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Council asks board to hold off vote on fee

(11/21/03 5:00am)

The Council of Chairs has spoken out against the proposed athletics fee. By adopting a resolution Wednesday, the council asked the Board of Trustees to postpone action on the proposed $300 fee. The council asked the board to wait until a general policy on fee development was in place in a unanimous vote, ensuring that one department would not receive special treatment. “If, say, the College of Science (and Technology) wanted to levy a fee in a few years for new equipment and facilities, would they receive the same treatment the athletics department wants?” said Peter Orlik, chairman of the council. The council is comprised of the chairperson from each department and meets once a month to discuss a variety of academic and campus issues. An athletics fee — already in place at 10 of the 13 Mid-American Conference schools — would go toward deferred maintenance and renovation of existing facilities. Money for those projects would no longer come from the general CMU maintenance fund. “People in the athletics department said we need new turf for the football field, a new field hockey stadium, etc. but what about all the academic equipment needed?” Orlik said. The chairs want the board to re-think the fee structure and make sure any proposed fee reflects the needs of everybody on campus. “This should not be a one-shot deal,” said Orlik, chair of the broadcast and cinematic arts department. Athletics Director Herb Deromedi refused to comment. The trustees will discuss the fee for the first time in December. Board Chairwoman Melanie Foster said the fee needs to be researched more before any decision is reached. “The board has to give a lot of thought and consideration to any proposed fees, especially given that we are looking at a 6 percent additional cut to funding this year,” Foster said. Foster added that she is not sure how the board will vote on the fee, or if they will vote at all, but said there are a lot of considerations when a new fee is proposed. “We need to look at the full context of this issue,” she said. Sid Graham, chairman of the mathematics department, said the proposal of this fee raises questions about the entire fee structure at CMU. “One of the things raised was the issue of attendance at football games and how the student section is only half-full,” he said. “It’s clear students don’t care that much about what division we are.” Graham is sympathetic to the athletic department and understands the need for funding. However, he said there are financial issues in every department. “I’d like to lay a mathematics fee on the student body, but there might be objections to that,” he said. “There needs to be guidance.”

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/councilasksboardtoholdoffvoteonfee

Field hockey pair named All-Region

(11/19/03 5:00am)

Senior Tarah Trottier and junior Kristy Reed were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association West All-Region team. “I am really excited for our program as well as for Kristy and Tarah because they really deserved the award,” said coach Cristy Freese. “They are being evaluated by other coaches in our region and we are pretty excited that those coaches recognize their talent.” The two forwards also were All-MAC selections. Trottier led CMU’s offense with 16 goals, four assists and 36 points. She ranks third in the CMU record books in goals and points in a season. “This caps off a great individual year for Tarah, and she took on the responsibility of a forward, which is scoring goals,” Freese said. “I am happy for Tarah because she is an example of how patience and hard work can pay off.” Reed was named to the All-MAC team for the second consecutive year after accumulating 12 goals, six assists and 30 points. She finished the season fourth in the MAC in goals and points, and lead the conference in shots with 106. “It was naturally the next step in her individual goals,” Freese said. “It is good she is getting recognition outside the conference, and it is great that she reached another goal, but she is not done yet.” The two forwards were the best combination CMU has ever had. The duo scored 28 goals this season, beating the 1997 duo of Brianne Tallinger and Kari Labeta, who scored 26 goals.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/fieldhockeypairnamedallregion

Field hockey falls to Louisville at MAC Tourney

(11/10/03 5:00am)

