Field Hockey National Championships Underway
11/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 16, 2000
NORFOLK, Va. - The NCAA National Field Hockey Championships are underway this weekend at Foreman Field on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The 2000 trophy will be decided beginning November 17.
On Friday, top-seeded Old Dominion will take on fourth-seeded Wake Forest at 4 pm. Defending national champion Maryland will face-off against third-seeded North Carolina at 6:30 pm. The national championship game will be held Sunday, November 19 at 2 pm.
Below is a transcript of quotes from today's pre-tournament press conferences.
WAKE FOREST
Head Coach Jen Averill
"We're very excited to be in this position. We set lofty goals at the beginning and worked hard all season. It paid off."
"It is a complement to all four teams. We all did what we had to do all season to get here."
"We like playing the best competition and that's what Old Dominion represents."
"It's our first year (in the final four), but we've been building for nine years. Our appetite is as great as any other team here. Each year we focus on how much we've built and we move forward a little more."
Senior forward Jenny Everett
"It's special to be a part of the building process for four years and see it come full circle to your senior year. Every team has a clean slate come Friday. What you do on Friday will decide who gets to play Sunday."
NORTH CAROLINA
Head Coach Karen Shelton
"We're very excited to be here, especially at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. It's been our home away from home."
"It will be an exciting tournament - a good way to end a good season for us."
"This is a very strong field. These four teams have been in the top four all season. It's nice to see that we've all been consistent enough to advance through the tournament." Senior forward Kristen McCann "There haven't been many flukes in this tournament. I think that any team could win it from here."
Senior back Jana Toepel
"I'm more excited this year (than my freshman year). I'm ready to take this tournament for all its worth."
OLD DOMINION
Head Coach Beth Anders
"We're very grateful to be here. We feel very fortunate. It's an honor to play on your own campus."
On the pressure of the first two rounds: "We wanted to please a lot of people (in the first two games), but now we're here and we've got something to accomplish for ourselves."
On the strength of the field: "There's no advantage at this point. Everyone is equal and everyone is prepared to play their best."
"We are ready. We're not focused on the final outcome. We're focused on playing this game with a lot of passion. The final score will take care of itself."
Junior back Julie Miracle
On the pressure of the first two rounds: "I think that it made us focus on what we didn't focus on (in the Connecticut game). It's not an issue anymore."
MARYLAND
Head Coach Missy Meharg
"We are honored to be here. With the history and the excellence of these schools, it's a tremendous honor. I think that it's a testament to the committee that all four top seeds advanced. It was a great seeded tournament."
"There will be some high quality hockey this weekend."
"When you're fortunate enough to win a national championship, you deal with words like expectations and complacency. I think we've dealt with that in some of our early losses. We're now happy to be here."
"From a coaching perspective, this tournament is another season."
Senior forward Keli Smith
On being a lower seed than North Carolina: "Personally, I like being the underdog. I think it's a good thing."