Field Hockey Season Preview: Defenders
8/17/2017 4:37:00 PM | Field Hockey
Backline co-captains anchor the Hoosiers in 2017
As the 2017 regular season rapidly approaches, IUHoosiers.com will take an in-depth look at the position groups of this season's Indiana Field Hockey team.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers will look to their backfield leadership as they enter head coach Amanda Janney's third season with Indiana.
It's always been that way, however. In 2015, Janney's first year, senior Sydney Supica inserted herself into every play she could and swept all of Indiana's defensive save records. Last season it was senior Malia Fujisawa, whose inspiring turnaround in the final two years of her career resulted in a steadfast solution in the wide defense.
This year, the senior leadership role lands at the feet of Elle Hempt. This won't be her first year taking charge, however, as Hempt enters her second season with the captain's band.
Hempt played a vital role in the defense last season, her first year on the turf for Indiana, as she aided a conference leading effort in team save percentage (.767) and team saves (7.25/game). The fifth-year senior added to the attack corner unit as one of the Hoosiers' main hitters, scoring her first career goal in last year's season finale against Penn State.
Flanking Hempt in the backfield is junior Nora Aucker, who joined Hempt and Taylor Pearson as co-captains in the offseason. Entering her third year as a defensive starter, Aucker returns with the most career appearances of any Hoosier back.
Aucker broke into the starting lineup by the end of her freshman season and started every game last year as a sophomore. She became a weapon on the offensive end as well, setting two assists and scoring the Hoosiers' game-winner in last year's upset over No. 6 Northwestern.
Two newcomers will join the fold this year in hopes of making an instant impact on the backline. Freshman Sofia Keen, a three-time state champion at Pioneer (Mich.), made the initial starting lineup at right back for the Cream & Crimson Scrimmage. Fellow freshman Olivia Rice, an MPCC All-Star from Cumberland Valley (Pa.), will provide depth to a young defensive group.
The Hoosier defense has a valuable asset in Andi Jackson as well, who can slide out of her usual central midfield position to play in the wide area. Jackson was the Hoosiers' most improved player as a newcomer last season; like Aucker's freshman campaign, she became a regular starter by season's end.
The defense will get a handful of challenges in their first weekend. They open the year at Louisville on Friday, August 25 before taking on the defending NCAA champion, Delaware, the next day. The Hoosiers play Wake Forest at a neutral site the following weekend, and in total they face nine of last year's top 30 offenses.
Follow Indiana Field Hockey on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter.
#GoIU
Additional Previews:
Goalkeepers – Preview
Midfielders – Preview
Forwards – 8/23
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers will look to their backfield leadership as they enter head coach Amanda Janney's third season with Indiana.
It's always been that way, however. In 2015, Janney's first year, senior Sydney Supica inserted herself into every play she could and swept all of Indiana's defensive save records. Last season it was senior Malia Fujisawa, whose inspiring turnaround in the final two years of her career resulted in a steadfast solution in the wide defense.
This year, the senior leadership role lands at the feet of Elle Hempt. This won't be her first year taking charge, however, as Hempt enters her second season with the captain's band.
Hempt played a vital role in the defense last season, her first year on the turf for Indiana, as she aided a conference leading effort in team save percentage (.767) and team saves (7.25/game). The fifth-year senior added to the attack corner unit as one of the Hoosiers' main hitters, scoring her first career goal in last year's season finale against Penn State.
Flanking Hempt in the backfield is junior Nora Aucker, who joined Hempt and Taylor Pearson as co-captains in the offseason. Entering her third year as a defensive starter, Aucker returns with the most career appearances of any Hoosier back.
Aucker broke into the starting lineup by the end of her freshman season and started every game last year as a sophomore. She became a weapon on the offensive end as well, setting two assists and scoring the Hoosiers' game-winner in last year's upset over No. 6 Northwestern.
Two newcomers will join the fold this year in hopes of making an instant impact on the backline. Freshman Sofia Keen, a three-time state champion at Pioneer (Mich.), made the initial starting lineup at right back for the Cream & Crimson Scrimmage. Fellow freshman Olivia Rice, an MPCC All-Star from Cumberland Valley (Pa.), will provide depth to a young defensive group.
The Hoosier defense has a valuable asset in Andi Jackson as well, who can slide out of her usual central midfield position to play in the wide area. Jackson was the Hoosiers' most improved player as a newcomer last season; like Aucker's freshman campaign, she became a regular starter by season's end.
The defense will get a handful of challenges in their first weekend. They open the year at Louisville on Friday, August 25 before taking on the defending NCAA champion, Delaware, the next day. The Hoosiers play Wake Forest at a neutral site the following weekend, and in total they face nine of last year's top 30 offenses.
Follow Indiana Field Hockey on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter.
#GoIU
Additional Previews:
Goalkeepers – Preview
Midfielders – Preview
Forwards – 8/23
Players Mentioned
Defender/Midfield
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Defender
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Defender
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Midfield/Defender
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Defender
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Forward/Midfield
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Defender/Midfield
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