California combo

These days, the song "I Wish They All Could Be California Girls" has probably taken on a whole new meaning for field hockey coach Amy Robertson. Robertson said she has been happy with her team's overall play of late and has seen two California bred freshman, back Morgan Albini and midfielder Lesley Wiler make significant contributions to the squad.\n"The great thing for them is they're getting more experience than most freshmen," Robertson said. "They're two players that will greatly influence our future success." \nAlbini, an Escondido, Calif. prospect, and San Diego's Wiler have not only made the trip from the sunny beaches of Southern California to the midwest, but the pair are also roommates. Albini said the arrangement could not have been better.\n"It has worked out awesome," Albini said. "We both can relate to each other, and we know where each other is coming from. It's been awesome because no one can relate to you as well as one of your own teammates. It's been the best thing for both of us I'd say."\nWiler said they get along so well because they have so much in common.\n"I think our personalities clicked so fast, and we got along from the very first day," Wiler said. "I love being Morgan's roommate because we have the same schedule with field hockey, and we come from the same state. And on top of that we get along so well."\nWhile the IU program is only in its third year of existence, both Albini and Wiler said the opportunity of building a program was too much to pass up. But it took a visit to IU's campus to fully convince Wiler that she wanted to be a Hoosier. \n"Actually to be honest I wasn't planning on leaving California at all," Wiler said, "but once I got out here and saw the campus, I just loved it so much. I thought it would be so fun to help build something."\nAlbini agreed, and added that Indiana's varied weather also contributed to her decision.\n"I wanted to experience the seasons," Albini said. "I really wanted to try something different and go out on my own and go to a school where they don't have a reputation yet. I wanted to help try and build a tradition here."\nAfter arriving on campus this fall, Albini and Wiler have had the difficult challenge of adjusting to field hockey on the college level and freshmen life in general. On the field, Albini has helped to anchor an improved defense, and Wiler is aiding the Hoosier cause in the midfield. The freshmen said the college game is much more speedy and intense.\n"The speed of the game is so much faster," Albini said. "You have less room for mistakes and errors, and you have to be thinking constantly. In high school you can get away with slacking off a little bit where in college you will get burned if your not on top of your game. The speed and intensity is the biggest difference." \nWiler said the college game is much more of a team effort.\n"I think the biggest change is that it's so much more of a passing game in college," Wiler said. "In high school, it's not everyone for their own, but certain people hold the team together. In college, it's a lot of thinking and a lot more intensity."\nThe young Hoosiers are still adjusting to balancing a busy schedule that includes field hockey plus school. Wiler said her time management skills are a work in progress.\n"It has been definitely stressful trying to fit everything and schedule your day perfectly so you manage to fit in school and field hockey," Wiler said. "But I didn't expect to have to be so systematic and make sure you know exactly what you're doing."\nAlbini said the teacher-student relationship in college is the biggest difference.\n"It's a lot different because teacher's don't hold you accountable," Albini said, "you hold yourself accountable. That's the biggest difference."\nRobertson said she is impressed with the California combo, and thinks that their contributions will be felt for a long time. The pair have already contributed with speed, aggressiveness and agility. Both freshmen have started all six games, and Wiler scored her first goal against Maine. \n"For freshmen, they have already walked into a lot of responsibility while adjusting to college life," Robertson said. "They've shown a great deal of maturity, and because of that they've already made an impact on our program"