Field hockey - young but talented

When the members of the Virginia Wesleyan field hockey team looked at their schedule for the year, the women were apprehension. After all, even the most experienced of teams would not like to begin the season with six straight away games.

Also, there are many words that could describe this year's team, but experienced was not one of them. Out of the 28 players on the team, 13 are freshmen.

However, it did not take long to see that the Marlins were taking a perceived negative and using it to their advantage.

The time on the road has helped the athletes grow and mature as a team. The players took the opportunity to get to learn more about each other.

"We didn't have our first home game until mid-September," said head coach Kim-Michael Mertes. "But it gave us a chance to bond, and it worked out to our benefit."

"The team has really come together with all the road trips we've had in the beginning of the season," said sophomore Holly Marchmicki.

Both agreed that early travel turned out to be a blessing in disguise. They felt it gave them the chance to build a team chemistry, vital for a young team.

"We are very young. We have two seniors, four juniors, nine sophomores, and 13 freshmen," said Mertes.

"Team chemistry always starts off rough when you have a lot of new people," said Marchmicki. "But we've been through our rough times, and things are turning out very well."

"I think the team chemistry is very good," said freshman Liz Angevine. "The upperclassman are cool and have stepped up and made me feel a part of the team."

"We're still a close-knit team," said senior Alexis Byrd. "It's still the beginning, and friendships are still being made. We feel comfortable around each other and can confront each other with issues on and off the field."

"I'm very pleased with the team chemistry," said Mertes. "I think the sophomores and upperclassman have been key instruments in getting the freshman through the process."

The upperclassmen have proven that they can win. They finished the season last year 18-2. So the freshmen have taken their cue from them and are bonding as champions. Teams are stepping up to play them, but the Marlins are prepared and are looking forward to the challenges of the season.

"This is the toughest non-conference schedule that we've played in," said Mertes. "With the record we had last year, teams have stepped up to play us. Lynchburg, Roanoke and Washington and Lee are the teams to really watch out for."

"Competition is a lot harder this year," said Marchmicki. "Because of our success last year, teams are more concerned with beating us."

he Marlins have not yet met their toughest competition, beating Sweet Briar College 10-0 with sophomore Chrissy Clancy leading the team with four goals. They beat Frostburg State University 5-4 in overtime, with Marchwicki scoring three goals, and, had yet another win against Shenandoah University with sophomore Kimmy Bausch leading the team with two goals.

"I still don't know how good we are right now," said Mertes. "We haven't played the meat of our conference. I'll know after we play this weekend, when we play Lynchburg. They'll give us everything we can handle."

"Lynchburg is the team to beat this year," said Marchwicki. "They are going to be tough competition."

"I feel that we are prepared," said Byrd. "But we still have to focus on the little things that may break us down during the game. I want everyone to leave that game knowing they left everything on the field."

Saturday, the Marlins will get the chance to strut their stuff when they take on the Lady Hornets of Lynchburg College home at 1 p.m. Then the Marlins head to Eastern Mennonite University Oct. 8.