked Michigan State Spartans (11-2) in East Lansing. Last season against the Spartans the Hoosiers jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held it until the Spartans evened the tally at 2-2 with just over two minutes remaining. The contest went into overtime, and Michigan State scored in double overtime to win 3-2. \nCoach Amy Robertson said she believes her team remembers last season's heartbreaking loss well.\n"I can tell you that our team is extremely motivated to play Michigan State," she said. "They are looking forward to the challenge, and they do understand that they're (Michigan State) a better team than last year. But so are we."\nAnd with memories of last year's defeat still burning in her mind, senior co-captain Erica Nilsson said the game with the Spartans has been circled on the Hoosier schedule.\n"They're a great team and a great program," Nilsson said, "but I think that because of last year we definitely have an added incentive to beat them."\nIU will be looking to continue its winning ways after beating Ohio State 3-2 Oct. 5 for their first Big Ten win in their third year of existence. But the Hoosiers will have to take their play to another level for success against the Spartans. Robertson said the Ohio State win will add confidence to the Hoosier's cause Saturday.\n"I think that after the Ohio State game they (IU) are not going to be intimidated by anyone," Robertson said. "We understand that if we play well as a team that's a success for us, and the way a team is going to have to beat us is they're going to have to play well as a team too."\nFreshman midfielder Mallory Reabold was the Big Ten Player of the Week for her performances in last week's Ohio State and Louisville games. And Reabold said the Hoosier's success against Ohio State will help them Saturday in East Lansing.\n"We seemed to mesh really well which we had been doing in other games," Reabold said, "but it just seemed to work better. We saw how we can play, and that's going to make us strive to be the best team we can be against Michigan State."\nDefensively, the Hoosiers will be looking to slow down a Spartan squad that has recorded 248 shots, 130 penalty corners and 52 goals through only 13 games. Michigan State averages 4 goals per game compared to the Hoosiers 1.25 average. Two Spartans that IU will surely keep tabs on are lead scorers sophomores Annebet Beerman and Judith van Haeringen. Beerman has an astonishing 13 goals and 4 assists in 2002, while van Haeringen showcases 6 goals and 9 assists. Robertson said the challenge will be stiff.\n"They spread the field out really well almost like an international team," Robertson said. "They've got excellent stick skills, and they can hit with pin point accuracy over long distances. From last year the team is really similar, but now they've had an extra year to play together, and that's made them even more dangerous." \nRobertson said the team plans to disrupt the Spartans timing and limit their overall opportunities in order to achieve defensive success Saturday.\n"We're going to try to take them out of their rhythm and try to disrupt the normal game that they play," Robertson said. "And try to really limit their opportunities to drop corners by playing really tight team defense."\nOffensively, the Hoosiers will look to continue attacking just as they did against Ohio State when they scored two goals in the first ten minutes. Robertson plans to take advantage of MSU's wide open attack.\n"We need to find the counter attacks and exploit their open play and score," Robertson said.\nIU faces off against the Spartans Saturday at 1 p.m. in East Lansing, Mich.
