University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Field Hockey Season Preview
August 3, 1999 | Field Hockey
August 3, 1999
Carolina heads into the 1999 season in a somewhat unfamiliar position: For the first time since the fall of 1995, the Tar Heels don't have an NCAA title to defend. The Tar Heels did reach the NCAA Tournament for the 16th consecutive year and they were ranked No. 4 in the final national poll of the season. But they finished the season 13-8, losing more games than in any season since 1982, and were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round, breaking a streak of nine straight years in the NCAA Championships. "Our ultimate goal is to have our teams reach their potential each year," Carolina coach Karen Shelton says. "Generally we finish strong, but we didn't do that last year. We started strong and finished slow. We were all disappointed in the way the season ended."
The Tar Heels earned the No. 1 ranking in September before losing seven of their last 11 games. That finish, and the lingering feeling of unfinished business, continues to motivate the team as it heads into the 1999 season. "Sometimes you learn more when you lose," Shelton says. "The athletes realized they needed to do more. This spring, our attitudes were better, our work ethic was better and we learned a lot. I'm optimistic about our ability to compete in the fall."
The Tar Heels are without three important players from last year's team, seniors Moira McFadden, Nancy Pelligreen and Stacey Schweighart. Pelligreen, a first-team All-America as a senior, led the team with 18 goals and 44 points and finished her UNC career second in the program's history in goals and scoring. All three players started every game last season, and this year's team will miss not only Pelligreen's scoring but also the leadership of the 98 co-captains, McFadden and Schweighart.
This 1999 roster boasts just one senior, goalkeeper Nicole Frey, who started all 21 games last season and continues to improve. "She has made so much progress over her career here and as a coach, that has been thrilling to watch," Shelton says. "She's giving us more vocal leadership, organizing the team and getting the other players going. She has matured athletically, as well." Frey's backup in goal is freshman Amy Tran, who gained experience in practice during a redshirt season in 1998 and competed with the U.S. Under-20 team over the summer.
The lineup at back is an experienced one, despite a position change by junior Jana Toepel, who earned All-America honors there last season. Juniors Erin Cox and Pembry Keller started every game last season and will provide leadership on defense. "Erin has become more aggressive and explosive," Shelton says. "There's no question she's a good defender, but she's also getting better offensively. Pembry has the potential to be an outstanding player. She has great athleticism and is working to improve her consistency." Sophomore Susan Hayes started 19 games last season and has made impressive progress since joining the team as a walk-on in 1997. "She's smart, disciplined and a quick learner," Shelton says. "I've been very pleased with her development and look forward to having her as a team leader in the future."
The newcomer on the back line is sophomore Abby Martin, who will play sweeper after spending most of last season in the midfield. She scored nine goals in 1998, fourth on the team, and was the team's shooter on penalty strokes. "She's got a big hit and she's smart with the ball," Shelton says. "She needs to improve her decision-making, but she's got skill and talent. We think she's ready to thrive at sweeper."
Stephanie Fuller, a redshirt freshman, will provide more depth at back.
After two years on the back line, Toepel moves up to anchor the midfield, a shift that will allow her to have greater influence on the UNC offense. Last season, she totaled 12 goals and 30 points, the second highest scoring total on the team.
She spent the spring and summer competing with the U.S. National Team, an experience that should help both her game and her team. "International play forces you to think faster and act quicker, which will be great for her when she returns to collegiate play," Shelton says. "And while Jana's spot on the national team limited what she did with us this spring, that helped other players on the team learn to assume bigger leadership roles."
Playing alongside Toepel in the midfield will be sophomore Carrie Lingo, a talented player taking the field in a UNC uniform for the first time. She redshirted the 1997 season then missed 1998 while rehabilitating a knee injury. "Carrie performed at a high level in spring practice," Shelton says. "She's mature, enthusiastic and aggressive." Other candidates to see significant playing time in the midfield are juniors Ana Bertsch, Holly Huff and Kate Sidebottom and freshmen Lizzy Duffy and Meredith Keller.
Huff, who could also play forward, started four games last season and played in all 21. One of the best-conditioned players on the team, she scored a goal and added four assists last season. "Holly is a tireless worker and there's no one who has a better attitude," Shelton says. "She puts in extra effort and does whatever she can to help herself improve."
Sidebottom played in 13 games last season, starting in three. Like Huff, she could also play at the forward spot. "She's a solid, steady player who continues to improve," Shelton says.
A thigh injury kept Bertsch off the field last season and she appeared in nine games in 1997. Duffy worked hard to make significant strength gains while redshirting last season and should contribute this year. Redshirt freshman Erika Streck is another versatile player who gives the Tar Heels depth at midfield and forward.
Keller, the youngest of three sisters to play for the Tar Heels, was a member of the U.S. Under-20 team last spring and summer and could see playing time right away. She and classmate Ali Stewart, a back, make up the Tar Heels' talented incoming class. "This class is small but it's outstanding," Shelton says. "Although we'll have to see how quickly they adapt to the college game to judge their playing time as freshmen, I know these two will make future contributions."
The Tar Heels' front line is fast and experienced. Junior Kristen McCann, a midfielder last year, will return to the forward position she played as a freshman. An All-ACC pick last season and All-ACC Tournament as a freshman, she started every game in 1998 and totaled 15 points. Sophomore Katie McDonald also started every game last season and ranked third on the team in scoring with 27 points. She made great strides in the spring and will take the field this fall with an improved shot. The third forward, Abbey Woolley, started nine games as a true freshman. Another member of the Under-20 team, she has a quick shot that makes her a constant scoring threat. "Kristen, Katie and Abbey give us big-time speed up front," Shelton says. "It's tough to lose a scorer like Nancy Pelligreen, but with these three and quality depth we still have a strong line."
As usual, the team will be tested by a challenging schedule. The 1999 slate includes trips to Penn State and the annual Temple tournament in Philadelphia, as well as to Old Dominion and William & Mary. The Tar Heels will debut a striking addition to the program-Francis E. Henry Stadium-on Aug. 28 in a game with Michigan, while Duke visits on the 29th. Old Dominion and Virginia visit on Sept. 18th and 19th.
Although relatively young, the 1999 Tar Heels have the talent and versatility needed to improve on last year's season and continue the Carolina field hockey tradition of success. "We're not as experienced as we have been in past years, so this team will have to work very hard to be successful," Shelton says. " The potential is certainly there. I'm looking forward to seeing how this season unfolds."
