The UConn field hockey team's road to the national championship begins this weekend at the University of Maryland, where they will take on Drexel in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
If the Huskies should win Saturday, then they will face the winner of the Maryland versus American game for a trip to the Final Four. UConn defeated No. 12 Drexel 5-2 in a home match earlier this season.
ìWe expect a close match with Drexel,î said coach Nancy Stevens. ìOur previous game with them was tied 2-2 at one point in the second half. They have two players on the Uraguayan National Team as well as good talent at all positions.î
The Dragons made the NCAA tournament with an at-large bid. Drexel won the Colonial Athletic Association regular season championship, but fell in the conference tournament. Drexel's high ranking in the NFHCA poll and an 18-3 record showed they deserved to be included in the field. The Dragons may be having one of their best seasons in school history, but UConn is coming off a weekend in which they defeated two ranked teams en route to the Big East conference tournament championship.
ìFortunately, our team has been playing extremely well and dominated both opponents in the Big East tournament,î Stevens said. ìThis is the time of year to be playing your absolute best.î
Stevens has a history of getting her team to perform their best in the tournament. Although she is in search of her first national championship in her 31-year career, she has led the Huskies to 11 Big East tournament championships and five Final Fours. UConn knows that their rich tradition won't phase Drexel, but if the Huskies do slip by the Dragons they will have a strong test on Sunday.
The Patriot League champion American University or No. 1 Maryland will be waiting for UConn. The Terrapins are unbeaten on the season, and the last time the Huskies faced them in the NCAA tournament, Maryland won 2-1 in the National Semifinals in 2006.
ìWe match up well with both teams,î Stevens said. ìAs a team, we `respect all, fear none.' Although Maryland is ranked No. 1 and undefeated, our team beat a No. 1 Syracuse team last year.î
Although a match up with Maryland would be a game to look forward to, the Huskies are not overlooking their opponent Drexel, or Maryland's opponent in American.
ìAlthough we believe we can win against Maryland, our focus right now is on playing our best against Drexel,î Stevens said. ìWe are also preparing for American University, as their team is strong as well.î
The Huskies have their hands full with preparing for opponents this weekend, but UConn also poses challenges for the other three teams in the Maryland region.
Big East tournament MVP Loren Sherer leads the 19-2 Huskies with 31 goals this season. As a senior transfer from England, it is her first and last shot at a national championship. Goaltender Andrea Mainiero will try to limit the goals UConn gives up this weekend, in her fifth and last shot a the title.
ìI want to win the national championship so badly,î Mainiero said. ìWhen we play like Huskies we are among the best in the country. This team has a lot of courage and heart, and that combination can take us very far.î
Be the first to comment on this article!