‘Lack of trust’ leads to 3-2 loss at home to Miami

After a win against Michigan last Sunday, IU coach Amy Robertson said the Hoosiers were peaking at the right time.

While the IU field hockey team might be near its prime, there are still a few bumps along the way.

The Hoosiers (7-7, 1-3) lost to Miami (Ohio) 3-2 Friday,continuing a trend of inconsistency from game to game. Since Oct. 3, IU has alternated wins and losses in its last five games.

“We were missing something today,” Robertson said after the home loss. “There was a lack of trust, and we didn’t handle pressure well.”

With the game tied at two for most of the second half, RedHawk forward Kate Snyder scored from the top of the circle in the 65th minute to take the lead.

The Hoosiers were unsuccessful in even getting a shot on goal in the last five minutes.
In the first half, the Hoosiers took the first lead of the game when sophomore forward Lena Grote deflected a shot from junior midfielder Meg O’Connell off a defender’s stick into the goal. Miami responded with two first-half goals to take a 2-1 halftime lead.

IU came out quickly in the second period, when junior forward Alina Valenti scored on a rebound shot off the goal. However, after the goal, the game came to a standstill, and neither team scored for 25 minutes.

“We were still flat (after the goal),” Valenti said. “Our confidence isn’t there, and this game was not IU field hockey.”

The players’ and coach’s reaction were in stark contrast to their comments after the Michigan game and during practice this week. They had spoken of having more confidence and energy thanks to their first Big Ten victory.

On the field Sunday, the Hoosiers allowed 15 shots, 10 of them on goal. Against Michigan, the defense allowed two shots on goal.

Miami used a different offensive scheme than the Wolverines, with four players in the middle of the field, confusing the Hoosier defense, said sophomore defender Mutsa Mutembwa.

However, Mutembwa said the team’s main issue was that Miami simply played with more energy.

“They outplayed us, they had determination, and they had the fight and aggression that we didn’t have,” she said.

IU travels to Penn State this week to face the conference-leading 11-4 Nittany Lions. The Hoosiers have three regular season games remaining before hosting the Big Ten tournament in November.