Bobcats Field Hockey Headed In Right Direction

Under the leadership of 5th year head coach Carly Sweeney, Frostburg State University’s Field Hockey team is looking to build on a strong outing against Randolph-Macon on Wednesday. Senior forward Alexandra Darrow had an impressive outing, scoring 2 goals on 5 shot attempts while also racking up an assist. Darrow scored on both goals in the second half to ensure the Bobcats win, while junior keeper Jacqueline Gover tallied 5 saves.

At press-time, the Bobcats are 1-2 dropping the season opener in a 4-0 loss at Dickinson, also losing 7-1 in the home opener against McDaniel. “We started the season playing ‘timid’ field hockey,” says head coach Carly Sweeney. “The game is about mental preparation and we were hungry for the victory. After the win we were allowed to breathe a bit and now the girls are getting back to having fun. We pride ourselves on defense.”

“We went into Randolph Macon on a grass field and competed, the girls were used to playing on turf so we’re doing the little things right,” says coach Sweeney.

Three games into the season, the Bobcats have displayed strong defensive discipline building on last season’s conference leading 182 saves. The team also finished fourth in the CAC in defensive saves with 13. When asked about her defensive philosophy, Sweeney said, “When you’re playing against some of the top teams, you have no choice but to compete on the defense.”

Goal keeper Jacqueline Gover mans the defense along with defensive players Liz Davis, Emma Wade, and Ashley Johnson. The Bobcats are looking to surprise some people after being voted to finish 7th in the Capital Athletic Conference annual preseason Coaches Poll. Salisbury is slated to finish 1st in the conference with 36 points while Christopher Newport is predicted to finish second with 29 points. The team is returning 10 starters (with 5 Seniors) after falling just short of the CAC tournament last fall.

Players and coaches reported back to Frostburg on August 18th and immediately got to work. The Bobcats entered the season with 14 returning players and 12 freshmen, giving the team 9 more players than they had at the start of last season. Coach Sweeney says that the best players would play based on competition. “That may change day-to-day; players earn playing time.” “This is a team that has shown steady improvement over the course of my tenure as head coach. Our ability to be competitive against top teams in our conference says alot about the athletes,” says Sweeney. “My athletes get all the credit. They are doing the work. I am thankful for the opportunity to coach such a great group of girls”

The Bobcats play away at Hood College on Wednesday at 4:30, then return home Sunday against Wilson.