Slug: 090831_sp_FieldHockeyPreview8_31
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Headline: Women’s field hockey preview
Teams: UC Davis vs. Missouri State
Records: Aggies, 0-0; Bears, 0-0
Where: Aggie Stadium
When: Today at 11:30 a.m.
Who to watch: Team captains Casey Wollbrink and Kristen Lopez anchor an Aggie defense that looks to put UC Davis on the field hockey map in the program’s first year of existence.
Wollbrink, a Cal Poly transfer, and Lopez bring a lot to the table for coach Vianney Campos.
“Casey is an all-around athlete who motivates and leads the team,” Campos said. “Kristen has all the endurance in the world and a strong connection with the freshmen.”
Did you know: The only player on the UC Davis roster that was on a Division I roster last season is freshman goalie Lauren Sawvelle.
The San Diego, Calif. native and Missouri State transfer did not see game action last year as a redshirt.
Preview: Today women’s field hockey will be reintroduced as an intercollegiate sport at UC Davis after more than a 30-year hiatus.
“The sport of field hockey,” Campos said, “is a combination of soccer and hockey. There is a ball and a stick like hockey, but the field is the size of a soccer field. It is easy to get attached to the game.”
To open up its season, UC Davis welcomes field hockey heavyweight Missouri State into Aggie Stadium.
The Bears are owners of 12 Mid-American Conference titles and one national championship. The program has also produced five all-Americans.
In their first game of the opening season, the Aggies look to capitalize on a Missouri State team that was reeling towards the end of last season.
The Bears jumped out to an impressive 6-4 record to begin 2008, but a subsequent 11-game losing streak sent them to a meager 6-15 record.
In looking at the season coming up for the Aggies, Campos believes that open-mindedness and willingness to learn are keys to a successful season.
“We may not have as much experience as other teams, but it’s actually a blessing,” Campos said. “[The players] are anxious to learn. Everything is going to be a learning experience.”
After the match, there will be a postgame reception in honor of the inaugural season. The reception is open to anyone in attendance.
– Max Rosenblum XXX
