The 2004 field hockey season kicked into high gear over the weekend as the AU Women's Field Hockey team went 1-1 in the Temple Field Hockey Tournament.
The Eagles lost to the University of North Carolina 2-0 in the second game, which saw the Eagles register just three shots. The loss puts the team's record at 2-2.
Even though sophomore goaltender Allison Fayfich stoped 11 of the Tar Heels' 14 shots, the real storyline was the lack of offense generated by the Eagles. After registering 35 shots in Saturday's 4-2 win over Temple, the Eagles were unable to find their stride and were soundly defeated.
The Tar Heels' Heather Kendall scored the first goal for UNC at 8:05, and freshman Anne Marie Janus netted an insurance tally with 23:32 left in the game. Despite the Eagles lack of shots in the second game, however, coach Steve Jennings felt that the weekend was not a total bust.
"We had an overall strong game against Temple, and it was a surprise that we didn't win by more," Jennings said. "I thought we played well against a great team in North Carolina and fought them tooth and nail to the end."
With the 2004 season under way, the Eagles are looking to continue their success from the 2003 season. Last year the Eagles garnered a 17-4 overall mark, going 6-0 in the Patriot League, including a 1-0 victory over Holy Cross in the championship game. That win granted the Eagles a shot at the NCAA Championship tournament by securing them a spot in a play-in game.
With an entrance to the NCAA Championship tournament on the line, the Eagles soundly defeated Quinnipiac, but lost to the second-ranked Duke Blue Devils 3-1 in the opening round. While the loss was a tough one for the Eagles to take, Jennings, sixth-year head coach and 2003 NFHCA Mid-Atlantic coach of the year, feels that it is definitely something to build on.
"This year the team knows that they can win and perform well based on last year's results," Jennings said. "It was definitely harder for them to compete last year with the pressure of not knowing if they could win."
The Eagles are returning 19 letter-winners from the 2003 season, including first-team all-Patriot League honorees Camila Infante, who was also named 2003 PL freshman of the year, and Javiera Villagra. The team also welcomes back second-team all-Patriot League members Maureen Daniel, Shannon Goans, Leah Danoff and Sacha-Rae Teixeira.
Despite returning so many honored members of the 2003 team, the Eagles will miss the effort of Laura Miller, who was the 2003 PL defensive player of the year, as well as second team all-Patriot League member Melissa Snyder, both of whom graduated.
The Eagles are entering the 2004 season with an onerous burden. The team was picked as the Patriot League preseason favorite, according to league officials. The Eagles garnered all 10 first-place votes, giving them 50, which is the total amount allowable.
The Eagles will feature five new freshmen players, including Denise Infante, the sister of standout Camila Infante. The sisters were members of the 2003 Chilean National Team at the 2003 Pan-American Games last summer. Even with so much talent on the team, Jennings said that it would take a total team effort in order for the team to succeed.
"This year, because of our difficult schedule, we really need everyone to step up and play well," Jennings said. "Even if someone's role is to come into the game for five minutes, they need to be able to do that and do it well."
The Eagles' season rolls on with the Maryland Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. The Eagles will face Northwestern on Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. Saturdayand the University of Massachusetts in the weekend tournament. After that, the season features eight games in the D.C. Metro area. However, Jennings said that no matter where the games are played, the team will succeed.
"The location of the games really won't affect our performance either way," Jennings said. "Last year we had to go on the road for five weekends in a row, including the Patriot League tournament, and we persevered."
The Patriot League season wraps up with the Patriot League tournament Nov. 5-6. Throughout the the season, the Eagles will face five PL opponents, including an Oct. 16 date with bitter rival Holy Cross at home. Should the Eagles win the Patriot League Championship tournament again, they will advance to the NCAA Tournament, to be held Nov. 13-21.
With nothing but positives being said about the season, Jennings still knows that the team will have to focus in order to succeed.
"When it comes down to it, you still have to play for 70 minutes," he said.