(10/10/02 6:16am)
Sometimes things just turn out for the best. And senior field hockey player Erica Nilsson can certainly vouch for that as she is tied for the team lead with seven points on three goals and an assist this season. But Nilsson did not begin her Hoosier career playing for coach Amy Robertson's squad. When Nilsson was a freshman there was no squad, and she spent the year playing for the club field hockey team.\nDespite being recruited by many different schools coming out of high school, Nilsson chose IU because she says she loved the school, but she also knew there was a good chance IU would soon have a program.\n"I knew that we were getting a program my second year," Nilsson said. "So I participated in the club team and had a blast."\nFollowing her season on the club team, Nilsson was told that a new varsity program would be starting the next fall. The Lake Forest, Ill, product was then faced with a difficult decision: to play, or not to play. For Nilsson, the choice was simple.\n"I knew that I wanted to play," Nilsson said. "I knew that after being active for so long I was missing it. I needed to play again."\nNilsson credits the hiring of Robertson as one of the main reasons for accepting the challenge of a varsity program.\n"The spring of my freshman year we met Coach Robertson, and I knew that I definitely wanted to play again," said Nilsson. "She knows the game better than anyone I have ever met, but she also has the ability to connect with players on a personal level."\nRobertson said she thinks their relationship has blossomed nicely over the years.\n"Erica and I have gotten to know each other very well, and I think we've actually helped each other grow in many ways," Robertson said. "She's been with me since the very beginning, and I'm always trying to push her and challenge her to get better as the team's gotten better. She's done the same for me."\nRobertson said she believes Nilsson has been a natural leader since she joined the team her sophomore year and that leadership has developed into Nilsson being named team captain for her senior season. But her improvement over the past three years has caused her to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Nilsson has increased her tally of goals from one in 2000 to three in 2001 to having three in 2002 through only 11 games. Robertson credits her speed, attacking ability and an overall improvement in talent as key contributions to her success.\n"Her skills have gotten better and better, and she's learned to maximize her strengths, which are quickness and speed," Robertson said. "Now that we have other players that complement her we have more opportunities on the attack which has helped her game improve."\nOne of the other players contributing to the offensive attack is sophomore forward Kim Nash. Nash attended the same high school as Nilsson, and the senior has provided a positive example for the younger Nash.\n"As a sophomore (in high school) looking up to Erica when she was a senior she was always a key player on the attack," Nash said. "She was captain, and she was one of those players that everyone wanted to watch because she was so enthusiastic when she played."\nNilsson said her move from playing midfield to playing forward this season has truly helped her game.\n"Forward is where I am comfortable and where I know I belong," Nilsson said. "I think that because of our strength in the midfield I was needed elsewhere, and it just happened to be where I was most comfortable."\nRobertson agrees that Nilsson's switch has definitely helped her team have more opportunities to score. And the results are clearly evident in the Hoosier's much improved offensive output in 2002. \n"She's not playing as much defense," Robertson said, "and she is great in break away opportunities because of her strength and speed. Defenders cannot stay with her." \nWins or losses aside, Nilsson said she is excited about the future of IU field hockey. She said she feels proud she has been a key contributor since the beginning. Oct. 5, the Hoosiers climbed another mountain by winning their first Big Ten game over Ohio State, 3-2. \n"It has been an amazing growth experience for me to develop this team," Nilsson said. "I can't wait to look back in a couple of years and see that IU is ranked in the top 20 and know that I helped start that tradition"
(10/04/02 8:28pm)
Close, so close. The IU field hockey team (2-8) will use those words for motivation as they prepare to face No. 20 Ohio State Saturday following their heartbreaking, 2-1 double overtime loss to No. 9 Louisville Wednesday. Although the loss to the Cardinals was discouraging, coach Amy Robertson said there were many positives she hopes will carry over to Saturday's contest with the Buckeyes.\n"We're starting to play more as a team," Robertson said. "The great thing is that we're playing to win, which we haven't necessarily done in the past. We are getting closer to our potential, but we still keep getting better and better in the last few games."\nThe Hoosiers will look to continue showcasing their defensive juggernaut. Senior goalkeeper Molly Pulkrabek, who was peppered with 21 shots, and freshman defensive back Morgan Albini were instrumental in holding the No. 20 Cardinals scoreless until the last minute of regulation. Robertson said she thinks IU's zone attack can continue its impressive play Saturday against OSU.\n"Our ability to defend as a team has increased," Robertson said. "I think it's really hard to go direct against our team because our zone is more organized and more tight. You are going to have to move the ball against us in order to penetrate, and that's really positive because everyone has an effect."\nAlbini agreed, and said a strong defense will only help the offense too.\n"I thought we played really well as a unit," Albini said. "We really pulled together, and I think we are going to continue with our strong passing game. We played really well defensively, and that has helped our offense out as well." \nFor the Hoosiers to be successful defensively, they will have to counter a strong Buckeye attack led by junior Vanessa Immordino. Immordino leads OSU with five goals and four assists, and has 25 shots on goal. \n"We need to play low defensively," Albini said, "keeping our sticks on the ground and being ready for anything with total anticipation."\nOffensively, Robertson said she hopes to continue an attack that has scored 11 goals in 2002 on only 65 shots. The Hoosier's offensive attack, which has been effective when they've had their chances, will look for more scoring opportunities against the Buckeyes. Robertson said increasing help from the midfield will provide IU with an offensive advantage and increased opportunities. \n"I've been noticing each game that the midfield now is becoming more and more involved in the attack," Robertson said. "They're all becoming weapons."\nRobertson credits freshman midfielder Mallory Reabold and sophomore midfielders Kayla Bashore and Ryan Woolsey as key contributors Wednesday. Robertson said she hopes she will see even better production Saturday.\n"They're really good at coming through and giving us opportunities and keeping numbers up at that end," Robertson said.\nReabold said she thinks increased Hoosier cohesiveness will help.\n"We are working together as a unit," she explained. "We talked a lot more than usual (Wednesday), and we were pumped up and ready to play."\nRobertson said she doesn't believe her team will have a hard time preparing for the Buckeyes after their tough loss. \n"I don't have any concerns," she said. "I think this is just going to make us even hungrier. And it's our first Big Ten matchup at home, so we have a lot of factors to our advantage."\nIU faces off against Ohio State at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mellencamp Pavilion.
