Andy Bastian | Phoenix Staff

Krista Scheirer and Devon Novotnak practice on the turf.

BY DENNIS FAN

In print | October 2, 2008

The Swarthmore Field Hockey Team (3-6) tested their mettle against fourth-ranked Johns Hopkins University in a Centennial Conference match-up this past weekend. The Garnet’s 7-0 loss to the Blue Jays put an end to a two-game winning streak and brought the team to 1-2 in Centennial Conference play. The women had come off of two decisive victories over conference rival Bryn Mawr College, 4-0, and Arcadia University, 6-1, and hoped to ride those victories into the game against Johns Hopkins. Though the Johns Hopkins game was not the team’s best performance, the women were able to compete effectively and make improvements.

Midfielder Joslyn Young ’10 put the team’s performance in perspective. “I think our defensive marking got better in the second half and our communication across the field was improving,” You said. “Most importantly, I think that in comparison to our first Centennial Conference game against Ursinus, our team mentality was much better. I could tell that regardless of the score no one ever gave up.” Young also led the team in scoring with four goals during Thursday’s match against Arcadia. The Swarthmore women stayed competitive throughout the entire game. Seniors Ashley Gunter, Anna Baeth were especially complimented on their strong defensive presence. Young commented that she “was always confident that something good would happen when they had the ball.” Jordan Schmidt ’09 added that, “We have a great passing game. We played well against Hopkins and stayed with them for most of the game.” One of the struggles facing this year’s team is their lack of numbers.

This weekend, the women had one substitute for the entire 70-minute match, though the situation against Johns Hopkins may serve as a severe example. The squad’s small size has been a handicap in previous matches. “We’ve faced some teams with benches bigger than our entire team,” Hadley Roach ’11 said, adding that, “But we go into every game ready to fight.”
Though the lack of numbers comes with adjustments and hardships for individual players, when approached about the team’s size, the general attitude is very positive. Schmidt said, “Well, we definitely have to be fitter and play smart, team hockey, but I feel we’ve been able to keep up with most other teams this season.”

However, with only 14 players on the team, it is impossible to have 11-on-11 full field scrimmages and difficult to engage in some drills. Furthermore, fitness and health become a top priority to ensure that the team has the endurance to play an entire game. Goalie Gina Grubb ’10 said of the team’s small size, “Because we have very few substitutes, everyone pretty much has to play the entire game and also often play through injuries.  Having a small team eliminates any room for slacking, so everyone has to be on their game at all times. We have been really working to overcome this challenge by focusing on fitness and intensity throughout the game.”
The team’s only freshman, Lara Hasychak, has played a large role in stepping up amidst the team’s size struggles. Schmidt was full of compliments for Hasychak, saying, “It feels as though she’s always been there. Also, she scored an awesome goal against Bryn Mawr last weekend!” Young also joked that Hasychak, though her participation in sometimes “ridiculous” team activities has come to really become part of the Swarthmore Field Hockey Team.

The new coaching staff has also played a significant role in the women’s successes so far. Coach Lauren Fuchs has replaced Kelly Wilcox as the latter took the role of Assistant Dean of Student Life. Roach states that, “Lauren is an amazing tactician. She knows exactly what we need to do to play to our potential.” The women look to improve on their play for the rest of the season. Young hopes that the team can break down some its mental barriers, “When we realize how long we’ve [been] playing and how few subs we have, we mentally make ourselves more tired than we actually are.” All the while, the team looks to keep pushing itself, listening to their coaches, and have fun playing the game. Their next game will be a Centennial Conference match-up at Washington College this Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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