KENT, Ohio — A Desire Miller cross from the left side to Jessica Javelet was all it took for Louisville to beat the field hockey team Saturday in the MAC Tournament semifinals. Javelet scored four minutes into the second half to end CMU’s season. The Chippewas finished 9-11 overall and 7-5 in the MAC. The Chippewas advanced after a 7-2 opening-round victory against Miami Friday. “Our team played well all the way to the end, and it was a heartbreaking loss,” said senior back Katie Coccia. “We played together and we were all on the same page, and that has been our goal all year.” The Chippewas had the edge in shots 14-13, but Cardinals goalkeeper Christy Hershey was the difference. The MAC Player of the Year made eight saves for the shutout. “I am upset we lost, but I am proud of how tough we played,” CMU coach Cristy Freese said. “There is no shame in a 1-0 loss, especially with how good their keeper played” Louisville coach Pam Bustin said she was happy with her team. “I thought we fought really hard and I am pleased with our team’s performance,” Bustin said. “Central Michigan played well, and it was a great game.” Freese said she is happy with how her team competed this season. “I look at the season and I feel that the team did good things that were not necessarily reflected in our record,” she said. “We played up to our potential, and the seniors left this program in good hands. We already have a solid team in place for next season.” Senior Allison Foland said the team played well in both games this weekend. “I do not think there was a difference in how we played, but just a difference in the teams we played,” she said. “We picked it up once we realized we needed to play at a quicker pace.” Foland said she did not play against Louisville like she did against Miami. “I thought I played well against Miami, and against Louisville I did not intercept the ball as much,” she said. “I should have been more aggressive.” The game was the last for Coccia and five fellow seniors. Jenny Rosen, Laura Plese, Kerri Krasnow, Tarah Trottier and Foland all played their last game for CMU. “It is heartbreaking because this has been an experience of a lifetime,” Coccia said. “It is going to take a long time to get over the fact that my field hockey career is over, but it has been a very rewarding experience.” Against Miami Friday, the Chippewas got off to a slow start. But once CMU started scoring, they did not let up. Freshman Alicia Balanesi scored midway through the first half on a pass from Foland to put CMU on the board. Trottier added a goal shortly after, with Foland adding her second assist of the game. Balanesi scored her second goal of the game with 2:34 left to put CMU up 3-0 at the half. The RedHawks came out with a goal off of a penalty corner by Angie Sneeden to make it 3-1. Four minutes later, Trottier scored her second of the game on a pass from junior Kristy Reed. Reed added a goal at the 39:45 mark to make it 5-1. Trottier picked up her first career hat trick with 22:26 remaining on another pass from Reed. Miami’s Jessica Saling scored with less than seven minutes to go to make it 6-2, before Trottier added her fourth goal of the game with 1:55 to go. It was her 16th of the season, with the assist going to freshman Cortney Blanchard. It was Blanchard’s first collegiate point. Freese said she is happy with the late emergence of some younger players, Balanesi in particular. “Sometimes it is hard to get motivated when a player always has to come off the bench,” Freese said. “It shows how hard she has worked, and that she is a very quick learner.” After losing five seniors that accounted for much of the playing time in 2002, the Chippewas pushed to a second-place finish in the regular season of the MAC. The team will lose three starters to graduation.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/fieldhockeyfallstolouisvilleatmactourney

University a ‘pioneer’ for women’s sports

(11/07/03 5:00am)

Marlena Taylor was unaware of CMU’s history in the implementation of the gender-equality law Title IX until a Thursday night presentation. “I did not realize that Central was a forerunner of making sure that equal opportunities were around for women and men,” the Detroit senior said. The drastic changes in women’s sports since the implementation of Title IX in 1972 were discussed in an interactive forum in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. Former professor Jane McNamara, alumna Nancy Clark and Senior Associate Athletics Director Mary C. Weston educated CMU staff and students on the history and advancement of women’s athletics during the presentation. “Sports for girls were frowned upon (in the 1920s and 1930s) because people thought that their reproductive organs would be damaged and boys would not like them,” McNamara said. McNamara made it a personal goal to get those biases removed from society. She pioneered equality efforts at CMU. McNamara coached women’s field hockey, basketball and track and field for the Chippewas from 1941 to 1970. She was instrumental in the development of the women’s basketball and field hockey programs at CMU in the 1940s and 1950s. These progressions led to a surge of new opportunities for female athletes in the 1960s at CMU as programs like volleyball, softball, gymnastics, archery, tennis and golf emerged. All three speakers said the biggest obstacle women’s athletics had to face was a lack of funding. Sports were not budgeted at CMU until the 1970s and preference was given to men over women because they scheduled more games.Central was a pioneer university in the development of women’s athletics, Weston said. “We had a lot of leadership from women and support from the men,” she said.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/universityapioneerforwomenssports

