Time for revenge: Field hockey set for title run after placing 2nd last season

First might be the worst, but the Hoosiers would disagree if you told them second was best.\nAfter finishing as the runners-up in the Big Ten regular season and conference tournament, the IU field hockey team looks to contend in this year's conference title races with new additions to its strategy.\nThe Hoosiers are a much different team since losing their season opener against Virginia, 3-2. Since their game against the Cavaliers, the Hoosiers have had three weeks to work on a newly implemented zone defense. \nIU coach Amy Robertson recently announced the addition of Pietie Coetzee to the coaching staff. Coetzee, who has been working with the offense, is a nine-time member of the South African national team and a two-time Olympian.\nWith new tactics at hand, the Hoosiers prepare to adjust to the competitive and grueling Big Ten schedule.\n"There is only one difference with the Big Ten games," Robertson said. "It's that you don't have to convince your players it's a big game. If you win Big Ten games, you win a conference, you win a championship."\nFamiliarity is one reason the Big Ten season is more competitive. Robertson noted that because teams share tapes, there is more scouting and strategy in conference games.\n"We know these teams. We know their styles. There is no mystery in what you are going to face," she said.\nThe Hoosiers have one team in mind when it comes to seeking revenge: the Penn State Nittany Lions. After finishing second to them last season, the Hoosiers look forward to their season finale game versus Penn State Oct. 29.\n"They always have intensity and speed, and last year they took the title away from us," senior back April Levins said. "We have a little bit of resentment, and we are eager to go out there and beat them and accomplish our goal."\nWhen asked who the Hoosiers' biggest conference rival was, junior forward Kate O'Connell agreed with her teammate.\n"It's definitely Penn State. We've never beaten Penn State. They are the only team in the conference we've never beat in six years," she said.\nOne year removed from the Nittany Lions beating the Hoosiers at Mellencamp Pavilion for the Big Ten title, the Hoosiers use the bitter memory as inspiration this season.\n"I'll never forget when they brought out the boxes of T-shirts and hats and celebrated on our field," junior goalie Haley Exner said. "You have to remember how that felt and go out and get it. I can see us with the hats and the Gatorade this time."\nExner said she thinks the team's improvement in chemistry and cohesiveness is a reason it is excelling on and off the field.\n"We're trying to set a standard for how high Indiana field hockey plays," she said. "Knowing that, every weekend we just need to work even harder in practice."\nThe Hoosiers opened the conference season Sept. 22 on the road against Northwestern. The Michigan Wolverines will host the Big Ten Championship this year, Nov. 3-5.\nWhen discussing this year's goals, coach Robertson said she thought her team had the "personnel and attitude to get to the NCAA Tournament again." \nAbove that, she has her focus set on something else.\n"I think we're especially hungry to compete in the Big Ten and win a championship," she said.