Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Face American and Richmond This Weekend
8/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 27, 2009
Game 1 vs. No. 14 American • Friday, Aug. 28 • 11 a.m. ET • Notes 
Game 2 at Richmond • Sunday, Aug. 30 • 2 p.m. ET
Crenshaw Field • Richmond, Va.
HOOSIERS VS. WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS
Friday's meeting against American will mark the first meeting between the two programs. The Eagles enter the season ranked No. 14 in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Preseason poll, while the Hoosiers earned 19 votes entering the regular season. The Eagles return 2008 NFHCA Third Team All-American in Christine Fingerhuth. She totaled 22 points on 10 goals and two assists.
American claimed its sixth consecutive Patriot League title after a 5-0 mark in league action and a 13-8 record overall.
Sunday's meeting between IU and Richmond marks the second meeting between the two teams. The Spiders defeated the Hoosiers, 2-0, on Sept. 21, 2003 in Richmond. The Spiders return 16 letterwinners, including Megan Thompson and Katelin Peterson, each of whom earned first team All-Atlantic 10 honors in 2008. Richmond recorded a 10-11 overall record and a 5-1 mark in A-10 action.
CAPTAIN, O'CAPTAIN
Senior Meg O'Connell and junior Katie Griswold were voted by the team's coaches and players as the 2009 team co-captains.
O'Connell returns for her final campaign after tallying seven goals to earn second team All-Big Ten honors. She also recorded a team-best 39 shots and totaled 16 points. Griswold has played in every game since her arrival on campus, starting 31 of 34 contests. During her sophomore season she recorded nine points on two goals and five assists.
VETERAN STRONG
Indiana returns 16 letterwinners, including a class of six seniors led by Alina Valenti and 2008 second team All-Big Ten honoree Meg O'Connell. Valenti led the Hoosiers in points (17), with O'Connell tallying a team-best 39 shots. The duo also scored seven goals a piece on the season. The Hoosiers also return seniors Haley Funk and Lucy Ireland, junior Kelsey Kiper and sophomore Corey Brautigam, all of whom appeared in all 20 games in 2008.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
IU also returns defender Mutsa Mutembwa, who led the Hoosiers with three defensive saves, while starting 17 of 19 games on the season. The Hoosiers lose defensive back Dani Castro, but return redshirt sophomore Brenna Moeljadi, missed the majority of the season due to an injury, but tallied five shots on goal in four appearances. Moeljadi was named to the U.S. Junior National squad prior to the 2008 season. Senior Brittney Hacken also returns after filling in for the injured Moeljadi last year. Hacken had one defensive save and one goal on 12 shots in 15 starts.
GOING 2-0 DURING PRESEASON SCRIMMAGES
The Hoosiers are coming off back-to-back wins in their preseason scrimmages over Ball State and Louisville. On Aug. 19, IU defeated Ball State, 3-0, on goals from redshirt sophomore Brenna Moeljadi (two goals) and redshirt freshman Morgan Fleetwood. Three days later, the Hoosiers traveled to Louisville where they defeated the Cardinals, 4-1, with two goals apiece from Fleetwood and sophomore Corey Brautigam.