Miami is first up in CMU’s quest for first title

(11/07/03 5:00am)

Field hockey coach Cristy Freese knows what is at stake in today’s game against Miami University. It is the opening round of the MAC Tournament at Kent State, where the champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. “The biggest challenge for us is the consistency factor,” she said. “We have to be totally on for 70 minutes, and for all three days.” The Chippewas are seeded third, after tying with Louisville for second place in the regular season. “We are playing the best we have all season,” said senior back Katie Coccia. “On both ends of the field all the players are coming together as a team.” Freese said even after beating Miami 6-1 Sept. 28 and 4-1 Oct. 19, her team still has to play well. “The challenge with Miami is to treat them like Ball State or Kent State,” she said. “It is our last game we know we get to play, and if we just show up, then we’ll be leaving early.” The RedHawks were 0-10 in the MAC. “When we are focused on offense and defense we play really well, and our chances of winning are about 90 percent,” Freese said. Younger players will be asked to step up this weekend. The Chippewas starting lineup includes three sophomores and two freshmen. “Miami has always been a dangerous team, but we proved we can beat them,” said sophomore Erica Takach. “We have always been there as a team, but we just have not been able to finish. We know what works with the teams in the conference.” After starting the season 1-5, the Chippewas have surged. They have won four out of five games, allowing only two goals in the span. “Our team is playing absolutely on top of our game right now,” Coccia said. “We are going after every ball, knowing that someone else is right behind us.” Both team’s goalkeepers are freshmen playing in their first MAC Tournament. Keri Matthews, the RedHawks goalie, is fourth in the NCAA with 197 saves. CMU’s Danielle Frank is 4-1 with 35 saves in her last five games. She has two shutouts this season. “To accomplish the goals we have set, we have to play three games in three days, and we have to win them all,” Freese said. Coccia said the seniors set the standard for younger players. “They have set the pace,” she said. “The younger players look up to us, and they work really hard to make our jobs easier.” With a win, the Chippewas advance to Saturday’s semifinal against Louisville.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/miamiisfirstupincmusquestforfirsttitle

Stadium turf giving teams fits

(11/05/03 5:00am)

