 Welcome to Go Mustang Sports season previews. It's back at it here at Mustang Stadium. I'm Dave McHugh joined by Laura Martin head coach for the field hockey team and coach I know you've probably been looking forward to this season coming off a record tying record season of 10 wins last year The momentum seems to be there. I'm sure you're looking forward to getting the season underway. Yeah, it's been exciting time just keeping in touch with the girls over the summer and Hoping to take this program onward and better and taking it to that next level Obviously every team loses some players a graduation, but you bring back a really good core You've got your leading score returning the goalkeeping forces there You got a lot of players and key positions who are returning. That's got to help with that momentum just a little bit I'm sure yeah, absolutely. I mean every year you have the challenges and some strengths that you're that you're working with And this year fortunately enough I think that we're carrying off of some strong individual players and a strong core unit So we're we're excited for it. The girls are pretty fired up actually How much is it maybe the preseason almost changed? How much is the team a little bit more gung-ho going into this year coming off as such a successful year last year? Well, I think that they they recognize that they're getting better and and a big Big thing for us is we want to earn respect. We want to we want to show Some strong contenders actually who we are and how we are improving We have a large freshman class So basically for every freshman there's an upperclassman that's sort of their mentor. So that's actually worked out well for us so Every you every time I talk to you you have great goals Big goals large goals when a national championship. Yeah, it's great things to have I know that's your focus but as a team one of these players had in their head in this preseason Have they had they had their own underlying message to each other? No, I I mean, I try to relate to the team and I think they've brought on to this Is you never really get anywhere if you dream small? Mm-hmm. So why not shoot big and I always will so you know again? We're shooting for a national championship. Sure. We're going for it I don't you know and then we'll do everything within our means to get as close as we can to that goal And it seems that it gives respect from the conference Coaches seem to think you guys are going to be at least a player in the conference this year What's it mean to kind of go back at this map conference once again with a team that's got this kind of confidence? Well, I mean, it's just another opportunity to climb that ladder, you know and the more you play with You know the team you get the opponents you get used to what their styles are what their tendencies are I've been familiar with them as a coach, but the players haven't necessarily been so so now They're starting to get a feel for it as well So it's an exciting time to try and you know play that chess match and figure out how to beat the opponents Last year one of the challenges you guys played a lot of road games not a lot of home games It flips that this year you have a lot more home games It seems obvious, but what do you need to take advantage of there to to have a successful season? Pre-game meals True. No, I don't I mean a home game Advantage is very nice because you're used to the turf. You're used to the lighting And it's also wonderful to invite friends and family and and and recruits to our beautiful stadium. So Never never will turn down a home game if we have an opportunity Of course, you start on the road, but your first home game is against usually a perennial favorite nationally in Rowan That's significant. Certainly a significant game That along with what other games you guys kind of key in on this year Well, I mean the conference games are huge So that's always the main focus and and well, you know We're continuing to build on that in preparation for the conference game So we have a pretty broad based schedule. So Rowan is a contender Consistently nationally ranked they could come to us early this year. So we we lost to them but just slightly last year it was a battle and And I know the girls are looking forward to that competition because they play a nice game and they're well-coached I know that was a theme maybe even going into this year turn around those close losses. Yes When you when there's anybody who comes to a game whether it be a student of Family member who maybe knows their daughter very well or just a casual fan Who are some of the players that maybe they'll end up keying on and should know about? Yeah, I think without contention Caitlyn Dempsey coming back Is with a returning leading scorer and conference and all-american recognition that sort of a thing Certainly she's gonna be marked probably and mark pretty tightly But we also have she's a tri-captain and we also have Ariel hop who has come back She primarily played defense last year and we're trying her in some different roles this year So we have some surprises coming up and then we do return Meg Gill and she was out with an ACL tear And she's a senior as well So the three of those is seniors and tri-captains of a very strong core unit To propel us to the next level and of course, there's also Allison Cagle who was recognized in the Mac She has speed and stick skill and and a bit of a fiery tenacity So it's good to have her as well. Every sport deals with real-changers field hockey has a couple this year one Pretty significant. You can actually now stop the ball with the stick above your head. Yeah Yeah, kind of a lacrosse feel so with some dual dual athletes. That's a good thing But yeah, absolutely. They now are permitting the stick stop above just based on danger So that can create a little bit more of tactics with the with the overhead And certainly maybe with our goalie and her pun clear so some different tactics And another one that changes is the own goal scenario that's if it is to be an own goal It has to be shot by the by the attacking team inside the arc Yeah, actually what they've done is they've eliminated the own goal So the attacking team has to go inside the circle and shoot for it to be Considered a goal, which is nice in case of a weird bounce on those really long Yeah Really didn't have any attempt to go back and forth So we're all confused anymore and not only the fans but the coaches so we'll stop the game to have long conversations I wonder what's going on? Last thing before we let you go your final thoughts heading into the season as we get ready to face it off We need to work on faster distribution of our passes and we need to work on our press We're still not getting strong enough pressure with our press Our communication in the backfield is outstanding. So I'm very pleased with that And we've cleaned up our penalty corners both attack and defense After reviewing last year's performance on both those levels statistics were not high So we've revamped that and I think people are gonna be pleasantly surprised. Oh, that's great We're looking forward to starting off the season here shortly. And of course the first home game here on September 6th against Rowan Thanks for joining us. We'll talk with coach throughout the season. Of course, you can watch the games on SUTV as well for coach Laura Martin. I'm Dave McHugh for Go Mustang Sports