Chris Ferrick-Manley
Staff Reporter
The Green Terror Field Hockey team is looking to rebound from a disappointing 6-12 season in 2007 and return to the conference tournament, reaching the semifinals from 2004-2006. Currently, the team has a 5-5 record (2-1 Centennial Conference).
Melissa Miranda Jones, the team’s head coach, believes her team has played well against quality opposition, winning the games they should win. According to Jones, the losses came against teams that she admits are better than hers, such as nationally ranked Elizabethtown and Christopher Newport.
Jones was unhappy about her loss to the Washington Shorewomen however.
“I still do feel we are the better team,” said Jones.
Traditionally, field hockey in the Centennial Conference has been dominated by the Ursinus Bears and the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays.
“You’re never going to deny Ursinus and Hopkins,” said Jones.
Ursinus, Johns Hopkins, as well as the Gettysburg Bullets are all nationally ranked within the Centennial Conference.
“It will be difficult to make playoffs with six teams fighting for three spots,” said Jones, “on our best day I see us edging out Hopkins.”
The team returns seven seniors who all play frequently.
“I cringe about losing them,” said Jones, “a very solid talented group of seniors.”
One of the seniors, Michelle Fluty, believes the team has what it takes to succeed in the strong Centennial Conference, and find themselves in the tournament.
“We had a little bit of a rough stretch but definitely shown we are a great team,” said Fluty.
Fluty has observed how the underclassmen and the strong junior class have also stepped up their game, citing Emma Ardolino, Stephanie Hammond, and Kaitlin Boerman in particular.
“If someone has a bad practice or game, they’ll get yanked and an underclassman will be put in,” said Fluty.
Erika Wawzyanick, another one of the seniors on the team, sees a big improvement in this team from last year, and expects the team to make it into the conference tournament. Wawzyanick believes that the Terror have the ability to play the conference powers close.
“We’re a very physically fit team,” said Wawzyanick, also stating along with Jones that they believe the Terror are at a competitive disadvantage because they play on grass.
After a long stretch of road games, the Terror return to the hill to face the Muhlenberg Mules on October 10. Game time is 3:30 pm.