Fifty-five football games and 80 field hockey games have been played on the turf of Kelly/Shorts Stadium. In its 11th season, the turf is not getting any better with age. A walk across the field reveals humps and divots that could be expected on a subpar golf course — not a Division I field. There are rips and tears, and most of the white yard markers or sidelines have sunk well below the green surface. “That turf is to the point where we are having a tough time with it,” said field hockey coach Cristy Freese. “It used to be to our advantage because other teams would have problems because it was so old. We even struggle in practice now, because the white lines have receeded more than the green part of the turf.” With the torn and tattered turf, football has been forced to find alternative practice surfaces. “We have practiced on the grass field more this year than ever,” said football coach Mike DeBord. “We have had a lot of injuries and if we practice on the turf a lot, it wears the players down.” The field hockey team was supposed to host this weekend’s MAC Tournament, but given the uncertainty of the field, the home-field advantage was given to Kent State. “We didn’t know if football was getting new turf (this season) and we would get the old turf from the stadium in a new venue,” Freese said. “We were not sure if we were going to have the new venue ready, so we passed the MAC Tournament on.” Freese does not want to pass on the opportunity to host the tournament next season. “It is our turn next year, and I am not going to give it up again,” she said. “If we still have the old turf, we will have the tournament in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.” Although it is obvious that the field needs to be resurfaced, Athletics Director Herb Deromedi does not know what to replace it with. “We have looked at the product that is offered by three companies, all of which are the rubber-based type of field or the softer type of synthetic grass,” Deromedi said. “The fields are very similar to what they have at Ford Field, Michigan’s field, and Michigan State’s indoor field.” However, while those surfaces would aid football, field hockey could not play there. “The Field Hockey Coaches Association has felt that that surface slows the game down too much,” he said. Deromedi knows exactly what he wants to do with the situation. “When we address the replacement in the stadium, then we will have to have a field that will service field hockey,” Deromedi said. “In doing so, that field will have multiple purposes. We will utilize it for camps and other teams could also use it.” The proposed site for the new field hockey venue would be west of Lyle Bennett Outdoor Track and Soccer Complex, where the soccer team practices. “I think we have a good plan because we have space that will allow us to use the press box that we use for track and soccer, but just work out of the west side,” Deromedi said. In 2002, Michigan State put natural grass back in Spartan Stadium, thus leaving the field hockey team without a field. “When the surface changed to grass, field hockey needed a new field,” said MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason. “It is better for field hockey to have their own spot where they can practice all the time, and it is nice to be able to practice where you play your games.” So MSU devised plans for the Michigan State Field Hockey Complex. Kares Contracting of Lansing delegated the manual labor, and SRI Sports of Leander, Texas provided the surface. “To put in the new field hockey turf and the sprinkler system, it cost about $1.1 million,” said MSU Associate Athletic Director Greg Ianni. “It took six months to design everything, and about 12 weeks to actually build.” The FieldTurf that was put in Michigan Stadium cost $620,000. Ford Motor Company donated $46,000 for the crushed rubber on the field. “With FieldTurf, a team can practice and play on the same field, and it is best for the players,” DeBord said. “The kind that Michigan has is the kind of turf that you can play and practice on all the time, and in my opinion it’s better than grass.” There are two ways that money can be raised to fund the project. “One way is as a part of the University Capital Improvement Plan, and people have been aware for three to four years about the need for replacement,” Deromedi said. “(If implemented,) the Student Athletics Fee dollars would be put toward the replacement of the turf.” The Student Athletics Fee would allow CMU to plan for improvements to the department down the road. It would require incoming freshmen to pay a one-time $300 fee and transfer students to ante up $200. “The fee permits CMU to set a plan where we take care of the deferred maitenance for years to come,” Deromedi said. “We can put a schedule together so when a field needs to be replaced 10 years from now, the funds will be there.” At the Academic Senate meeting on Nov. 4, several senators acknowledged the fact that a new playing surface is needed. However, they also noted that athletics should have to save money for these type of situations just like academics does.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/stadiumturfgivingteamsfits

Experienced Conway leads team

(11/05/03 5:00am)

