Update, Nov. 18: The field hockey team lost to top seed North Carolina 4-3 in the second overtime period of the 2011 NCAA Field Hockey Final Four in Louisville Friday afternoon. The Huskies, seeded No. 4, finish the season at 19-3.
In post-season play many coaches will reinforce the fact that the team which gets off to a quick start can force the opposition to change its game plan.
“During the Big East tournament that was one of our issues,” says redshirt senior Kim Krzyk. “We went down 2-0 and then 3-0 in the first 10 minutes [against Syracuse]. Coming off that weekend we made huge adjustments and came out on fire against Princeton [in the NCAA Tournament].” The Huskies advanced to this weekend’s NCAA Field Hockey Final Four after beating Princeton and Penn State.
“That’s what helps you in a tournament situation – get the tempo and take over the game earlier,” adds Krzyk. “It’s really hard for the other team to get back into it. This weekend was the best hockey we’ve played all season.”
Turning their early momentum against the opposition, the No.4-seeded Huskies (19-2) seek their third NCAA title in Louisville on Friday when they face No. 1 North Carolina (22-1) at 2 p.m. in the first semifinal match. In the other semifinal, No. 5 Maryland (17-4) will face No. 2 Old Dominion (22-2) at 4:30 p.m. The winners will play the championship game on Sunday at noon.
Hall of Fame coach Nancy Stevens has led the Huskies to the NCAA tournament in 14 of the past 15 seasons, including four Final Four appearances, most recently in 2007.
“I’ve been fortunate to take nine teams to the NCAA Final Four,” Stevens says. “We allow our seniors to lead the team and make a lot of the team decisions during the week. If you empower your players, they will perform beyond expectations.”
Krzyk, a back/midfielder, was a freshman in her redshirt season in 2007 and did not play, and she appreciates the opportunity to return to the Final Four on the field.
“I’m really excited to actually be going and playing,” she says. “Not many people can say they’ve been to a Final Four. I think it’s something we can take with us for the rest of our lives. Just being there is such an experience. It’s definitely an honor.”
The team’s practices before leaving Wednesday for Louisville were spirited, and surpassed a level that had been building all season. “Practices in the post-season are more intense, as we prepare to play the nation’s best,” says Stevens.
Adds Krzyk: “The level of intensity was kind of the highest it’s been all season. We know what we need to do. It’s kind of do or die now. There is only one goal – to win. We’re pretty focused and pretty much going back to basics and figuring out our game plan.”
The Final Four participants have been at the top of the national rankings all season and all have won the title in the past. The Huskies won twice, in 1981 and 1985. Overall, Old Dominion has nine titles, Maryland seven, and North Carolina six. The Terps beat the Tar Heels in 2010, a reversal of the 2009 championship game. Since 2006, the two Atlantic Coast Conference rivals have alternated as champions.
“It’s kind of worked out how it’s been written all season, with the top four seeds going in,” Krzyk says. “There’s not that much difference between the four of us. The seeding kind of doesn’t really matter at this point.”
The Huskies hope to continue their early aggressive pace on Friday, led by senior back Jestine Angelini ’12 (ED), the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and the team’s leading scorer, with 40 points on 11 goals and 18 assists, and the scoring trio of the outstanding freshman forward Chloe Hunnable ’15 (CLAS), the Big East Rookie of the Year and Big East First Team selection (32/14/4); sophomore forward Anne Jeute ’14 (CLAS), a First Team selection (32/14/4); and sophomore forward/midfielder Marie Elena Bolles ’14 (NUR), also a First Team selection (32/10/12).
Angelini, Bolles, Jeute, and senior midfielder/forward Rayell Heistand ’12 (CLAS) were also all First Team All-Mideast Region selections, while Hunnable and senior back Ali Blankmeyer ’12 (CLAS) were Second Team selections.
The Huskies’ defense is anchored by second-year goalkeeper Sarah Mansfield ’14 (CLS), a Big East First Team and a First Team All-Mideast Region selection who has posted 66 saves and a goals against average of 1.13.
“Sarah was named an All-American as a freshman,” Stevens says. “She is the best athlete on the team, which makes her a special goalkeeper.”
“Our defense is experienced and strong,” Krzyk says. “Whichever team has the better defense is going to win. Knowing they have a lot of corners means we have to be prepared to step up and make sure we don’t give up many corners. Playing with the core group that we have in the back, you always know someone is right there behind you. We know where Sarah is going to be at every moment. She’s just amazing with communication, and everything she does helps us.”
“It is more about the match-ups on the field when we play UNC,” adds Stevens. “We match up well with them, and will benefit from the experience of playing six seniors in the game.”
North Carolina is led in scoring by junior midfielder Kelsey Kolojejchick (49 points on 21 goals and 7 assists) and junior forward Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany (33/16/1). Freshman goalkeeper Sassi Ammar has 28 saves and a 0.63 goals against average.
In the other semifinal, Maryland is led in scoring by senior midfielder Jemma Buckley (46/20/6) and freshman attacker Katie Gerzabek (45/16/13). Redshirt senior goalkeeper Melissa Vassalotti has 50 saves and a 1.71 goals against average. Old Dominion’s leading scorers are senior forward Emma Batten (59/27/5) and senior back Rebecca Condie (30/9/12). Senior goalkeeper Devon Seifert has 43 saves and a 0.94 goals against average.
