Michigan State University Athletics
Field Hockey Aims for Big Ten Title Run
8/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 20, 2007
The 2006 season was a first for many members of the Michigan State field hockey program. Only three starters returned from the 2005 season, and each of the returning players faced a new role within the program. Longtime assistant Rolf van de Kerkhof took the reins as the head coach, but with two new assistant coaches on the staff and ten new faces on the roster, the Spartans came into pre-season camp with several questions in many areas.
Free Field Hockey Video Season Preview
While the overall record may not have been what the team had hoped for in the pre-season, there was certain and steady progress throughout the 2006 season which has Van de Kerkhof optimistic. Early on last season, the Spartans outplayed their opponents for significant stretches, outshooting their opponents and having an advantage on penalty corners - but had a hard time converting these attempts into goals. The Spartans played their best hockey at the end of the regular season, upsetting Indiana and nearly doing the same to Ohio State. During the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans staged another upset of No.12 and second-seed Indiana in the first round, then held a 1-0 lead over No. 6 and third-seeded Penn State with five minutes left, but inexperience and a couple of late unforced errors allowed the Nittany Lions to tie the game and capture an eventual win in overtime.
Spring ball was a significant success for the Spartans, as they continued their improvement as players and progression as a team. Individual and team practices and team-building exercises prepared the Spartans for the Midwest Spring League, where the Spartans posted a 7-0-1 record (defeating all the participating Big Ten teams) to capture the spring title.
The Spartans welcome ten new players to the team again this season. The strongly renewed group has been working hard since the opening of camp to form a cohesive unit and has a significant amount of optimism in the upcoming season.
Though there will be many new faces on the Spartan team, the squad is stocked with talent at all positions and is in great balance all over the field. The returning players are familiar with the coaching philosophy and style of the second-year staff, and the first recruiting class understands what is expected and has made the commitment to come to MSU prepared and ready to compete.
"All I can say is that I am very excited to start our 2007 campaign," notes Van de Kerkhof. "This is a young Spartan team that will continue to learn more about themselves, improve as players and as a team, and will be ready to take people by surprise this season. My returning players have done a great job in challenging themselves and one other to become better players, students and teammates. I am positive that we are going to have a great year with the Spartan field hockey program in 2007."
Attack/forwards
The Spartan offense will be able to rely on a strong group of returning forwards but will also add some new players that have the ability to create offense for the Spartans from the start.
Returning players Kathy Elenz-Martin, Becky Manning and Gwen Riley will be joined by medical red-shirt freshmen Molly Ryser and three top-notch freshmen, Angela Pagura, Jantine Steinmetz and Amanda Huck.
Riley, a junior, started 11 of 20 games a year ago and was the team's leading scorer in the Big Ten Tournament, scoring twice in an upset of Indiana and scored the team's lone goal against Penn State to earn All-Tournament Team kudos. She ranked fourth on the team in both goals (five) and scoring (10 points), and the coaching staff will look for her to provide an offensive spark. Manning, a senior, started in nine of the 18 games in which she played, scoring two goals and adding a pair of assists on the season. Elenz-Martin provided a spark off the bench last season (appearing in 13 games, starting two), and she and Ryser will look to increase their playing time in 2007.
"All of the returning forwards had an excellent spring season and continued their commitment to themselves and their teammates throughout the summer. Gwen continued to play in Australia during her study abroad program, captain Becky enjoyed our home turf for most of the summer, and Kathy played during Cal Cup and at the National Training Center in California. Molly Ryser has been working hard on her shoulder recovery and should be good to go. Our new members, Angela, Jantine and Amanda, will all bring different scoring tools to Michigan State and in the end will strengthen our offense all over the board," comments Van de Kerkhof.
Midfield
A strong and balanced midfield line is critical to the success of a team, and this season the Spartans can count on a group of players who have the tools needed to take charge of the midfield, assist on defense, and support on offense. Returning players Michelle Ciliberti and Floor Rijpma will anchor the midfield line, and new additions to the squad are Angie Lucik, Jacqueline Gale, Jeamie Deacon and Nicola Pitticas.
Rijpma, a sophomore, made an immediate impact in her first season in Green and White. She was one of just three players to start all 20 games, and she was third on the team in both goal scoring (six) and total points (15). Rijpma was selected as the team's Most Valuable player, and was named Second Team All-Big Ten. She also was a second team NFHCA All-Region selection, and was named to the Association's All-Academic team.
Ciliberti returned to the lineup in 2006 after missing the 2005 season with a medical redshirt. She started six of the 18 games that she played a year ago, and will look to return to the scoring touch she displayed as a freshman in 2004 when she netted four goals.
"I am excited to have Michelle back in game shape and ready to play and also welcome Floor back as an experienced midfield player this year," noted the head coach. "The two of them will enjoy the support and expertise of transfer players Jeamie Deacon and Nicola Pitticas in the midfield. Deacon has been representing Ireland via the national youth teams and played premier division. Pitticas has been playing in the Scottish national league and even had a short stint with the Greek National Team program for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece. I also look forward to the energy and contributions from Angie Lucik and Jacqueline Gale."