On the soccer field Katie Conway is rarely still, as she is constantly instructing other players. The senior defender prides herself on hard work and as her career nears an end, she refuses to end it any other way. “I hold myself accountable and to a high standard,” she said. “I want to go out knowing that I fought the hardest I could.” She is a four-year starter and a captain in her final season. She does not hold any CMU soccer records and rarely does she show on the box score. In fact, Conway has just one point in more than 70 games played. However, Conway’s teammates and coaches say her impact to the team is felt deeper than statistics. “She has really been a put your nose to the grindstone, hard working kid who has shown remarkable consistency,” said coach Mark Salisbury. Conway was recruited by two Big Ten schools, Iowa and Wisconsin, but chose CMU instead. She said she wanted a program where she could play a big role on the team. “(At Central) I felt I had a team and coaches that were really invested in the program,” Conway said. Her role as a senior leader is magnified by her team’s youth. The Chippewas have 17 underclassmen and nine freshmen. “(As a captain) everyone is looking up to you,” Conway said. “If you don’t show up every day or make yourself the example, then who are they going to learn from?” When Conway went down with an injury during the fifth game of the season, she said she did not know what was going to happen to the team. She injured her knee early on and still finished the game. It was not until afterwards that she knew she would miss considerable time. “I have never been injured,” Conway said. “I had no clue what it would mean when I was hurt.” After realizing she would miss three weeks, she knew her role would continue on to the sidelines. She traveled with the team to every game and proved she could lead in more than one way. “Katie handled it like a mature adult,” Salisbury said. “She switched roles and started cheering for her teammates and did everything she could to help her team get better.” She returned Oct. 10 and has started each game since. “She is a great player and has a good soccer mind,” said senior Jill Adams. “She brings to every practice what everyone needs to bring to a game.” Her work ethic goes beyond the soccer field. This year she was the recipient of the Bill Boyden Leadership Award. It is presented to an athlete that combines participation in their sport with leadership in campus affairs and community involvement. Conway was the first women’s soccer player to receive the award. “It was pretty overwhelming,” she said. “I was up against the most talented people, (men’s basketball player) Adam Dentlinger and (field hockey player) Katie Coccia, and they are such great people. It has meant so much to me and it is just now setting in.” The old cliché, “playing each game as if it’s your last” is now a reality to Conway and her fellow seniors. A loss, and their careers are over. “She makes sure that we fight and give everything we have because this is her last shot,” said freshman Amber Delvecchio. If ever the team needs her experience, now is the time. “When people start talking about who they look up to the most and who they would trust if they had something serious happen to them, I think that Katie would come to a lot of their minds,” Salisbury said.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/experiencedconwayleadsteam

Senior seeks fitness professional status

(11/03/03 5:00am)

At 21, Arnold Schwarzenegger earned professional status for bodybuilding. Today, 22-year-old Renee Hoppe promises to earn that title in her passion, fitness competitions. “I will earn my pro card,” the Bridgeport senior said. “Pretty soon you will pick up a Muscle & Fitness or a Shape magazine and see me smiling.” Hoppe says she is most importantly a student, but her hobby, fitness competitions, are a year-round commitment. Fitness competitions are growing in popularity since their inception in the mid 90s, she said. “They originated as a more feminine version of competitive women’s bodybuilding,” she said. Swimsuit rounds and execution of a fitness routine are the components of the sport. The health fitness major is training for the National Physique Committee-sponsored competition next fall where she will compete against more than 200 women for her professional title. She qualified for the competition by defeating 45 contestants in one of Michigan’s largest shows, Central States Bodybuilding and Fitness Classic. “I strive on the discipline and difficulty of the sport,” she said. Hoppe explained her diverse training regimen. “It involves cardio, weights, strict nutritional habits and practicing the actual fitness routine with mandatory stunts,” she said. She has been competing for more than two years and learned the sport from her mentor, IFBB Fitness-Pro Peggy Sue Crawford. The two crossed paths during Hoppe’s tenure at Delta College. Hoppe now coaches herself with help from her boyfriend, who trains with her. Although it is uncommon for competitors without pro-status to have sponsors, a protein bar company, “Tri-O-Plex,” has scooped up Hoppe and will fly her to Las Vegas for the Olympia Expo, the most prevalent fitness event of the year. She said it’s difficult to be a competitor and also focus on her course work. On top of daily rigorous training and a full load of classes, Hoppe runs her own personal training business, “Lose, Gain, or Maintain” and works at the Student Activity Center coordinating workouts. She teaches aerobics for the physical education department and University Recreation. Hoppe also plays and coaches club field hockey. To maintain her lean, muscular physique, and perfect her routine, Hoppe will train for about five hours a day and eat six to eight small meals a day for 16 weeks before a competition. “The hardest part is not the training; the passion is there,” she said. “It’s the strict diet.” Hoppe starts and ends her days with one hour of cardiovascular activity on a stationary bike or a walk on the treadmill. In between, she lifts weights four times a week with a day of rest in between. She practices her routine for 30 minutes. She must incorporate stunts such as splits, high kick, one-arm push-ups, straddle and pike hold in her routine.  When the off-season rolls around, she maintains the same training regimen, only with less cardiovascular exercise and more servings at mealtime. Hoppe said going home on weekends keeps her sane. “I manage a gym back home and it gives me time to work out, do homework and relax. Everything falls together,” she said. “There are times when I’m tired like everybody else - but I love everything I do.” She credits her parents for constantly supporting her. “All through her life, we were there,” said her father, Bob Hoppe. “We taught her that you don’t have to win, just to enjoy whatever she does.”

