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Miami's Elizabeth Gilroy battles a Louisville player for the ball during Saturday's final tune-up before the regular season.

Field hockey falls in final exhibition game

By: Erika Hadley

Posted: 8/21/07

The 2007 regular season for the Miami University women's field hockey team is just a few days away and the RedHawks are looking to improve on their 2006 performance-a season where they went 6-4 and made it to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament. Yet with a final preseason tune-up Saturday afternoon, the women's field hockey team fell 4-1 to the Louisville Cardinals.

The team is still boasting two returning all-MAC players and an experienced lineup that includes 13 juniors and seniors.

Preseason officially began Aug. 9, but the team has been training this summer in preparation for the upcoming season.

"We've had a workout to do every day since June, with lots of cardio," senior captain Taylor Florence said.

As for the preseason itself, warm weather and clear skies have created good-albeit hot-practice conditions for the Red and White.

"With all the hot weather and three-a-day practices, they've been working us really hard," Florence said.

Head Coach Jill Reeve is a recent selection for induction into the Old Dominion Sports Hall of Fame and an experienced Olympic field hockey player.

"Our preseason was very high quality," Reeve said. "I am excited about some of the skills and the mentality that they are showing," Despite a summer of workouts and training, the RedHawks were unable to secure a victory at their first exhibition game Aug. 18 against Louisville.

Miami drew first blood just four minutes into the contest with a goal scored by sophomore forward Mary Hull and assisted by Florence. However, that would be the only goal Miami would score against a stifling Louisville defense.

Louisville retaliated 12 minutes later, evening the score and continued to widen the gap, scoring once more in the first period and twice more in the second. Outnumbered in shots on goal 14-6, the 'Hawks fell 4-1.

Intense preseason preparations notwithstanding, Reeve was still concerned with a few aspects of her team's strength and ability.

"I think we have a long way to go and need to improve as a team … Fitness level is not where it should be." Reeve said. "We need to increase the speed of play and communicate better with each other."

The team lost three starting seniors last season and with the regular season just a few days away, is still trying to find its groove, according to Florence.

"As a team we are still getting back into the swing of things," Florence said. "We lost three starting seniors last year, so part of it is that we are still getting used to the people around us."

Preparing for the season has hit snags, as the team is still fighting injuries both from the preseason workouts and last year.

"We're still trying to get past a few recurring injuries from last year," Florence said. "Mostly what we are dealing with are some shin problems and a lot of sore muscles."

Even with the loss of three starting seniors, the team has still remained largely intact since last season, and the experience and leadership provided by this season's large junior and senior classes has been cited as a major source of strength.

"One of their strong suits is knowing each other well," Reeve said. "They have strong personalities and are very unified."

Florence echoed the tight bond the team has together.

"We are a really close group," Florence said. "We all have very similar personalities, and we definitely have a good time together both on and off the field."

Yet the team is preparing to take on some of its toughest opponents this season.

"We have a hard schedule this year, for sure," Florence said. "Probably our toughest competition comes from teams like Old Dominion, Michigan, MSU … teams in the Big Ten."

The official regular season is set to begin Aug. 25 and 26, with a weekend away series versus Longwood University and Old Dominion.