New confidence prepares Elis for NCAA berth

By Katie Rigney

JULIA TIERNAN/YH 1998 Rookie of the Year Amanda Walton, SY '02, and her teammates hope for an NCAA birth.

In 1996, the field hockey team managed only one Ivy League victory. By last fall, they had done an about-face, taking second place in the Ancient Eight and capturing the ECAC crown.

How did the squad transform from an Ivy bottom-feeder to ECAC powerhouse? After the disastrous 1996 season, Marisa Didio was appointed as head coach, and she has steadily and patiently turned the Bulldogs around. In her first year, she guided the team to a .500 record. Last season, in Didio's second year at the helm, the Elis had a banner campaign, winning 15 of their 19 games and barely missing out on an NCAA tournament berth.

It is with an apparent magic touch that Didio has prompted the field hockey team to such a remarkable resurgence. But her coaching philosophy is no wizard-ry—it boils down to hard work and heightened expectations. "Last year she pushed us to a new level that Yale field hockey has never been at," captain Sue Barnes, DC '00, commented. "She pushes us hard, and we push ourselves in return." When Didio came to Yale, she began with fundamental skills, and she has continued to work with her players to devise a strategy that is more and more advanced with every practice. "There is a lot of experience out on the field," forward/midfielder Erin Arruda, JE '00, said. "Juniors and seniors have been playing since they were freshmen under Marisa's system. Things we had to learn last year are second nature to us now, so we can start off the season at a higher level."

Constant improvement is indeed the team's goal. They are constantly engaged in a building process, devising new strategies and rising to new challenges. They aren't resting on their laurels but are instead looking immediately toward more demanding goals. "We met our goals last year, but that was because we set them a little low," Arruda said. Barnes believes that last year's success showed the Elis just how far they could go.

Goalkeeper Courtney Lane, SY '00, warns against speculation that since the Elis succeeded last year, they are a lock to be league champions this season. "In the Ivies, you can never be sure," she said. "You always know the Ivy teams are going to come out and want to win. It's a tough league." Besides powerhouses such as Princeton, the league features a host of unpredictable teams, including Brown, who has given the Bulldogs trouble in the past. "Brown is sort of a nightmare team for us," Lane commented. "They are not better than we are, but they always play with such intensity. And sometimes, just sometimes, you can win with heart. We learned that the hard way. You just can't write anyone off."

To seriously contend for an NCAA berth, the Elis must face more challenging teams than they have in years past. Southern universities and schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference are notorious for their excellent field hockey programs, and this year Yale must play Duke, William and Mary, and Virginia, which is consistently ranked among the nation's top five teams. The players seem excited to test their skills against those of top national athletes. "Even when you lose you get more recognition from a close loss to a good team than a big win over a team that no one really respects," Lane explained. Her positive attitude, shared by all of her teammates, is one that is necessary for their continued success.

Back to Sports...