Freshman adjusts to American game

When she first came to IU, freshman Frederique Meeuwsen did not know what to expect. Recruited by IU coach Amy Robertson from her home town in Zuid-Schawoude, Holland, Meeuwsen was not accustomed to the collegiate style of play. \n"Amy showed interest in me," Meeuwsen said. "Actually, she was the only one." \nAcquiring Meeuwsen from Holland would prove to be one of the best moves for the Hoosiers in the offseason as the freshman was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for her play against Ohio State and St. Louis this past weekend. Meeuswen totaled two goals and an assist versus Ohio State and added an assist against St. Louis. \nAt first, Meeuwsen needed time to adjust her European play to Robertson's system at IU. In Holland, Meeuwsen served as her team's captain and lead her school to the province championship the year before attending IU. In her first 14 games with the Hoosiers, Meeuwsen had seven total points on offense. \n"Her finishing came late and she needed to become accustom with our style of play," Robertson said. \nYet, things were about to change for the field hockey team and Meeuwsen when they traveled to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami University. With the score tied and one goal already under her belt, Meeuwsen received a pass from sophomore Lydia Schrott and pushed the ball through goalkeeper Kerri Orr in the second minute of overtime to give the Hoosiers the victory. In that game, Meeuwsen lit up Miami with eight shots on goal including two goals. Meeuwsen would soon prove her work was not over. \nOver the course of the next four games for IU, Meeuwsen accumulated 16 points, including two goals at Mount Pleasant, Mich., versus Central Michigan University and two more goals in Mellencamp Pavilion against Ohio State. The Hoosiers won four of their last five games and achieved a six seed going into the Big Ten tournament. \nThe play of Meeuwsen had finally come out for the Hoosiers. It was the same play Robertson had seen when recruiting her. But Meeuwsen denies her talents for keeping IU alive in the Big Ten conference. \n"I have more confidence in the team now that I know how everything works," she said. \nHer father, a field hockey player in Europe, contributed to Meeuwsen's play as well. \n"My dad sent me lucky text messages that gave me the strength to play in those games," Meeuwsen said. \nSoon, everyone on the team saw how talented the Holland native was, especially Robertson. \n"With comfort comes extra confidence," Robertson said. "She is really smart and poised in the circle. She never panics and is solid mentally." \nAffectionately called "Freddy" by her family and teammates, Meeuwsen said she hopes she can contribute to leading the Hoosiers far into the Big Ten tournament in Evanston, Ill. For the first time in the five-year field hockey program, IU is seeded as high as sixth in the tournament. Yet, for the second time in four tries, they face No. 3 seed Michigan State. The Spartans have been the cause for the Hoosiers' early departure from the tournament in each of those years. \n"It's the first time we are seeded out of the basement," Robertson said. "We just need to show up because when we play our best we can do anything."\nMeeuwsen is just as confident going into Wednesday's game. \n"We can beat Michigan State" Meeuwsen said. "And if we can beat them then we can keep going and beat them all."\nIU will put its playoff hopes on the line when it faces Michigan State at 2 p.m. Nov. 5.\n-- Contact staff writer Andrew Shaffer at asshaffe@indiana.edu.