Indiana University Athletics
Field Hockey Visits Ohio, Louisville This Weekend
9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 2, 2009
Game 3 at Ohio • Friday, Sept. 4 • 6 p.m. ET • Notes 
Pruitt Field • Athens, Ohio
Game 4 at Louisville • Sunday, Sept. 6 • 1 p.m.
Trager Stadium • Louisville, Ky.
Click here to watch an interview with senior forward Alina Valenti.
HOOSIERS VS. WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS
Friday's meeting against Ohio marks the fourth meeting all-time between the two teams with the series tied, 2-2. The Hoosiers and Bobcats last met on Sept. 13, 2008, when Ohio won, 2-1, in double OT. Haley Funk scored IU's lone goal. Ohio returns 10 letterwinners to a squad that went 11-12 last season, with a 6-4 mark to finish third in the MAC.
The Hoosiers then travel to Louisville to take on the Cardinals on Sunday at 1 p.m. IU is quite familiar with UL after defeating the Cardinals, 4-1, on goals from Morgan Fleetwood (two) and Corey Brautigam (two). Louisville leads the all-time series, 6-2, after defeating the Hoosiers in the two teams' last regular season matchup on Oct. 29, 2008, 2-1. Louisville returns 14 letterwinners, including 10 starters, from a team that went 14-7 overall last season, and 5-1 in the BIG EAST to earn a trip to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
HOOSIERS OPEN SEASON 2-0
Indiana opened the 2009 regular season 2-0 with an upset win over No. 14 American, 2-1, and a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Richmond. The Hoosiers got goals from redshirt freshman Morgan Fleetwood and freshman Shareyna Chang in the win over American, while senior Meg O'Connell (two goals) and freshman Brooke Borneman brought the Hoosiers back from a 2-0 deficit for the 3-2 win against Richmond.
MANN NAMED BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior goalkeeper Alex Mann was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Hoosiers to a 2-0 start to the season in its two wins over No. 14 American and Richmond.
In the Hoosiers first game against American, Mann recorded five saves in 70 minutes and held the Eagles from coming back late in second half with two saves in the final four minutes. Against Richmond, Mann recorded nine saves, including five that thwarted a comeback by the Spiders in the final 20 minutes of the game.
On the week, Mann totaled 14 saves with a save percentage of 82.4. She tallied a 1.93 goals against average in 140 minutes in goal. This is Mann's second Defensive Player of the Week honor. She received her first weekly accolade on Sept. 8, 2008.
HOOSIERS IN THE POLL
Indiana entered the season receiving 19 votes in the 2009 Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll. The Hoosiers will face eight teams in the top 20 this season, including No. 2 Wake Forest on Sunday, Sept. 13.
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.
