University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Field Hockey Fired Up For 2000 Season
April 22, 2002 | Field Hockey
Aug. 9, 2000
As the Tar Heels head into the 2000 season, there's no doubt that the finish to last year's season will be fresh in their minds. Make that the finishes to the last few seasons. After winning three consecutive NCAA titles from 1995-97, UNC has stopped short of the Final Four in the past two seasons. Neither have the Tar Heels won an ACC title since 1997, and last season Carolina was knocked out of the tournament with a 6-1 loss to Wake Forest. "Our team understands that we didn't finish the season well, and that tends to motivate," says UNC coach Karen Shelton , who is heading into her 20th season in Chapel Hill. "Everyone has worked hard in the off-season, and everyone on the team has gotten better."
The 2000 roster includes five seniors, all of whom were freshmen on the most recent NCAA championship team, in 1997. They know that this fall is their last chance to earn another ring, and their only chance to lead a team to that pinnacle. With three playing forward, one in the midfield and one at back, the team will benefit from their leadership all over the field.
A look at the coming season:
Forwards
With a roster heavy on speedy, talented forwards, Carolina hopes to improve on last year's average of 2.6 goals per game.
Senior Kristen McCann is one of several Tar Heels who have competed internationally since the end of last season. The fastest player on a front line loaded with speed, McCann was selected last winter to be a member of the U.S. National Team and has competed with the team over the past six months. "That experience has demonstrated to her that she has world class potential," Shelton says. "She competed against the best and did well. I think she'll be even more focused this year." The team's second-leading scorer a year ago with 14 goals, Shelton expects an even more productive season from McCann in 2000.
Another senior in the forward group is Holly Huff, who sets herself apart with her outstanding work ethic. "It serves as an example for the rest of the team and it's motivational to the coaches, too," Shelton says. Huff started the final 10 games of the season last year and ranked fourth on the team with six goals. One of the program's off-season highlights was Huff's induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the academic honorary.
Senior Kate Sidebottom, who started seven games last season, provides additional depth and experience at the position. She missed the spring while rehabilitating an ACL tear in her right knee, the second such injury of her career, but should be back at full strength this fall. Junior Katie McDonald, too, has been slowed by injury. She was hampered by hamstring problems last season, and broke her collarbone during a scrimmage game in the spring. That injury kept her out of summer competition, but she is another player who will figure prominently in the Tar Heels' plans for 2000. She scored just three goals last season, but has big-play potential, as evidenced by her 12 goals as a freshman.
Junior Abbey Woolley played internationally this year, starting for the Under-21 team at the Junior Pan Am Games and joining the National Team for a tour of the Netherlands in May. She led UNC in assists last season with 11, despite the fact she appeared in just 13 of the team's 22 games before suffering a head injury that kept her on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Sophomore Lizzy Duffy is a speedy player who worked her way into the mix last season and is expected to play a larger role in the fall. "I think she'll be a good scorer for us," Shelton says. "She's a natural scorer and has a hard, quick shot."
Sophomore Erika Streck, one of two in-state products on the roster, will provide additional depth at forward. "She's a delight to have on the team," Shelton says. She has a great attitude and plays a significant role on our team, even if not on the field."
Midfielders
In an effort to get the team's top player more involved in the offense, Shelton plans to move two-time All-America Jana Toepel from sweeper to midfield. A member of the U.S. National team for the last two years, Toepel took the spring semester off from school to travel with the team and started for the U.S. at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last March. The team failed to earn a berth, but Toepel has taken her overall game up a notch after playing against the world's best. Shelton, a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, knows what such competition can do for a player's game and has seen the effect on Toepel.
The coach hopes Toepel's shift will allow the entire team to benefit from that improvement. "Last year we lacked offensive power," Shelton says. "I think we'll be a stronger team this way."
Toepel, who was third on the team with seven goals last season, will be flanked by sophomore Meredith Keller and junior Carrie Lingo. Lingo, who played her first year with the Tar Heels in 1999 after spending `97 as a redshirt then sitting out `98 to rehab an injury, burst onto the ACC scene in a hurry, earning All-Conference and All-ACC Tournament honors. She also played well for the Under-21 team during the spring. "She's the kind of kid coaches love to have-a great worker, great athlete, someone who's strong, fast and agile," Shelton says. "She continues to improve."
Keller started all 22 games as a freshman and became just the third Tar Heel to earn ACC Rookie of the Year honors. "Meredith just keeps improving," Shelton says. "She has great skills and can draw corners. She's maturing as a player."
Backs
Junior Abby Martin will move from the midfield to the back line to play sweeper, switching places with Toepel. Her 15 goals in 1999 led the team. "Abby is a tremendous defender who can also thread a needle on attack," Shelton says. "She will be an asset at sweeper."
Two third-year starters, senior Erin Cox and junior Susan Hayes, are experienced defenders who anchored a defense that last year allowed just 23 goals in 22 games. "Erin and Susan are both very solid defenders for us," Shelton says. "They're mature and steady, everything you want backs to be."
The only open starting spot on the team is at right back, a position vacated by Pembry Keller, who elected not to return to the team for her senior season. The top candidates to take over her spot are sophomores Ali Stewart and Stephanie Fuller. "They're both very good and bring athleticism to the position," Shelton says. "I'm pleased with both of them. It will be whomever plays better in the preseason."
Goalkeeper
Amy Tran, yet another player who has gained international experience since the end of last season, returns as the Tar Heels' goalkeeper. She was the starter for the Under-21 team at the Junior Pan Am Games last spring. "Amy has really improved," Shelton says. "You can't win without a good goalie and we've got a great goalie. We're delighted she's in goal for us for the next three years."
Newcomers
The Tar Heels welcome six freshmen and a sophomore transfer to the 2000 team. Goalkeeper Alexis Suarez, forward Mary Havell and forward/midfielders Amber Chambers, Katie Knutson, Emily O'Hara and Katy Potter are the freshmen on the roster. Forward Adrienne Bayvel, a sophomore from Mountain Lakes, N.J., and just the second transfer to join the UNC program, played last season at the University of Richmond. "I'm very pleased with the class," Shelton says. "I think they'll all be a great additions to our program."
Schedule
The Tar Heels will need all parts of the team working in sync to conquer the brutal schedule Shelton has cooked up for 2000. Carolina will face defending national champion Maryland, play two games against NCAA runner-up Michigan and play a total of 14 regular-season games against teams that finished last season ranked 11th or higher.
"We're playing the toughest schedule in the country, no question," Shelton says. "I always schedule the toughest competition I can, because I firmly believe that playing a tough schedule makes you stronger. We're preparing this team to be tough come tournament time."
Preparing, the Tar Heels hope, to send the seniors out with a bang and give the underclassmen something better to think about during the next off-season.
