Field hockey excited by new direction

Younger team takes the field with new coach, senior captain, plenty of grit

After four years of strong leadership by head coach Mindy Manolovich, women's field hockey here at Oberlin is undergoing drastic changes.

This year, Elizabeth Graham, a graduate of Cornell University and Smith College, is the new coach for the fighting Yeowomen. As an undergrad, Graham had applied to and strongly considered Oberlin College. So, when the job offer came, Coach Graham was optimistic.

"I really like the school and its philosophy," she said.

When she met the players, their enthusiasm for the sport sealed the deal. Several team members, when asked about likes and dislikes of this year's field hockey program, wholly reciprocated Graham's approval with an emphatic, "Liz rocks!".

"Her confidence and her straightforwardness make everyone want to work harder," said senior captain Maggie McFalls. "She's very organized and runs her practices very pragmatically. She has good vision and game realistic drills. We really want to be in practice."

Additionally, the team this year is a younger one with only one senior compared to the six who played last year. Briana Quinn, a first year Yeowoman, explained that a lot of underclassmen have taken leadership roles.

"No one here is on a power trip," she said, "And no one looks down on you because you're an underclassman."

The old system of seniority has literally dissolved on the team. McFalls, the lone senior member, is confident that the youth of the team is an advantage:

"A lot of spirit and energy exists which might have been lacking with an older team, and there are little to no team politics to deal with."

Another advantage to having a younger team is the fact that its members are not convinced that they know everything.

"My players are always asking me questions, technical and tactical. They are truly students of the game," Graham said.

During the off season last spring, the team lifted weights, practiced, and scrimmaged, and, so far, the pre-season has been incredibly successful.

"This is the most relaxed and healthy pre-season I've ever seen," noted McFalls. "We have had very few injured players."

Monday the team scrimmaged against Kenyon and dominated the entire game, finishing with a 1-0 Oberlin victory.

"Honestly, this is the first year that I don't feel like an underdog," McFalls said. "Our bench is really deep, and our team is starting to gel. This is the best preseason I've ever experienced."

The team next plays at home Saturday against Wittenburg at 2 p.m. Come on out and show some spirit for what's sure to be one of the most spirited bunches on campus.