University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Field Hockey Kicks Off Season Saturday
August 21, 2001 | Field Hockey
Aug. 21, 2001
The UNC field hockey team opens its 2001 season on Saturday with a game against Connecticut in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. As her Tar Heels prepared to face the Huskies, UNC coach Karen Shelton, who is heading into her 21st season at Carolina, took time out to talk with TarHeelBlue.com about this year's squad.
TarHeelBlue.com: After a week of practice, what is your early impression of the 2001 team?
Karen Shelton: My impression so far is that we have the potential to be a very good team, an outstanding team. We're not there yet, we're not even close to that yet, but the potential is there, which is exciting. Our schedule poses a challenge. Another challenge will be developing as a group.
THB: What do you see as the strengths of this year's team?
KS: It's hard to say right now what our strengths are. I would like to say ball possession, but that's not proven. I would like to say experience, but that's not really the case because we're looking at starting a bunch of freshmen. I would like to say maturity, but that's not quite there either. We have the potential to develop all three of those things as strengths, but we haven't done so yet.
THB: You mention that several freshmen will step into starting roles. How have you gone about replacing last year's group of five seniors, all of whom were starters?
KS: It's always difficult when you lose a senior class like that. You just have to try to incorporate new people the best you can. This year, those new people are mostly true freshmen, which is unusual at the level where we compete year in and year out. Most of the time, the players stepping into starting roles are at least redshirt freshmen. We haven't had a true freshman start consistently since Nancy Pelligreen did so in 1995. Those new players will have to adjust. They played relatively well in our preseason scrimmage, but they have yet to be tested.
THB: Who are some of the newcomers you expect to play right away?
KS: I've been very pleased with Kerry Falgowski. She's versatile, she's very energetic, she has no fear out there. She's normally a forward and we want to play her on the line, but we need her right now in the backfield. She's played very well there, and that's a real credit to her. Her attitude is outstanding.
Carey Fetting-Smith will play sweeper, which is a tough position for a freshman. Jana Toepel did it in 1997, but she was a redshirt freshman. That's a tribute to Carey's poise at such a young age. She still will make freshman mistakes, but I have a feeling she's a quick study. She also can play back for us. She's very capable defensively. Her emergence, as well as the play of Ali Stewart, has allowed us to take Abby Martin out of the backfield and put her in the midfield.
Charlotte Plugge will start on the line. She's very poised under pressure, and she has good skills. I think she'll get a lot of corners and score goals for us.
Kelsey Keeran is very versatile, and has been able to play in the midfield and on the line. Depending on our injury situation, she'll be one of the first ones to come in. I expect her to start when Carrie Lingo isn't here.
THB: Carrie Lingo, a midfielder, and Amy Tran, a goalkeeper, will miss seven games in September while playing for the U.S. National Team. How do you expect their absence to impact the team?
KS: Their experience with the national team can only make us better. We'll have to pull together and play well when they're not here and that will provide additional experience for the players who step in. When Carrie and Amy return from playing at the international level, it will seem to them like we're playing in slow motion.
Carrie took the spring semester off to train with the national team and has made tremendous strides from last season to this season. I expect her only to improve and that will continue to help our team.
THB: As usual, your team will tackle a challenging schedule, starting with this weekend's game. Talk a little about this year's slate and the opener against Connecticut.
KS: "It's as tough as--if not tougher than--usual, opening with Connecticut. We're a little nervous about this game because the New England teams tend to play a different style. In the ACC, we all play a possession-type game and we all play in a similar style, which is what we prefer. New England teams play a more big-ball, physical, hit-and-run style, which we're not accustomed to. It's completely different.
THB: Saturday's game will be played at Skidmore College, a neutral site in the hometown of senior Abby Martin. How did this game come about and what are you looking for from Martin this weekend?
KS: We had talked about playing up there since Abby's freshman year. She has been playing very well and I expect her to want to have a great game this weekend in her hometown. But I've talked to her about not trying too hard, not trying to win the game for us, just doing the simple things, the smart things, the mature things. I think she'll provide those things for us this season.
THB: With nine freshmen on the roster, the staff has its hands full. Does it help that this group--you, recently promoted associate head coach Nick Conway and assistant coach Jana Withrow--has been together as a staff for four years now?
KS: "We're very comfortable working as a staff. I promoted Nick over the summer and have been able to rely on him heavily. He's done a great job. Jana had done a nice job coaching three goalies, which is something new. She's busy working with two younger goalies--Alexis Suarez, a redshirt freshman, and Katy Tran, a true freshman--while the veteran, Amy Tran, is off with the national team.
THB: For the second consecutive year, the team has five seniors, all of whom play key roles on the team. What do you expect from them this season?
KS: The seniors have all provided leadership for us on the field in the preseason. They're out there trying to lead by example, trying to do the right things and talk to the younger players to help us develop a little quicker. It's not just the staff coaching the younger players, the older players can help coach them as well and that helps us all.
