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Check back throughout the season for senior back Laura Miller's weekly diary.

Field Hockey report 10/14/03

I have been sitting in front on my computer now for at least ten minutes just smiling as I recall the events of this past week. After our win against JMU on Wednesday evening I have found myself smiling a lot and feeling an enhanced sense of pride for being a member of the American University field hockey team. Let me recap the game as best I can so those of you who where unable to make the weekday game can also smile and feel proud.

I don’t know about the rest of the team, but I was very nervous on the bus ride to James Madison. As a senior I was remembering the three previous years of very long bus rides home after losing terribly to the strong, athletic JMU teams of the past. I was anticipating a tough game that would require everyone on and off the field to believe in the power of our team. WE BELIEVED, and we won. Warm-up was a blur and before I knew it the whistle had blown and we were playing defense. This lasted only for a minute before we gained control and put serious pressure on JMU. Just eight minutes into the game Javi scored a beautiful goal. My heart jumped along with my emotions . . . we had followed the plan and scored a goal. I hope Melissa doesn’t mind me sharing her instant reaction to our first goal. After the game she told me she had started to cry after the goal because she knew we were going to win. While her intuition was correct, we had a lot of work to do before recording the ‘W’. Once scoring, JMU attacked and managed to earn nine corners in the first half alone. The defense and I fought hard denying shot after shot - unfortunately one got behind us and tied the game.

Half time consisted of a few adjustments and reassurance. After the break we took the field and repeated the first half . . . starting strong by gaining an offensive and scoring. This time Shannon connected with Cami who banged in the gamewinner. As in the first half, JMU countered our goal with a continuous attack, however the difference in this half would be that my defense and I denied each of their attempts. We won this game because we believed in each other, and we executed plays as a team. At one point, when I had a moment to recognize the happenings outside my circle I was amazed at how loud it was. The girls on the sidelines were going crazy, and a few of our dedicated parents were on their feet. The excitement was infectious and there is no doubt this aided us in the win! In no way am I content with just a win over JMU, but my-oh-my am I happy to retire with a win over this strong hockey program. Thank you!

It was quite hard to relish the win against JMU for only a day, but we had some fine-tuning to do before taking on Lehigh, our third Patriot League match-up. This past Saturday the girls and I once again took the field with hopes of notching another win, however, we were hoping a little too much and not playing our best. It took us too long to find our game, and show Lehigh exactly why we are 10-1, yet, once we did, it was nice hockey. Camila scored the first goal, part way through the first half giving us the lead we were looking for. The game didn’t really get started until half way through the second half when Melis went on a scoring spree and scored four goals. Mind you, not just four goals, but they were four beautiful goals on senior day. What else could Melis, Silli, and I ask for on our senior day? We beat Lehigh handedly, Melis scored her goals, and the defense recorded a shutout.

Melis, Silli, and I would like to thank everyone for the generous gestures on our day of recognition. Being a member of the field hockey team has been an amazing experience, and we are all excited that one, it is not over and two, the best is yet to come.

Once again you parents out did yourselves with the tailgate. If there were national rankings for tailgates, American would definitely be number one. Thank you! AU Field Hockey will be going on the road this coming weekend. We will be making the long hall to Massachusetts to take on the only other undefeated (in the league) Patriot League team, Holy Cross and then Boston University.

AU hockey fever has definitely caught on! I look forward to seeing our large posse in full force as I hear many of you are making the trek north.

Go Eagles,
Laura