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/seniorseeksfitnessprofessionalstatus

Chippewas head into tourney on high note

(11/03/03 5:00am)

Senior field hockey player Tarah Trottier wanted her last home game to be a memorable one. The forward succeeded, scoring two goals to lead CMU to a 3-0 win against Ball State. “We were really focused coming into the game. We knew we had to show Ball State we were the better team,” she said. The Chippewas will be the third seed in the MAC Tournament and will play Miami at 2:30 p.m. Friday. Host Kent State won the regular-season title and will have a first-round bye. Louisville also will have a first-round bye after finishing second. CMU finished the regular season with a 8-10 record and 6-4 in the MAC. “We did not come out ready to play,” said Ball State coach Annette Payne. “We did not want to win as bad as Central Michigan did.” Trottier got CMU on the board, scoring on a pass from freshman Erin Dottery at 10:55 of the first half. It was Trottier’s 11th goal of the season. At 19:07 of the first half, sophomore Erica Takach’s pass was tipped in by Trottier for her 12th goal of the season. Takach would add a goal of her own with less than 10 minutes remaining. “I thought we played better in the first half,” said CMU coach Cristy Freese. “Our defense was on and played very well.” Freshman goalkeeper Danielle Frank made nine saves for her second shutout of the season. “Danielle played really strong, and she took away a lot of shots,” Freese said. The Chippewas defense shut down Ball State’s Afton Hess. Hess is the MAC’s leading scorer with 16 goals and 40 points. “That is an awesome way to win,” said senior Allison Foland. “The fact that Afton didn’t even get a shot off was great.” Trottier finished the regular season as CMU’s leading goal scorer. Her 12 goals ties her for the fifth most goals in CMU history for a season. “The plan was to score first and then we scored a couple of more times,” Trottier said. “We knew we had to take care of ourselves and we did.” Foland said she is confident in the way the team is playing. “Now we stay in the games mentally, and we don’t let up” she said. “We always think of the game as being a 0-0 tie.” Trottier said the team has to play a complete game in order for CMU to advance in the MAC Tournament. “We need to work on staying strong,” she said. “We need to keep scoring and still execute in the second half.”

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/chippewasheadintotourneyonhighnote

No more ridiculous fees are necessary

(11/03/03 5:00am)

I apologize for not including the field hockey team in my comments. But regardless of which team is playing on that field is irrelevant (“Field hockey player thinks athletics fee is good idea,” Friday).  During a budget crisis, we don’t need to expand or refurbish anything on the sports complex, redo carpets in the classrooms or try to add a new varsity sport. CMU couldn’t predict a budget deficit such as this, but when they built the new stadium, CMU should have put money aside to refurbish the turf because they knew that it would eventually deteriorate. But they didn’t invest any money for the future of Kelly/Shorts Stadium, and now Deromedi wants freshmen/transfer students to pay for it? Why don’t you pay? You aren’t going to be charged since you’re a senior. I imagine that its OK with you. Why don’t you write a $200 check to CMU and send a copy to the paper so we can see how much you care. To your response on the Library Fee, SAC Fee and Programming Fee, these fees benefit the each student individually. How is returfing the Kelly/Short Stadium going to benefit CMU students on an individual level? Students go to school to take classes and learn. The library is a wonderful resource, along with the computer system that gives us an incredible amount of ability to do research. Finally, I would like to say that our tuition is already up 40 percent compared to 10 years ago, and the average cumulative student loan debts for last fall were $15,938 (Central Michigan Life, Friday). When is this going to stop? It should stop now; no more ridiculous fees are needed.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/11/nomoreridiculousfeesarenecessary

