DePauw field hockey is back in business after a historic 2012 season. The Tigers finished their 2012 season with a final record of 21 wins and two losses. The team advanced to the NCAA Division III national semifinals for the first time in DePauw's history. They went 14-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. They claimed their first NCAC tournament championship in a 2-0 shutout again Denison University.
Their 91 percent winning average is the highest in DePauw's history, dating back 33 years. Head Coach Gina Preston-Wills was recognized as the 2012 NCAC Coach of the Year. Due in part to Preston-Wills' 88-32 record, the Tigers stand at No. 11 on the 2013 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III Preseason Poll. Preston-Wills said this is a great compliment for the team.
"It's nice to get the recognition for what we did last year," Preston-Wills said. "We need to do the work on our end for the next game on our hands. We're focused on what we need to do for the season upcoming."
One of the newest Tigers, freshman Jamie Stoner has already benefitted from Preston-Willis's coaching ability.
"[Preston-Wills] has high expectations," Stoner said. "That motivates me to work even harder. I haven't had a coach like that before."
The Tigers' season opener is tonight at 7 against Lynchburg College. Lynchburg is responsible for one of the two losses on the Tigers' record in 2012. Lynchburg beat DePauw 3-2, with all of Lynchburg's goals in the first half of play. DePauw then went on to win 20 games in a row, with their next loss being at the NCAA Championship semifinal.
Though the Tigers graduated only three players last year, they were essential contributors to last season's success. The 2013 graduating class included forward Margaret Ellis, the leading scorer in DePauw history, and Bridgette Shamleffer, the second-leading scorer for the 2012 season. Caroline Torie holds the DePauw record for games played, 81, and games started, 77. The record dates back to her 2009 freshman year, when she played and started all 20 games for the Tigers. Collectively, Ellis and Shamleffer accounted for 52 percent of the team's goals scored in 2012. Senior forward Micheline Figel said the team can attain similar success to last season, as they still have strong talent.
"Only losing three seniors last year, the feeling of that accomplishment is still very palpable within the team," Figel said. "We are setting the bar high."
This season, Preston-Wills plans to rely heavily on the senior class.
"We're returning all of our defense, they were ranked first in the country last year in points against and shutouts," Preston-Wills said. "Taylor [Helms], Sydney [Sprawls], and Chelsea [Cutler] have played defense for us for the last three years, we're excited to have them back."
Senior Chelsea Cutler made the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American team in 2012. Cutler said the Tigers have a strong returning defensive nucleus thanks to a close-knit team.
"We are completely comfortable together...That helps the team be more comfortable as a whole."
If the cliché sports ideology that defense wins championships holds true, the Tigers should have no problems returning to the top of conference standings in 2013.
"There's no reason why we should not be as good, if not better, than we were last year," Cutler said.
Tonight's game against Lynchburg should set the tone for rest of the highly anticipated 2013 season.