Eagles Determined to Step Up

Following a 10-10 campaign that saw the Eagles eliminated in both the first rounds of the ACC and NCAA tournaments, the field hockey team is more determined than ever.

Loaded with talent, their shoulders are ready to carry lofty goals through to the end, with a focus on team chemistry and ensuring that they are more mentally prepared for the rigors of a grueling schedule.

"It's on us to get mentally prepared for," said All-American junior captain Frederique Haverhals. "Physically, we're fit, we're there, we know what to do. It's just that mental aspect of getting into games, realizing that the opponent is going to be eager to get the ball and be more physical. For us, mentally switching it up is going to be challenging, but I think we're going to be ready."

"We've set high expectations and we're working towards those goals," added fellow junior captain, and All-American Ymke Rose Gote. "We're doing it one step at a time. We really want to get up there. It's all hard work and working together and not thinking that you can do it by yourself."

So far, so good, minus one blemish through six games.

The 10th-ranked Eagles rattled off four straight wins to open the season, three over ranked opponents, including a weekend sweep at the ACC/Big Ten Cup in which they defeated No. 14 Northwestern, 3-2, in double overtime, and No. 6 Maryland, 2-1.

They were then felled by fifth-ranked Syracuse, 6-0, but bounced right back with a 4-0 shutout of Providence.

Through their first six games, the Eagles have had 10 different goal scorers, with three freshmen leading the charge – Jamie Natale (3 goals, 6 points), Elizabeth Warner (3 goals, 6 points) and Caroline McGovern (2 goals, 2 assists, 6 points).

"Our freshman class has been positively contributing to this, they want to learn," said Gote. "They're pushing us to get better and be a good example. People have been stepping up."

"I'm really surprised with our freshman," Haverhals said. "They've been doing really well."

Seeing this type of effort, while rolling out four of their first six games against nationally-ranked opponents is a good sign for what's to come, which isn't any easier.

The Eagles road ahead includes four straight games on the road versus the likes of No. 7 North Carolina and No. 5 Virginia, before returning home to face fourth-ranked Duke.

"Last year we didn't have a good game against Duke. That's in the past now," said Gote. "They're usually very good. For us, it wasn't a game where we came out to play. We got beat, big time. We want to set that right and we don't want that to happen again, ever."

The Eagles will be tested at every turn this season, but in beginning to build team chemistry long before the start of the season, they feel confident that they can soar to much greater heights this season.

"I think our team is really close," said Gote. "We have a lot of people living together or hanging out together. We are all best friends. You can see that on and off the field. We hang out in the locker room, put the music as loud as we can, everyone's dancing. Then as soon as we step on that field, we play a little football or soccer as our warmup, then when those balls go away, it's focus and go time."

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Players Mentioned

Ymke Rose Gote

Frederique Haverhals

Caroline McGovern

Elizabeth Warner

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