August 24, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Cardinal goal is to reverse close losses

by Rick Eymer

The Stanford field hockey team got used to playing in close, hotly-contested matches last year. With the return of eight starters, the Cardinal hope to reverse several of the nine one-goal losses suffered last fall.

"We have very high expectations for the team this season," Stanford coach Lesley Irvine said. "Last year we had some huge milestone wins but also some disappointing losses. The key for us is consistency."

Stanford (0-6 in the NorPac, 8-12 overall in 2004) saved its best for last, winning two of three matches at the NorPac Championships, with its only loss a 2-1 setback to Pacific in double overtime. That was the same Pacific team which beat the Cardinal, 5-0, earlier in the year.

Overall Stanford was 7-9 in one-goal matches, including five decided in overtime. The Cardinal allowed two or fewer goals in 15 of their 20 matches and recorded three shutouts, two in the NorPac tournament.

"We should be a very solid and experienced defensive unit," Irvine said. "We have some very talented veteran players that will anchor our defense."

Stanford was 2-6 against nationally-ranked opponents last year, and face an even tougher schedule this season. Half of the 16-team field which competed for the NCAA championship last year are on this year's slate, including defending national champion Wake Forest.

"The key for us is to get to the next level," Irvine said. "To get there we have to experience playing at that level. I believe we're very close to getting there. We want to taste it and challenge these teams."

Additional motivation comes from the fact that the NorPac tournament winner - for the first time in conference history - will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA field.

"The automatic bid is huge," Irvine said. "It's a testimony to a lot of the teams in our conference getting stronger nationally."

Sophomore midfielder-forward Jess Zutz and junior forward Liz Robinson shared the team lead with 14 points last season, as each scored six goals and added two assists. Stanford returns four of its top five scorers.

Zutz was the NorPac West Rookie of the Year and a second team All-NorPac selection. Robinson, who was selected to the All-Tournament team at the NorPac Championship, scored four game-winner goals.

Senior midfielder Missy Halliday scored 10 points on five goals last season. The team's active career leader in goals (10) has scored 23 career points and started all 60 games possible during her first three years.

"It's great to have a couple of experienced players coming back on the offensive end," Irvine said. "They are very capable of leading this team offensively."

Junior defender Aska Sturdevan has proven to be an offensive option as well with a combined total of 19 points in her first two years, including 10 points on four goals and a pair of assists last season.

Senior Lyndsay Erickson moved to defense last season but still contributed six points and is Stanford's active leader in both career points (24) and assists (10).

Junior defender-midfielder Julia Drewes and junior midfielder Jamie Hais are other returnees who contributed offensively.

In goal, sophomore Madison Bell is the lone returnee. Bell performed well in limited action as a backup last season for Ana Kralovec, who will miss her senior year due to injury. Bell allowed a goals against average of just 0.80 in 87:45 minutes of action. She did get the win as the team's starter in the final game of the year last season, combining with Kralovec on a 1-0 shutout of Southwest Missouri State to take third-place at the NorPac Championships.

The Cardinal should have plenty of help for its goalkeepers on the back end with an experienced defensive crew featuring Drewes, Erickson, senior Tammy Shuer and Sturdevan. The foursome started all but one game together last season and helped the Cardinal defense record a team goals against average of 2.05.

"We should be a very solid and experienced defensive unit overall," Irvine said. "We have some very talented veteran players that will anchor our defense."

Newcomers include freshmen forward-midfielder Chloe Bade, forward-midfielder Hillary Braun, midfielder-defender Ali Fox, midfielder-forward Caroline Hussey, forward-midfielder Simmy Martin, defender-midfielder Elizabeth Rabenstine, midfielder-defender Bailey Richardson, and goalkeeper Sarah Scheller.

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