2008 Woodie Awards
Field Hockey Prepares For Conference Matchups
Erica Rico Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/15/05 Section: Sports
The women's field hockey team, seven games into their regular season, holds a record of 0-7. Despite their rough start, players and coaches are optimistic that the following 11 games will be successful.
"We have played a lot of tougher schools, teams that have had strong programs for over ten years, and we have been able to compete with the teams. We have worked thorough some tough presses. We are trying not to worry about the record," said Head Coach, Chris Blais. "Even though records show that we have lost seven out of seven games, the team is getting better and better."
"We are using these games to prepare us for the conference games," senior Captain Erika Francisco said. The Pioneers are not letting the seven loses affect their mentality.
"Last year Dartmouth started their season off 0-9 and came back and won their last ten games," said Blais.
The conference games will determine their placement for playoffs. These matches will be at the peak of their season.
"Our team goal is to win the NEC conference," junior midfielder Jenna McLane said. "I feel that we will go farther than last year, where we ended in the semifinals. We have skill above and beyond that of last year's team."
The team is young. There are nine freshmen, and only two seniors, out of the 22 member squad. Captain Francisco adds that the freshmen "are very strong, a huge asset to the team and were part of a huge recruiting year". In fact, last week freshman forward Carisa Eye was named Rookie of the Week for the NEC conference.
The Pioneers traveled to Vermont this weekend where they competed against the University of Vermont on Friday and fell to the Catamounts 2-0. Sunday's game against the University of Massachusetts held a similar fate. The Minutemen scored with seven seconds remaining to beat the Pioneers 2-1.
"Offensively we are strong with our corner unit, which is made up of seven players. The players are very strong and have executed well," Blais said.
"We have played a lot of tougher schools, teams that have had strong programs for over ten years, and we have been able to compete with the teams. We have worked thorough some tough presses. We are trying not to worry about the record," said Head Coach, Chris Blais. "Even though records show that we have lost seven out of seven games, the team is getting better and better."
"We are using these games to prepare us for the conference games," senior Captain Erika Francisco said. The Pioneers are not letting the seven loses affect their mentality.
"Last year Dartmouth started their season off 0-9 and came back and won their last ten games," said Blais.
The conference games will determine their placement for playoffs. These matches will be at the peak of their season.
"Our team goal is to win the NEC conference," junior midfielder Jenna McLane said. "I feel that we will go farther than last year, where we ended in the semifinals. We have skill above and beyond that of last year's team."
The team is young. There are nine freshmen, and only two seniors, out of the 22 member squad. Captain Francisco adds that the freshmen "are very strong, a huge asset to the team and were part of a huge recruiting year". In fact, last week freshman forward Carisa Eye was named Rookie of the Week for the NEC conference.
The Pioneers traveled to Vermont this weekend where they competed against the University of Vermont on Friday and fell to the Catamounts 2-0. Sunday's game against the University of Massachusetts held a similar fate. The Minutemen scored with seven seconds remaining to beat the Pioneers 2-1.
"Offensively we are strong with our corner unit, which is made up of seven players. The players are very strong and have executed well," Blais said.