Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Field Hockey To Move Outdoors
2/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 8, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Fresh off its first NCAA Tournament appearance, a No. 9 final national ranking, a school record four first team all-league selections, a 17-5 final record and the first Big Ten Player of the Year and first team All-American (Kayla Bashore) in program history, the Indiana field hockey team will move from Mellencamp Pavilion to a new outdoor field in 2006, IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan announced on Feb. 8. The $1.5 million project, recently approved by Indiana University Board of Trustees, will be located east of IU's outdoor swimming pool and includes a field hockey field that features state-of-the art synthetic playing surface and watering system and an adjacent soccer practice field.
Greenspan said that the field hockey field is one example of his overall mission for IU Athletics.
"We have a comprehensive, broad-based, nationally-competitive athletics program that succeeds on the playing field and in the classroom," Greenspan said. "Our role in that equation is to make sure that our coaches and student-athletes have the necessary resources to achieve this goal. Our field hockey team has made considerable progress in its six-year history, and this field should help its continued success."
Indiana field hockey coach Amy Robertson, the 2005 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) West Region Coach of the Year, believes that the new field will pay immediate dividends for her program.
"The new field hockey field will be a state of the art synthetic surface coupled with the most efficient and complete watering system," Robertson said. "We are thrilled to see this project moving forward this year and we anticipate that this will help us greatly in attracting the nation's top recruits in field hockey."
After helping Indiana to a record-setting season last fall, senior all-league selection Megan Miller is ready to take the Hoosiers to another level.
"I am excited for the new outdoor field hockey facility. Being a part of the first senior class to play in it will no doubt be an honor," Miller said. "I am thrilled for Coach Robertson. The facility is a true testament of her hard work dedication to this growing program. The field will aid in the future success of IU field hockey."
