Instead of returning home over Fall Break like most students, the field hockey team kept at it over the past week, earning head coach Regina Preston Wills her 100th win as a coach in a 6-0 victory over Oberlin College on Oct. 20.
The Tigers emerged from break boasting a four game winning streak with victories over the College of Wooster, Oberlin, Earlham College, and Ohio Wesleyan University.
Though Wills currently stands at 102 wins in her career, she was taken a bit by surprise by the news of her approaching 100th win.
"I didn't even know it was happening until that weekend," said Wills. "But it was nice to have the team, the fans and my family there."
The Tigers dominated Oberlin in that fateful match leaving no doubt about that Wills earned her 100th win. Junior forwards Paige Henry and Grace Fisher both provided two goals along with goals by junior forward Maggie Campbell and first-year midfielder Addie Ball.
Wills has been with the DePauw field hockey program since 2007 and has seen her team find incredible success this season as the Tigers continue stay toward the top of the North Coast Athletic Conference. The Tigers are currently tied at the top with rivals Denison University with both teams sitting on 12-1 records in the conference. Denison holds an edge, however, with a 16-1 overall record compared to the 14-4 Tigers.
Despite the standings, Wills insists that DePauw is in a great position to contend in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
"We've been really happy especially with the progress we've seen. The team is coming together well, and we're right where we need to be," Wills said.
Much of the progress has come in the form of total team defense as the Tigers have been able to shut down teams game after game. Over the past four games the Tigers have outscored opponents 27-3. DePauw has won 13 of their last 14, and in that time they have outscored opponents an astonishing 58-7.
The key to this success has been the Tigers' extremely high work rate on both sides of the ball, especially the work of the forwards. "The forwards have done a tremendous job on defense. They are our first line of defense," said Wills.
Forwards have not been the only positive influence on the team, however. The midfield has supplied the forwards with excellent passes on the transition, and the back line has clearly done its job of keeping opponents out of the circle. Yet even when shots have gotten through on goal, junior goal tender Maggie Steele has been effective in net, conceding the fewest goals in the NCAC.
The Tigers wrap up their regular season today against Wittenberg at 3:30 p.m. The Tigers then begin their postseason on Nov. 6 against a team still to be decided.