(09/11/02 5:47am)
For most Americans, the date Sept. 11 manifests a multitude of feelings. From thoughts of loss and fear to an inspired sense of patriotism and national unity, Americans faced the tragedy and dealt with it in their own way. One year later, coach Amy Robertson and the field hockey team still use the emotions and a motto provoked by Sept. 11 to inspire greater team unity. \n"I think now it (9/11) has brought us together as the whole country came together," Robertson said. "We kind of have a microcosm of that on our team. Our actual motto this year is 'United We Stand.' Our theme is really depending on each other, supporting one another, accepting each other for our differences, and trying to be as united as we can."\nFollowing last year's tragedy, perspectives and priorities readily changed around a Hoosier squad that was focused on building the program's foundations in only its second year of existence. In 2002, priorities remain altered towards the sport they love.\n"It definitely changed people and our team," Robertson said. "But I think one thing I learned from it is you have to still go on with life. It was really hard last year when that happened. It deeply affected me and certainly gave me that perspective of gratitude and being so thankful for the country I live in."\nSophomore Jamie Baldwin recalls that on the afternoon of Sept. 11, the field hockey team didn't practice and instead began to reflect on what happened.\n"I just remember last year on Sept. 11 we came to practice and Amy (Robertson) set us all around in a circle and we didn't have practice," Baldwin said. "We talked about the events and how it affected us."\nBaldwin did not think that the event would still be weighing on their minds a year later.\n"I can tell that a year later this sort of thing is still impacting us a lot," Baldwin said. "It's surprising that over the whole year you'd think our attitudes would be going by the wayside. I think everybody thinks about it every single day, and I think it will be that way for a while."\nOne Hoosier experienced an especially difficult situation last fall. Sophomore Brooke Evans, who hails from New Canaan, Conn., found it particularly hard to cope with being in the midwest while the attacks took place close to her home. Evans feels that field hockey provided her with an outlet for her grief.\n"Being someone from the east coast, I remember last year it was hard because there were only a few people that I could connect with," Evans said. "Playing field hockey was a good way to get frustration and anger out."\nEvans echoes many other Americans by believing that the events of Sept. 11 have caused her to not take anything for granted.\n"Being able to play and being at a good school, you realize what you have," Evans said. "The event brought my family together and brought me to realize where my priorities are"
(09/09/02 6:01am)
For the field hockey team, having a bad weekend took on a whole new meaning as the Hoosiers were dominated by Ball State 3-0 Friday and dropped a close contest 1-0 to UC Berkeley Sunday. Coach Amy Robertson's squad did show marked improvement Sunday over Friday's drubbing, where IU was outshot and outplayed by the experienced Cardinals.\n"We really focused on ourselves today (Sunday) by taking care of the ball and having good possession," Robertson said. "We were playing with more confidence and using all the space on the field."\nBall State came into Mellencamp Pavilion Friday for their first game of the season focused on revenge since IU scored their first victory in school history over the Cardinals in 2001. If the Cardinals wanted revenge, that's exactly what they got with an overall dominating performance in which the Cardinals outshot IU 22-2 in their three goal victory.\nAlthough Ball State was dominant, it took the Cardinals thirty minutes to finally put one past senior goaltender Molly Pulkrabek. Freshman Merri McKissock passed to sophomore Jen Strodel who beat a diving Pulkrabek for the opening score with 5:07 left in the first half.\nThe relentless Cardinals continued to apply pressure on Pulkrabek and the Hoosier defense. With 1:11 left in the first half, senior Heather Weinhold finally broke through to give BSU a 2-0 halftime lead.\nEven though IU trailed by two, the Hoosiers were fortunate that they were still in the game after being outshot 12-0 in the first stanza. Two big reasons for IU's luck were Pulkrabek and junior back Ginna Irwin.\n"They (Ball State) worked together as a team and gave a fantastic effort," Irwin said. "We weren't connecting as well."\nPulkrabek agrees.\n"I think I could have played a little better," Pulkrabek said. "Our team played really hard, and we played our hearts out. They came ready to play. It is a good learning experience to take away from this game."\nIU came out of intermission more aggressive and determined, but freshman Nikki Orciuch's shot three minutes into the half was stopped by BSU's senior goalie Susan McDowell. Following that save, the Cardinals regained the momentum, and never lost it again.