Expectations run high for Hoosiers after winningest season on record

Following two straight winning seasons under head coach Amy Robertson, expectations for the 2005 women's field hockey season are running at an all-time high. Last year's 12-8 mark was the winningest season enjoyed a Hoosier field hockey team in the program's six year history. \nWith six seniors returning, two of whom are fifth year seniors, and 10 starters returning overall, Robertson said she believes her team is primed to make a legitimate run at a Big Ten title. \n"I absolutely believe that we have a great shot at winning the Big Ten this year because we have more returning players than any other team," Robertson said.\nWith the usual Big Ten powerhouses of Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa suffering heavy losses in returning personnel, Robertson said this Big Ten season will be unlike any other.\n"I really expect more parity in the conference than in previous years because the top three teams experienced the biggest losses, while the other teams have lots of players returning," Robertson said. \nFifth-year senior Kayla Bashore is at the core of IU's returning seniors. Bashore red-shirted last season to concentrate on studying for the MCAT. Robertson described the midfielder as "phenomenal," and expects her to play a key role for the team if the Hoosiers continue their recent successful play. Bashore is also playing for the USA national team in Virginia. \nIn addition to the returning seniors, which include Morgan Albini, Nikki Orciuch, Mallory Reabold, Lesley Wiler and Ryan Woolsey, the Hoosiers also welcome a recruiting class comprised of Danitra Castro, Katie Kiper and goalkeeper Jobi Manson. \nIf the experience-laden Hoosiers expect to be one of the teams battling for the Big Ten championship at the end of the year, they first have to survive a treacherous pre-conference schedule pitting them against some of the top teams in the country -- including defending national champion Wake Forest. The Hoosiers' pre-conference season kicks off this weekend when they travel to the northeast to take on the New Hampshire Wildcats at 1 p.m. Saturday, and the Northeastern Huskies Sunday. \nThe Hoosiers have already taken the field once this year, defeating Ball State in a 3-0 victory during a Saturday scrimmage at John Mellencamp Pavilion. Led by goals from sophomore Frederique Meeuwsen, Reabold and Kiper, the Hoosiers dominated the Cardinals, out-shooting them 22-2. \nSaturday's performance helped fuel the high expectations Robertson has for her team.\n"Our defense played exceptional and our midfielders really transferred the ball very well," Robertson said. "We were finishing our attacks over the 25-yard line, we really looked sharp overall. It's the best I've ever seen us play, I'm really excited about this season." \nWiler, who started all 20 games last season, was also pleased with the way the Hoosiers were able to control the game. \n"We dominated the game, and we were really good at putting the ball in the back of the net," Wiler said. "It was definitely a good sign for this weekend and the rest of our season."\nThe Hoosiers defeated New Hampshire last season 2-1 on sophomore forward Kate O'Connell's goal in the 51st minute. However, this doesn't mean the Hoosiers are taking the Wildcats lightly, who were 4-16 last season, and are predicted to finish third in the America East Conference this season. Forward Orciuch said she believes defensive pressure will be the key to winning the match.\n"We've been working on setting up our defensive pressure a certain way to keep them from breaking out, and in turn we can take the ball the opposite way," Orciuch said.\nFollowing Saturday's matchup against New Hampshire, the Hoosiers will head to Boston to take on the Northeastern Huskies in a Sunday afternoon contest. Northeastern is entering its first season in the Colonial Athletic Conference after winning their fourth straight title in the America East Conference in 2004. The Huskies were 18-4 last season and 5-1 at home. This is the first time the Hoosiers will face the Huskies, but Robertson said that doesn't necessarily trouble her. \n"Our team is very flexible with a lot of speed, so we're able to modify as the game goes on, something we weren't able to do as well in the past," Robertson said. \nOverall, Robertson said she believes the high expectations surrounding the team this year are justified, and it's simply a matter of believing in themselves. \n"We have no history of winning a championship, so it's a question of can we believe in ourselves, can we believe that we can be Big Ten champions," Robertson said. "Right now the season lies in our heads and our hearts, because we have the ability to win the title"