Team needs win against Ball State in season finale

(10/31/03 5:00am)

MAC Tournament and title implications are on the line for the CMU field hockey team today. With a home victory against Ball State and a Louisville loss to Ohio, CMU could finish the regular season in second place. In that case, CMU would automatically advance to the second round of the MAC Tournament. If CMU wins, Kent State loses twice and Louisville gets beat by Ohio, the Chippewas could have a share of the title. “The only thing we can control is beating Ball State, and then we will see what happens,” said coach Cristy Freese. “We have only talked about the scenario once, and then our focus was on Ball State.” For the first time since the 1998 season, CMU has two players that have double-digit goal totals. Senior Tarah Trottier has 10 goals and junior Kristy Reed has 11. “Ball State and CMU have been two of the top offensive teams in the MAC,” Freese said. “Ball State’s Afton Hess has been the best player in the MAC, but you cannot key on only one person.” The last time the two teams met, the Chippewas jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before Hess scored three unanswered goals to send the game to overtime. Ball State eventually won 4-3. “There is no way we will let something like that happen again,” said senior mid-fielder Allison Foland. “This game is important, and if everyone plays tough for 70 minutes, we will win. We are on our own turf, and we’ll win for sure.” Freese said Ball State has the advantage heading into the game. “After coming back in the last game, BSU thinks no lead is insurmountable,” Freese said. “We are the team that lost the lead, and we know what we have to do.” The Chippewas defense has been stingy lately, allowing four goals in four games. Junior Amy Kauffman leads the nation with 14 defensive saves, and freshman goalkeeper Danielle Frank has been playing well. Frank is 5-2 in the MAC with a 1.64 save goals against average. “I put extra pressure on the entire team for the second time through the MAC season,” Freese said. “I am really pleased with how we are playing right now. When we are focused as a team, we are very good.” Today will mark the last home game for seniors Katie Coccia, Jenny Rosen, Laura Plese, Kerri Krasnow, Foland and Trottier. “All the parents will be there, and it will be the last chance for the seniors to play at home,” Foland said. “I am sure we will all play hard simply because of that, and because this game is huge.” Even with a lot on the line today, Foland said no one is nervous. “I don’t think anyone on our team is nervous, but I think everyone is really excited to get this chance to play,” Foland said. “Every game we have played lately has been big.”

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/10/teamneedswinagainstballstateinseasonfinale

Field hockey player thinks athletics fee is good idea

(10/31/03 5:00am)

In response to Alex W. Bennett’s letter to the editor (“How can anyone think athletics fee is good?,” Wednesday), I agree with the one-time $300 athletics fee. This fee would give athletics enough money to re-turf Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Not everyone agrees where Central uses its money (i.e. wordmark), but I believe that new turf is desperately needed. Playing on the turf myself since August 2000, the field has seen better days. The color is faded; the turf is flattened; the numbers are sinking in; and the stitching holding (or not holding) the turf is exposing or missing. All this makes playing on the turf very difficult. Bennett stated that football doesn’t deserve this luxury because of their less than fortunate records. Do you need a winning record to replace old, worn-out turf? Let me inform you that Central’s field hockey team practices on that field just as much as football. We were MAC champs in 2002, and while this year we may not be in first place, we are winning games. Plus, we are sending one of our captains, Tarah Trottier, to the All-Star Game in Massachusetts. Are we at least deserving of a decent field? Replacing the old turf is simply up-keeping CMU’s existing facilities. I can’t guarantee more winning games, touchdowns or seasons about .500, but then again, new carpet in the classrooms on campus won’t raise your GPA or make you a better student. There are technology fees, SAC fees, library fees, programming fees, campus improvement fees; the list goes on and on. Each of these fees goes into making this institution better, whether or not you take advantage of what those fees go to pay for. Next time you feeling like declaring a team undeserving, try to think outside of your narrow-minded football world.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/10/fieldhockeyplayerthinksathleticsfeeisgoodidea

