Kauffman constant on ‘D’
Amanda PapkeJunior field hockey player Amy Kauffman has started every game since coming to CMU.
That is 47 consecutive starts and a total of 3,815 minutes on the field.
And every minute has been played the same way.
“I am going to take you down, so don't get in my way,” Kauffman said. “I am hardcore on the field, like a big Mack truck.”
However, it has not been easy for Kauffman to keep her job.
“It has been really hard because you have to be mentally tough to start in games,” she said. “I have to work as hard as I can to keep my starting spot.”
Coach Cristy Freese said Kauffman has made an impact from the beginning.
“Amy was a very good player from day one,” Freese said. “It doesn't faze her to move her around. That shows what type of a team player she is.”
As a freshman, Kauffman started at left midfield, and as a sophomore she was the right defender. She has been a sweeper and left back this season.
“I am a very versatile player, so it does not matter where I play,” Kauffman said. “But when you get comfortable in one spot, you just learn to adjust.”
A native of Dauphin, Penn., Kauffman comes from an area where field hockey is big. Four other players from her hometown play in the MAC.
“It is nice to play people from high school, but they are still rivals on the field,” Kauffman said. “It's awesome to show them how much better you are.”
When Kauffman was in high school, she lettered three times and played in the national championship in 1997 and 2001.
“Amy comes from an area where there are a lot of solid field hockey players, and she was at the top of our recruiting list,” Freese said. “She works so hard and is a great player to coach.”
As a freshman, Kauffman had a problem adjusting to a new style of play.
“She was so intense that she could not hear other players on the field,” Freese said. “Now, she is really intense and can direct other players if need be.”
All she thinks about on the field is keeping forwards from beating her on the stick side, Kauffman said.
This aspect of the game, and not receiving personal attention, are indicative of Kauffman’s unselfishness, her coach said.
“She has such a strong feeling for CMU and for our team,” Freese said.
Starting goalie Laura Plese said Kauffman is vital to the defense.
“I have total confidence in Amy and our whole defense,” Plese said. “She is really aggressive and always has been. She does a good job channeling the ball to the outside and stops a lot of fast breaks.”
After a seven-game road trip that left CMU 2-5 and 1-1 in the MAC, Kauffman played her first game at home against Kent State Thursday, a 3-2 loss.
“We played a lot of tough schools already this season and I think the beginning of the season will prepare us for the rest of the season,” Kauffman said.
She said she knows how crucial every conference game is, and hopes her determination translates into a repeat MAC Championship season.
“It doesn’t matter who or where you play, because every game in the MAC is big,” Kauffman said. “These games will determine if we are going to get another championship ring. We need to win these games in order to fulfill that goal.”