\nBSU ended all hopes for a Hoosier comeback when McKissock took a rebound off a penalty corner and buried it into the back of the net to give the Cardinals an insurance goal and a commanding 3-0 lead.\nRobertson said her team learned a lot from Friday, and felt the squad would be better prepared for Sunday.\n"I thought we played with a lot of intensity today but we didn't open up enough space in the field," Robertson said. "Our structure fell apart a little bit. We just need to fix the little things and that would really help the development into our attack."\nRobertson hoped these new improvements would take affect Sunday versus Berkeley, and she wasn't totally disappointed in an evenly played 1-0 loss. Offensively, the Hoosiers showed improvement in the shot department by outshooting the Golden Bears 15-12, but we're unable to beat sophomore goalie Kelly Knapp, who tallied her fourth straight shutout.\n"I think Kayla Bashore and Erica Nilsson set up some awesome opportunities for the team, but their goalie played really well today," Robertson said. "She was making it very difficult to get it past her, and the times we did get it past her, we didn't finish."\nAfter battling to a scoreless tie in the first half, the Golden Bears were finally able to break through in the second half when senior Michelle Wald beat Pulkrabek with 12:09 left to play.\n"(Wald) went to the side," Pulkrabek said, "I thought I had nothing to do but to go down and try to block it. But she continued to go around me."\nIU did not give up though, and had a flurry of offensive chances in the final ten minutes, but were unable to even the tally.\n"We were right there knockin' on the goal, we just couldn't get one behind em'," Robertson said. "It is the best game that I've seen our team play"
(09/03/02 5:08am)
This time of year, IU students are adjusting to new things. \nThe field hockey team's no different. Winning is a new concept the Hoosiers want to keep building on when they face Maine (1-1) 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.\nIU opened its season with a victory against Miami (Ohio) last week.\nA key contribution to the Hoosier victory Saturday was the attacking style of play that overwhelmed Miami in the second half, said coach Amy Robertson. IU's four goals tied a team record.\n"We made some changes in the lineup," Robertson said, "and we were able to get our forwards deep towards their end line. That allowed us to stretch out their defense and get more players in our attack."\nFor IU, the offensive success also resulted from experienced players like sophomores Kim Nash, Kayla Bashore, and Ryan Woolsey to go along with senior Erica Nilsson, Robertson said. But Nash and Nilsson's playmaking combination goes back a little furthur than college. The two Lake Forest, Ill. products combined for three goals and two assists Saturday.\n"They played with each other in high school, and they're very good friends and know each other very well," Robertson said. They combined really well around the defense to put the ball in the back of the net."\nNilsson agrees. \n"Kimmie and I have always played well together up top," she said. "I think we have a similar sense of the game. We read each other well and always know where each other is off the ball."\nRobertson believes that Nilsson's shift from midfield in 2001 to forward in 2002 will help offensive production.\n"Her role on the forward line compliments her abilities to a greater extent and puts her in a position to really help us put the ball in the back of the net," Robertson said. "She can be a little more creative and it gives her more free reign to run all over the field to score." \nAnother key for the Hoosiers will be getting off to a good start, and that was something that did not happen against Miami. IU played tentatively in the first half, and scored all four of its goals in the second half.\n"We only put together one half in our victory on Saturday. So, we'll really be looking to take more control from the start," Robertson said. "We didn't seem to become risk takers in the first game until we had nothing to lose. We have to go out there (Tuesday) with that mentality."\nWhile the Hoosiers were finding that nothing-to-lose mentality, senior goaltender Molly Pulkrabek was keeping IU in the game. Pulkrabek stymied the Redhawks with ten saves while only giving up one goal. But Robertson says Pulkrabek is used to a lot of shots.\n"Molly is used to getting a lot of shots. Last year, she had to make quite a few saves. Games where the opponents take over 10 shots actually favor her because the more involved she is in making plays, the sharper she is," Robertson said.\nIf the offense doesn't produce Tuesday as they did on Saturday, Pulkrabek will be counted on again to give IU a chance. In order to do so, she must stop Maine and Tara Bedard, who has three goals and seven points in only two games.\n"She is very aggressive and calm, and she's definitely not afraid of the ball. She has to build out of that confidence and try to get her defense more involved so she doesn't have to make as many saves," Robertson said.\n"We gained a lot of confidence, and now that we have that feeling of what it's like to win, you know you don't want to lose it," Nash said.