Field hockey’s Trottier to play in All-Star game

(10/29/03 5:00am)

Hard work finally paid off for senior field hockey player Tarah Trottier. The forward will play in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association senior all-star game Nov. 22 in Massachusetts. “When I found out I was really honored because I get to represent our team and our school,” Trottier said. “It’s because our team is doing so well, that helped me to get acknowledged.” Coach Cristy Freese said Trottier's consistent play has helped the team. “I am very excited for Tarah because she has played extremely well for us this year,” Freese said. “There are a limited number of players that are named to the team, and it keeps our string of sending a player to the game alive.” The co-captain scored 10 goals and had 24 points this season, and will play for the North team. As one of five players from the MAC, Trottier will be the only MAC player on the North team. “I know I was nominated because I am senior and I put in a lot of hard work and dedication,” Trottier said. “I am also having a good season in goals and points.” Freese said Trottier leads by example. “Tarah has been very vital to our team's success this year, and part of her leadership comes from how hard she works on the field,” Freese said. “She works very well at getting the team to focus on each individual game and she helps them to realize that we can compete with any team.” Trottier realizes she will have the chance to play alongside the top field hockey players in the country. “I am so excited because it's such an amazing opportunity and there will girls there that are Olympians,” Trottier said. “To even be considered with them is very humbling. If I would have been told I would be playing in this game when I was in high school, I would have laughed.”

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/10/fieldhockeystrottiertoplayinallstargame

Club hockey shocks Illinois

(10/22/03 4:00am)

The club hockey team sent a message to the rest of the Central Division last weekend with a sweep at Illinois. After a long trip to Champaign, Ill., the team posted a five-goal first period. It was enough for goaltender Troy Reuter to preserve a 5-1 victory. “I think they took us lightly,” said CMU defenseman Bob Kelly. “They have an impressive record at home and we haven’t won a lot of games, yet. I don’t think they knew what to expect from us.” The first period goal barrage Friday even surprised coach Dave Goldenbogen. “(The first period) was impressive considering we had road legs from the six-hour car trip,” he said. Even Illinois’ large ice surface, normally a home advantage, failed to deter CMU. The rink was 50-feet wider than the average playing surface. Despite this, CMU still felt comfortable. “We kind of felt at home there because their rink looked exactly like Finch Field House,” Goldenbogen said. “I guess we kind of got a glimpse at what it would look like if they converted it into a hockey rink for us.” Players had different perspectives on how the ice affected them during the game. The surface gave them more room to work with, said team captain Rob Innis. “The ice really changed the way we played the game,” he said. “With so much room, it seemed like people were holding onto the puck a little longer.” Reuter, on the other hand, said it took some time getting used to. “The primary concern for goaltenders is angles,” he said. “Normally you can find yourself in net by looking at the boards. The ice surface was so wide you had no clue where the scoring angles would be. It took some time getting used to.” With a five-goal cushion, Reuter settled down quickly, making 26 saves. His one goal came on a deflection from the blue line. That game was followed up with a 5-4 win Saturday. Saturday’s win marked the debut of goalkeeper Mike Jakubik. Though Jakubik allowed four goals, his teammates were impressed with his play, especially fellow netminder Reuter. “He did well stepping in for his first time playing,” Reuter said. “It will take him awhile to get used to playing in the system.” Kelly also was happy with Jakubik’s performance. “I thought he played a strong game,” Kelly said. “I think he is a big asset.” Jakubik finished the day with 25 saves. Another factor in Saturday’s win was goal scoring, with its fourth five-goal performance of the season. Chris LaPan netted his team-leading fifth goal and added two assists. Other goals came from Brad Zielke, Todd Perry, Chad Pipkens, and Rob Heyboer. The power play also was effective producing two goals. The 4-3 team will play next weekend at Grand Valley State.

https://www.cm-life.com/article/2003/10/clubhockeyshocksillinois