BIDDEFORD ”“ It’s already been a momentous season for the UNE field hockey program.
Now it’s about to be a historic one.
The Nor’easters, newly crowned champions of The Commonwealth Coast Conference, are now headed to the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in school history.
That first step will be a doozy, too, as UNE will visit perennial power TCNJ (The College of New Jersey), Wednesday (2 p.m.) at Ewing, N.J., in an opening round clash.
“We’re in the big time,” said first year coach Jane Hurt, following Monday’s final tune up before their scheduled departure for New Jersey, today. “We’ve got to step it up.”
Actually, the Nor’easter program has received a few significant boosts already.
The first was the arrival of Hurt, a noted field hockey coach in her native England.
She replaced Joan Howard, who stepped down after three successful seasons, and is now UNE’s Assistant Athletic Director.
“The work done by Coach Howard,” said Hurt, “made a big difference. I’m just trying to build on what she did.”
Hurt guided the Nor’easters to a 13-6 mark, including two crucial wins in TCCC.
Eight of those wins came on the “Big Blue Turf”, installed this Spring.
It’s just the third field of its kind, anywhere, and its slick surface has given the Nor’easter offense a big burst of speed.
But now comes the NCAA’s, which is a bigger stage than any of the Nor’easters have ever strode across.
Hurt said that she expects her team to be loose for the occasion.
“We like to be the underdogs,” said Hurt. “I think we deal with that well. (We’ve) got nothing to lose. The pressure’s all on them. They’re expected to win, and we’ll give it our best shot.”
“Them” is, in this case TCNJ, one of the pillars of D III field hockey.
The Lions (16-4) have made the NCAAs in 24 of the last 25 years ”“ all under veteran coach Sharon Pfluger ”“ and have captured nine National Championships (seven under Pfluger).
It seems that the selection committee didn’t do the hungry Nor’easters any favors when fixing the brackets.
But, UNE has to play somebody, and Hurt said she’s looking forward to seeing what the Lions have to offer.
“They’ve got a very good program down there,” said Hurt. “Very strong. They’re going to be physical, and fast.
“I’m under no delusions,” said Hurt. “They’ve got championship credentials. And they’ve got that experience that I’ve got none of. If (we) play as we can, I think there’s a chance, there. I really do believe that.”
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