Despite their 2-0 win over the University of California, the AU field hockey team must buckle down if they want to achieve their goal of an NCAA Championship.
The first half of each game has been a killer for the Lady Eagles, as they have rarely taken the lead early in games. Even in their blowout win over Towson, they didn’t take command of the game until the second half, when they scored six goals en route to an 8-1 win. From watching their play, it is clear they are unable to keep their concentration earlier.
In their game against Cal, they were, once again, unable to score in the first half. Sloppy turnovers and poor play in front of their net contributed to their inability to get anything going offensively. The team has lost many of their star players in the last few years, making them a more well-rounded team. There is no longer one player that stands out above another, like in past years. AU has captured their victories through solid team efforts, not star player performance.
A lack of concentration was what specifically led to the team’s blowout loss to Michigan State University. The team failed to capitalize on early chances and the Spartans made them pay, scoring five consecutive goals. It wasn’t that Michigan State was better than AU — they just simply got early momentum.
AU associate coach Sarah Thron Krombolz says the team is failing to put it together early and are thus often getting behind. With sports being a game of momentum, getting behind early can often be the downfall for even the best teams. Losing momentum quickly causes the team to lose their cool and they fail to play the way they are built.
Heading into Patriot League play, the Lady Eagles need to begin knuckling down. While PL teams wont make AU pay for mistakes like Michigan State did, the Eagles do need to get into a rhythm that will carry over into the NCAA tournament. The caliber of teams significantly increases once postseason play begins, but that doesn’t necessarily mean AU will be overmatched.
By breaking into the national top-20 poll, AU has shown they can compete with the best of the NCAA. That said, it doesn’t mean the team can become complacent. In order to continue succeeding, they will have to master themselves. By starting a game with a focused attitude, the team has the potential to be a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA. Postseason play is a long way away, but it is never to early for a team to begin preparing.
You can reach this columnist at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.
