IU looks to win ‘tough’ Big Ten this fall

The last two seasons, the IU field hockey team has finished in second place in the Big Ten regular season. This year, as the Hoosiers try to outpace a loaded conference and break through for a Big Ten title, they know it won’t be easy. \n“The Big Ten is so tough this year,” senior goalkeeper Haley Exner said. “I think almost all the teams are ranked in the Top 20. Every game is going to be huge and everyone is going to be gunning for each other.”\nThe Sept. 12 STX/NFHCA Coaches Poll has three of the seven Big Ten field hockey teams ranked in the Top 20. Iowa, Penn State and Michigan State are all ranked in the top ten, while Michigan is ranked No. 15. Indiana fell just outside of the Top 20 after being ranked No. 19 previously. \nLast year, IU finished 4-2 in the Big Ten during the regular season with losses to Michigan and Michigan State. After earning the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament, The Hoosiers were upset again by the Spartans in the first round. \nAfter two disappointing losses to Michigan State, IU is hoping to return the favor this season.\n“Michigan State was really young last year, but we lost to them twice,” senior forward Kate O’Connell said. “We are definitely looking to beat them this year.”\nWhen IU coach Amy Robertson was asked about the other Big Ten teams, the first she mentioned was Iowa. Robertson grew familiar with the Hawkeyes after coaching the Regional High Performance team over the summer, which consisted of the best players in the Midwest. The team had several Iowa players on the roster, giving Robertson a good look at what the Hawkeyes have to offer this season. \n“Iowa has had some really good success against some ACC schools early this year,” Robertson said. “They return a lot of their players and have good leadership. I think they will be one of the strongest teams in the conference.”\nAs the Hoosiers saw last year when they were upset by Michigan State, they can’t look past any team in the Big Ten.\n“We have to come in to each game with a winning mentality and play our game,” O’Connell said\nIU opened Big Ten play Sept. 21 when it faced Ohio State in Columbus. The Hoosiers lost to the Buckeyes 2-1. The Big Ten season will also conclude in Columbus with the conference tournament beginning Nov. 1.\nWhile the Big Ten regular season title is a goal for the Hoosiers, Robertson said this team’s focus has to be on the Big Ten tournament. \n“We are a fairly young team,” she said. “We are just trying to improve, improve, improve throughout the season. I think the tournament is much more important for us.”\nThe only automatic bid for the NCAA tournament comes from the Big Ten tournament winner, so Robertson is preparing her Hoosiers for the end of the season.\n“It is rarely the team that wins the regular season who wins the tournament,” she said. “It is usually the team who performs the most consistently throughout. It’s the team who is peaking and is most hungry for the NCAA tournament.”