Indiana University Athletics
Janney to Make Indiana Debut Against Miami
9/11/2015 11:44:00 AM | Field Hockey
Indiana's newest head coach will play her first home game today
There's a little added motivation in the Indiana field hockey locker room this weekend.
After opening the season with five consecutive games on the road, the Hoosiers (2-3) will open their home schedule against Miami (Ohio) (3-2) Friday at 3 p.m. with a chance to even up their record.
Friday's match will be head coach Amanda Janney's home debut with Indiana. Hoosier fans will be able to get their first look at Indiana's newest head coach, who expects her teams to play well on their own turf.
"My team always plays better at home," Janney said. "It's what you're comfortable with. You know the field. You know the balance, and we have amazing support here at Indiana in the way that the athletic department supports all the teams so I know we'll have some great fans, administrators and a lot of family and friends out there. So it means a lot to play well in front of them."
Although it will be their first meaningful matchup, it isn't the first time the Redhawks and Hoosiers have met this season.
Indiana defeated Miami 3-2 in regulation and 3-0 in a practice shootout of an exhibition match played Aug. 19.
"In that game we were both pretty prepared, but I think this game we're going to be even more prepared," junior defender Kate Barber said. "The past three weeks we've been working really hard implementing everything from practice and video, and I think we're going to take a lot away from it."
The stretch Barber alluded to included trips to play the likes of No. 6 Stanford and No. 12 Louisville, among others.
Janney said it was good for her team to see the high quality opponents Indiana scheduled early in the year. The Hoosiers are only going to continue to see high-caliber teams as they make their way deeper into the conference season.
"The challenge of going on a big road sting is tough," Janney said. "We've learned a lot of good lessons and played some quality teams out there and played against some different styles of hockey."
Indiana can't rest on its preseason win from earlier in the season, Janney said, because the Redhawks have proven themselves in the games since.
All three of Miami's wins have been shutouts. Its two losses—against No. 6 Stanford and No. 7 Albany—were decided in the second half or overtime.
"We have to be careful not to get too over-confident in knowing that it's a team we have scored a handful of goals on in the past," Janney said.
Indiana will look to take advantage of a five-game homestand in the coming weeks. The Hoosiers won't go on the road again until heading to Ann Arbor, Mich. On Oct. 4.
The Hoosiers will look to build on their start all they can without worrying about travel. Janney and Barber both said the team is getting closer to playing at the level it needs to be at, but there's still work left to be done.
That will come with time, Barber said, but getting Janney a win in her Indiana debut is the first task at hand.
"This is a special game for her because it is her first home game," Barber said. "We're all just going to work hard, play our best and hopefully get the 'W' out of it."
After opening the season with five consecutive games on the road, the Hoosiers (2-3) will open their home schedule against Miami (Ohio) (3-2) Friday at 3 p.m. with a chance to even up their record.
Friday's match will be head coach Amanda Janney's home debut with Indiana. Hoosier fans will be able to get their first look at Indiana's newest head coach, who expects her teams to play well on their own turf.
"My team always plays better at home," Janney said. "It's what you're comfortable with. You know the field. You know the balance, and we have amazing support here at Indiana in the way that the athletic department supports all the teams so I know we'll have some great fans, administrators and a lot of family and friends out there. So it means a lot to play well in front of them."
Although it will be their first meaningful matchup, it isn't the first time the Redhawks and Hoosiers have met this season.
Indiana defeated Miami 3-2 in regulation and 3-0 in a practice shootout of an exhibition match played Aug. 19.
"In that game we were both pretty prepared, but I think this game we're going to be even more prepared," junior defender Kate Barber said. "The past three weeks we've been working really hard implementing everything from practice and video, and I think we're going to take a lot away from it."
The stretch Barber alluded to included trips to play the likes of No. 6 Stanford and No. 12 Louisville, among others.
Janney said it was good for her team to see the high quality opponents Indiana scheduled early in the year. The Hoosiers are only going to continue to see high-caliber teams as they make their way deeper into the conference season.
"The challenge of going on a big road sting is tough," Janney said. "We've learned a lot of good lessons and played some quality teams out there and played against some different styles of hockey."
Indiana can't rest on its preseason win from earlier in the season, Janney said, because the Redhawks have proven themselves in the games since.
All three of Miami's wins have been shutouts. Its two losses—against No. 6 Stanford and No. 7 Albany—were decided in the second half or overtime.
"We have to be careful not to get too over-confident in knowing that it's a team we have scored a handful of goals on in the past," Janney said.
Indiana will look to take advantage of a five-game homestand in the coming weeks. The Hoosiers won't go on the road again until heading to Ann Arbor, Mich. On Oct. 4.
The Hoosiers will look to build on their start all they can without worrying about travel. Janney and Barber both said the team is getting closer to playing at the level it needs to be at, but there's still work left to be done.
That will come with time, Barber said, but getting Janney a win in her Indiana debut is the first task at hand.
"This is a special game for her because it is her first home game," Barber said. "We're all just going to work hard, play our best and hopefully get the 'W' out of it."
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