Central Michigan University Athletics
Field Hockey Begins Preparations for 2005 Season
8/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Aug. 19, 2005
MOUNT PLEASANT - The 2005 version of the Central Michigan University field hockey team reported to campus for preseason workouts on Tuesday, and head coach Cristy Freese wasted no time in beginning preparations for the upcoming campaign.
"The kids came in on Tuesday and we started practicing on Wednesday, so they're already good and sore, as they should be," Freese said.
With the opener at Saint Louis looming just two weeks away, Freese, entering her 20th season at CMU, is concentrating on filling a few holes in the lineup.
"We obviously had a really good idea what our returning players were going to bring to the table," Freese said. "What we're trying to do in the first few days is get a good look at our incoming freshmen and see where we are in certain positions on the field.
"I've really been impressed with our freshmen so far, and I think our returning players have been also," she added. "A lot of them have the experience to help them step up and compete right away at this level."
Headlining the list of returnees is a pair of 2004 All-Mid-American Conference selections. Junior Erica Takach, an all-conference first-team selection, led CMU in goals (10) and points (23) in 2004, while senior back Kim Ferris was a second-team pick last season. Also back in the fold are Alisa Folk (five goals in 2004) and goalkeepers Danielle Frank and Sarah Mancuso. The keepers anchored a defense that allowed one or fewer goals in nine games last season.
In all, seven starters and nine letterwinners are back from 2004.
Among the newcomers to the program are Samantha Sandham, a midfielder from South Africa, and Kelly Jordan, a forward from New York. Sandham competed on the South African U18 secondary squad and was a reserve for the primary team, while Jordan was an all-state selection and member of the 2004 Empire State Games bronze medal winning team.
The Chippewas will benefit from having the opportunity to practice and play on their own home field throughout the 2005 season. Last year, with construction still being completed on the CMU Field Hockey Complex, the team played the majority of its "home" games in East Lansing.
"It's nice because it gives us more flexibility in our scheduling," Freese said. "Normally during the preseason we have a morning and an afternoon practice. On Friday, the kids moved into their permanent housing for the school year, so we moved our afternoon practice to early evening. It's easier to accommodate the players and we don't have to worry about other teams' practice schedules."
CMU's new facility will play host to the 2005 MAC Tournament, giving the Chippewas a chance to play for a championship on their home field. Freese, however, is keeping her players' focus on the here-and-now.
"We meet with them every day and we have a number of topics that we cover," Freese said. "It's too early for us to start talking about team goals yet, but from the first meeting we've discussed the fact that there are a lot of exciting things happening around this program."
The Chippewas' home opener is slated for Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. against Michigan.
