Indiana Field Hockey Set to Open Season with Hoosier Invitational

Indiana Field Hockey Set to Open Season with Hoosier Invitational

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– The Indiana Field Hockey program is set to begin their highly anticipated 2022 season this weekend as the host of the Hoosier Invitational.

As part of the Invitational, Indiana will host Kent State to open their season and the event on Friday, Aug. 26 at noon. On Saturday, Aug. 27, it will be a neutral battle between Kent State and No. 6 ranked Liberty facing off. Finally, the weekend will close with a noon tilt featuring Indiana and Liberty on Sunday, Aug. 28.

The Hoosiers are looking to build upon a highly successful 2021 campaign that included the team's first 10-win season since 2012, two ranked road victories, seven shutout wins, and a Big Ten Tournament bid.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION:

FRIDAY: Kent State enters the season with high expectations after a 12-6 season in 2021.
The Golden Flashes were voted to finish second in the MAC in the preseason Coaches' poll.
The team is led by Maria Cambra Soler – an All-MAC First Team selection in 2021. The senior back had six goals and three assists last season.
Indiana owns a 4-2 all-time advantage in the series between Kent State, but the Golden Flashes won a year ago, 2-1 in overtime in Kent, Ohio
SUNDAY: The Liberty Flames start out the season ranked No. 6 in the country by the NFHCA Division 1 poll after their historic 2021 season where they made it all the way to the NCAA Championship game, before falling short to Northwestern.
The Flames were 20-3 overall and 7-0 in the BIG EAST a season ago.
Liberty returns top player Daniella Rhodes, a senior who accounted for 39 points in 2021, totaling 16 goals and seven assists.
This will be the first ever matchup between Indiana and Liberty in field hockey.

EARLY ACCOLADES:

Senior Kennedy Reardon and redshirt-junior Sydney Keld were both named Indiana team captains earlier this month.
This is the first time being named captain at Indiana for both players.
Keld, junior Jemima Cookson and sophomore Yip van Wonderen were all named to the Big Ten's Preseason Players To Watch List.

SCRIMMAGE RECAP:

Last Friday, Aug. 19, Indiana hosted Ball State for a scrimmage to prepare for the season.
The Hoosiers looked highly impressive, winning by a 3-0 margin and dominating possession throughout the entire game.
Three different Hoosiers scored goals, including sophomores Kayla Kiwak and Yip van Wonderen, as well as junior Meghan Dillon.
Junior Jemima Cookson notched two assists while freshman Jule Hufer and van Wonderen each had one.
The goalie play was also excellent, as sophomore Arabella Loveridge accounted for six saves, and freshman Nina Faupel made three saves in her first collegiate competition.

NEW ADDITIONS:

The Indiana roster features 10 new players in 2022.
Eight of the ten newcomers are freshmen, including: Kai Snell, Kylie Dawson, Anna Mozeleski, Jule Hufer, Gabriella Cicuto, Emma Thompson, Cecilia Maixner and Nina Faupel.
The freshman class includes a mix of five players from the United States and three players from international countries.
Additionally, Amanda Frank, a sophomore forward joined the team in January 2022 while Lara Mortz, a junior midfielder transferred from Albany to Indiana over the summer.

WEEKEND FUN:

With three highly competitive teams playing and a full weekend of hockey slated, great crowds are expected for all of the Hoosier Invitational.
Sunday's game vs. Liberty has been selected as "Hat Day" for the game's spirit theme.

Indiana University Athletics

Indiana Field Hockey Set to Open Season with Hoosier Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Gabriella Cicuto

Jemima Cookson

Kylie Dawson

Meghan Dillon

Nina Faupel

Amanda Frank

Jule Hufer

Sydney Keld

Kayla Kiwak

Arabella Loveridge

Cecilia Maixner

Lara Mortz

Anna Mozeleski

Kennedy Reardon

Kai Snell

Emma Thompson

Yip van Wonderen

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