Defense/Backs
For any team, the defensive line (along with the goalkeeper) is key in minimizing goals against. and the Spartan head coach is confident that the backfield has several locks in place this season.
The backfield unit has added confidence in the corps of players patrolling in front of the Spartan net. Playing most of last season and the entire spring together is a solid backfield with returning captain Amy Schneider and teammates Charlotte van der Laag, Geraldine Raynor, Joelle van Ierland and Meghan Magee. They will be assisted by two strong freshmen players Jenna Ackerman and Julie Mackay.
"It is great to have an experienced backfield that is familiar playing with each other returning this season," remarked Van de Kerkhof. "The players have learned how best to play as a unit which should help us limit scoring opportunities and intercept balls from the opponent as well as initiate the attack out of our backfield. Although we have some very strong returning defenders, it is great to know that Jenna and Julie have proven to be solid and ready to go when needed this season.
Schneider, who has started 59 of her 60 career games, earned MSU Defensive Player of the Year honors a year ago, while classmate Van der Laag has started 47 of 55. Van der Laag led the team last year with seven assists, and Schneider was second, contributing six - proving that this pair is more than adept at starting the attack from the defensive third of the field. Raynor, a junior, ranked fifth on the team in scoring (nine points) and had four goals to her credit. Each had a defensive save as well. Magee and Van Ierland are coming off of limited action, but the pair will utilize the experience of a year of collegiate hockey under their belts and push for playing time.
Goalkeepers
The Spartan goalie unit is relatively young and untested. Sophomore Elissa Unger will have an advantage of being on the roster last year; she played in just three games in limited action as a freshman. However, with more consistent playing time in the spring, Unger blossomed and backstopped the team to a 7-0-1 mark in the Midwest Spring League. The added game action both prepared her physically for the rigors of the fall season and also provides her the confidence in her ability to be successful. Freshmen goalie Brittany Miller is a young and talented goalie and eager to push herself to adjust to the college game and push for playing time.
"Elissa Unger has done a great job preparing herself to be our starting goalie in 2007," noted van de Kerkhof. "Last season she learned a lot from former goalkeeper Stephanie Yuhasz, and also had a chance to see what top Division I field hockey is all about and what it takes to be a successful goalkeeper at that level. I know that both Unger and Brittany will challenge each other in practice and learn from one another in their position."
New faces on the Spartan Staff
Van de Kerkhof is particularly pleased about being able to welcome back players who have exhausted their eligibility and allow them to assist the program as student coaches. The Spartans are excited to have Ashley Smetlzer and Ashley Pernicano join the staff this season.
"It is always nice to welcome former players back, this time especially, as they will join the staff with the desire in contributing to the team goals. Both will help us with many little things that need to be done that add up in the end. This will allow us to provide more attention to those areas that are important for our program success."
Schedule
Contests against eight teams that finished the 2006 season ranked in the top 20 of the final STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll highlight the 2007 MSU schedule.
MSU will commence its regular-season campaign by hosting the Champions Invitational Tournament on Aug. 25-26, beginning with 2006 BIG EAST Champion Louisville in the first round. The following day (Aug. 26), the Green and White face defending Mid-American Conference Champion Ohio University in the second round. The field also includes 2006 national semifinalist Duke.
"It is exciting to have the Champions Invitational Tournament at home this year," Van de Kerkhof said. "We welcome Duke, Louisville and Ohio to campus. It is important for the us to be well prepared prior to the Big Ten regular season, and by playing some strong opponents we will be tested and see what works or needs improvement. All of our non-conference games will help and prepare us to compete against our conference rivals as we fight for a Big Ten title."
After tournament play, MSU will host Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 31 and two-time defending America East Champion Boston University on Sep. 2. The Spartans then hit the road for four consecutive contests, beginning with Lindenwood (Mo.) on Sept. 8, followed by St. Louis on Sep. 9. The Spartans then meet with 2006 national semifinalist Connecticut on Sep. 14, followed by Ivy League runner-up Yale, Sep. 16.
To begin the Big Ten season, MSU returns home to take on Northwestern on Sep. 22, followed by four non-conference contests, starting with New Hampshire at home on Sep. 23. MSU then travels to face Central Michigan (Sept. 26), Davidson (Sept. 28), and Wake Forest - which finished last season ranked No. 1 - on Sep. 30.
Big Ten action resumes on Oct. 5, as in-state rival Michigan comes to town, followed by Ohio State (Oct. 7), which finished 2006 ranked No. 5. MSU then travels to face Penn State (Oct. 14), Indiana (Oct. 20) and Iowa (Oct. 27). The Spartans return home the following day (Oct. 28), for their final regular-season game, against Kent State.
