Eli F. Hockey Prepared

(U-WIRE) NEW HAVEN, Conn.-- On the final day of last year's women's field hockey season, the seniors took down the practice field Yale flag, bringing a close to the season and their Yale careers. Earlier this week, that same flag was presented to present seniors Lindsay Hobbs and Abby Alt, and with it the leadership of the team. They hoisted the flag at the beginning of Thursday's practice.

Thursday marked the end of a series of intense pre-season workouts that have left the team in peak condition, both physically and organizationally.

"I think we're as prepared as we can be up to this point, having only played against each other." Coach Marisa Did said. "You can only get further prepared when you play against different styles of play."

The Bulldogs started their season off right with back-to-back wins last weekend, Friday against New Hampshire and yesterday against Maine.

The field hockey team is young in age--it includes only two seniors and four juniors on a squad of 21--but not in experience, with 13 returning players. In addition, the freshmen look promising and have taken well to the system.

That this is Didio's second year as coach also bodes well, since adjustment to a new system at least partly explained early season difficulties last year.

The combination of these factors suggests that Bulldog mental errors will be few and far between.

"We want to outwork our opponents," Didio said. "Whatever they get, it won't be off our lack of focus or lack of discipline. If they get something, they're going to earn it. We're not going to give them anything."