Despite adversity, field hockey goalkeepers finish season strong

Goalkeeper Alex Mann allowed 1.89 goals per game as a junior.

She started all 21 games that season, helping to lead the Hoosiers to within one goal of the school’s first Big Ten Championship.

She was poised to build on 2009 — until she injured her knee this preseason.
She said it could have been worse.

“There’s definitely something wrong because I heard a pop,” Mann said. “I hoped it wasn’t an ACL and I wouldn’t be out for six months.”

Mann and IU coach Amy Robertson discussed applying for a medical redshirt.

“We did talk about it early on,” Mann said in October. “We both decided that I wanted to try to come back because it was only supposed to be three to four weeks. I haven’t talked to her about it since.”

When the team learned the severity of Mann’s injury, backup goalkeeper junior Becky Pany knew it was her opportunity.

“I had to step up a lot,” she said. “Alex was a huge part of our team last year and how well we did. In order for us to be successful, I had to have her back and play my best because she couldn’t play.”

Pany had the confidence of her teammates, especially Mann.

“I think they really protected her, and they really helped each other,” Robertson said. “‘Hey, I got your back. We’re all together back here.’ That’s the kind of team we have. Alex was giving Becky, even after her surgery, feedback and support.”

Pany played well in Mann’s absence. She posted nine saves in her second career start in the season opener against Boston College.

She posted IU’s first shutout of the season in an Oct. 9 1-0 victory against UC Davis.
Pany gained confidence with each start.

“As soon as that first five minutes against Boston College happened, I haven’t looked back since,” she said.

Robertson agreed.

“Her confidence was pretty instant,” the coach said. “As soon as she got the first couple of games under her belt, she was a little more relaxed.

Situations where there’s a lot of pressure, such as Bucknell, she came up big with a lot of saves. She stepped up and played great. She’s been really solid.”

Meanwhile, Mann worked for more than an hour every day to rehab her knee.

She made her season debut Oct. 2 when IU played Ohio State.

“I told them (the coaching staff) yesterday that I wanted to play in this game,” Mann said after that game.

“I told I felt ready. This was the kind of game that I’d really like to play. They’re a ranked team. It’s on home turf. That’s my kind of game.”

Mann also started in the cage for the Hoosiers’ win against Louisville.

However, a week later when the Hoosiers traveled to Evanston, Ill., to take on Northwestern and UC Davis, Pany started in the cage.

“Alex is not 100 percent — her knee had swollen up,” Robertson said after that game. “That made the decision pretty easy to play Becky.”

Mann described her emotions about the setback.

“I didn’t think that it was going to be that big of a setback,” she said. “It’s very frustrating. Coming back, being able to play and then not anymore is the most frustrating part.”

Despite the setback, Mann continued to support Pany.

“I’ve got Becky’s back 100 percent,” Mann said. “There’s no tension between us at all. It’s not about me. It’s about our whole team. They’re supportive, and I’m the same for them.”

As the field hockey season winds down, Robertson is uncertain whether Mann will play again.

“That’s still for us to discuss,” she said. “We haven’t come to a firm decision. The health of her knee has been a bit unpredictable.”

Mann was honored on Senior Day on Oct. 30 when the Hoosiers hosted Michigan in their season finale, perhaps finalizing the decision to not redshirt Mann.

Not the ideal storybook ending to anyone’s senior year.