Indiana University Athletics
A Well Deserved Day Off (8-19-02)
8/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
August 19, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. - Focus, understanding, and learning seem to be the three words used to summarize the Indiana field hockey preseason thus far as the team completed its fourth day of camp yesterday with an inter-squad scrimmage.
"We have been taking preseason step-by-step," said head coach Amy Robertson. "The standard as soon as we showed up is already higher than it's ever been. The team has also worked extremely hard. Every practice they've been focused, they've been absorbing, and they've been learning. There has already been a better base of knowledge. I'd say we are very optimistic for our future this year."
The Hoosiers have been busy with double session practices since Thursday morning and is ready for a day of relaxation.
"Morgan and I are from San Diego, Calif., and her parents are in town, so we are probably going to hang out with them, but more importantly we are going to rest," freshman Lesley Wiler said. "It has been very hard work, and we are definitely ready for a day off. The past four days of practice have been pretty intense, and the team seems very unified."
Unfortunately, not everyone has the day off. Head coach Amy Robertson and her staff will be busy preparing the practice schedule for the next four days.
"Each day we are still covering different fundamentals," said Robertson. "But as far as game preparation, now we are into a mode of how we are going to attack and defend on different parts of the field. We will then focus on specialty situations. For instance, things like penalty corners, long hits, strokes, free hits into the circle, etc."
The general feeling concerning preseason has been positive. Senior defender Akila Jones is impressed about how the players have adjusted to each other.
"The past four days have been awesome," Jones said. "I am so excited about how hard everyone has been working. A big weakness that we have had in the past is that we haven't been used to playing with each other because we have always been a new team. This year we only had to adjust to five new players, and they have been doing amazing. They are adjusting great."
IU has been working hard and making progress as their season opener against Miami University (Ohio) creeps up in less than two weeks, on August 31 at Miami University (Ohio).
Follow the field hockey team during its 2002 preseason campaign by checking back with iuhoosiers.com for updated information.