(08/30/02 6:31am)
For the IU field hockey team, the saying "third times a charm" sounds more than fitting as the Hoosiers prepare for their third season of existence. \nHead coach Amy Robertson leads her squad into battle Saturday as they open their season against Miami of Ohio. Robertson is hoping an attacking style of play and team unity will propel the Hoosiers to vast improvement in 2002 from their 1-16 showing in 2001.\nRobertson approached preseason practice focused on two goals. First, to build stronger team unity between the existing nucleus of players and the newcomers. Her second objective was to concentrate on a new attacking style of play that she instituted. Robertson feels she accomplished both. \n"This being the third year of the program, we feel that team unity and building an attacking style of play go hand in hand. We feel we can't focus on being a great hockey team. We just have to focus on being on the same page."\nIn addition, Robertson believes that her third squad is in the best shape of any of her teams at IU, and declares that the players are as prepared as they'll ever be. \n"We have challenged the team mentally, we've challenged them physically, and we are more fit than we've ever been. Plus, we play with a lot more speed and intelligence. "\nSpeaking of speed, it's what the Hoosiers will rely on in 2002. Offensively, the Hoosiers will look to improve on last year's offense, which averaged less than one goal a game. Robertson will look to speedy returning players and talented newcomers to incorporate this new aggressive style. Sophomore Kim Nash led the Hoosiers in scoring last year and returns to head the offensive attack along with second team All-Big Ten midfielder sophomore Kayla Bashore. \nNash and Bashore have plenty of help in the form of talented freshmen, adding Nikki Orciuch to the squad's steady field general, senior Erica Nilsson.\n"We have a lot of speed and a lot of incoming players who played attacking positions in high school," Robertson said."So far our output in practices and scrimmages has been incredible. hey are more determined to put the ball in the back of the net, and we are taking smarter shots."\nWhile the game plan the last two years has been primarily defensive, Robertson plans to send more players on the offensive this fall. \n"Our system has changed so we have more players involved in the attack with a lot more players wanting equal touches on the ball," Robertson said.\nDefensively, the Hoosiers face a more daunting challenge in replacing one of their top two goalkeepers. Sophomore Katie Kanara was selected last season to the Big Ten All-Tournament team, but was lost for the season with a shoulder injury during summer drills. Although Robertson wishes she had Kanara along for the campaign, the barrel is definitely not dry. Senior Molly Pulkrabek, who split time with Kanara in 2001, returns for her senior season at goalkeeper. Pulkrabek will most likely share time this fall with sophomore Lauren Brophy who possibly has the most interesting story of the preseason. Brophy made the switch to goalie during preseason practice on request from Robertson, and has truly taken to the position.\n"Lauren has a real understanding for her position because she played goal in soccer, and she has been very aggressive, determined, and a quick learner," Robertson said.\nRobertson is hoping that all the pieces will start to fit together Saturday at Miami of Ohio. Although winning is certainly a goal, the Hoosiers have two needed achievements squarely on their minds. Number one, winning their first Big Ten conference game.\nA Big Ten win is definitely on Nash's calendar this fall. "It will be good to get over that plateau because we set high expectations for ourselves, and a Big Ten win will really make our season go out with a bang."\nWins and losses aside, the team carries added confidence into the fall campaign because of their improvement in many facets of the game. Bashore said, "Team-wise, we have improved tremendously over the spring, but going past the fundamentals and building on our strategy, that will be the key to our season"