Field hockey explodes into season

Like a firecracker, the varsity women's field hockey team exploded with a 1-0 victory in last Saturday's game, dimming Brown's hopes from the very beginning.

Field hockey

Despite the challenges of playing on artificial turf, the Bulldogs established a lead within the first two minutes of the game. Lindsay Hobbs, PC '99, scored off a picture-perfect corner with 36:54 remaining in the first half. "We scheduled two turf games to prepare for Brown. As a team, they have a good passing game. Our goal was to take control early and to play tough defensively," coach Carla Hesler explained, "We scored in the first few minutes, and we maintained pressure both offensively and defensively. We played a great game."

The defense, anchored by senior captain Amy Gallo, ES '97, and veteran goalie Megan Reed, CC '97, shut out Brown's offense. The squad worked a double team on Brown, cut down their speed, and stopped many potential breakaways. Reed played an exceptional game, stopping all five shots on goal that slipped through the defense. "It was really good that we scored so early in the game. It got us fired up. We scored off a corner which we've been working on a lot in practice. We showed lots of character by standing up to their rally in the second half of the game," Reed said.

The transition game, led by midfielders Betsy Hagmann, BR '97, and Sarah Martínez, BK '97, also played a pivotal role in the victory. By providing quick movement from defense to offense, the Bulldogs were able to penetrate Brown's defense and catch their players off guard.

For Hesler and many of the players, the Brown game was a showcase for many of the team's strength and weaknesses. Clearly, the aggressive play of the offense which capitalized on opportunities early on in the game was a potent tool for the Bulldogs. "We need to step up our passing game and our give-and-goes. Normally, we have a really clean, quick passing game. The Brown game was not characteristic of our game. Our intensity was really good, but I'd like to see more quality shots and using lifts in the circle and varying up the offense," Reed said.

The communication of the players was also key in the Bulldog's success. With seven senior players, most of whom have started since their freshman year, the team has a solid core of players. However, the incorporation of new players is not an automatic process and always requires practice. "Our win against Brown brought us together and solidified our unity. We are definitely more comfortable with each other. As we practice everyday, we are getting used to each other's playing styles," Reed said.

On defense, the players marked up on specific offensive players while leaving a few defense players to hang back and stop breakaways and to mark free players. The defense was successful in forcing transitions against Brown, but Harvard may pose more of a problem when the Bulldogs face them in Cambridge Sat., Sept. 28.

This week, the team has been focusing their efforts for this big game. "We're working on switching back to playing on grass. We've been playing on a lot of astroturf, but we're playing on bumpy grass at Harvard," Gallo said.

"We have to adjust. You have to use your resources," Hesler said.

The Elis will focus on a strategy similar to the one they used against Brown. The offense will aggressively attack early in the game, while the defense will look to get organized quickly. The midfield will be relied upon to move the ball quickly up the field, to catch the opponent's defense off guard as well as to pressure the opponent's ball.

The squad's success thus far can be attributed to the dedication of coach Hesler and the players, as well as their experience. "This team's goal is to win the Ivy League championship. It's within their reach, but it's a tough road. The Ivy League is hard in field hockey. It's competitive," Hesler said.

The organized and serious team has a strategy for their long term plans as well. "To take every game as the most important game of the season is our goal. We don't want to get over-anxious, but we want to get psyched for it. Mental preparation for every game is really key, as well as making sure we are completely focused," Hesler said.

As Gallo explained, the unity of this team is sure to be an asset in the endeavor toward the elusive Ivy League title. "How we are all good friends is an asset. The chemistry helps our team a lot. It's not something we can practice. Our hopes are to continue winning. All the Ivy League games are important. We want to focus on one game at a time."