Stickers go down under

August is winter in Australia. But that didn't deter the Michigan field hockey team from venturing to the land down under for some preseason scrimmages.

The team spent two weeks in Adelaide - on the country's southern coast - playing matches against local teams in the region. Recently, the Australians have dominated the sport, winning two World Championships and the 1996 Olympic Games.

"It was a great experience for us to play there because we competed against some excellent players," Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said. "We played a lot of players that are in their Olympic development program, so the competition was good for us."

Field hockey, while not prominent in U.S. sports markets is extremely popular abroad. Numerous stadiums are devoted exclusively to the sport.

FILE PHOTO The Michigan field hockey team had an eventful offseason spending two weeks in Adelaide, Australia, where the women played nine games against local Australian teams. Michigan's first home game is Thursday against Southwest Missouri State, at 4 p.m. at Ocker Field.

The experience was a positive one for the Wolverines that gave the Wolverines a sense of validation about their sport, Pankratz said.

"When they see what kind of attention field hockey gets around the world and experience it first-hand, the young players realize, 'Hey, we really are a legitimate sport in the world'," Pankratz said. "They get to see it in a different way."

Beyond the moral boost the players received from their trip to Australia, playing against the Aussies helped the Wolverines with their game as well. In international play, the tempo of the game is faster than in the United States. As a result, Michigan was at a slight disadvantage going into the matches.

But, Pankratz said she believes that the experience was a good opportunity for the players to learn and modify their style of hockey.

"We learned to play much faster hockey down there," Pankratz said. "It taught us to make decisions quicker, which will help us in our game."

With eight new freshman on the team, Michigan is looking to find its chemistry for a new year. The Australian experience was an opportunity to do just that.

"The team was really open to us," freshman Jessie Zeith said. "We seem to work really well together. Our nine games in Australia probably more than anything helped us learn about playing together. I think we will work well together."

Though most Wolverines fundraised to get down to Australia, there was one member of the team who didn't have to. Freshman Catherine Foreman - an Adelaide native - made her Michigan debut when she met up with the team there.

Hailed by Pankratz as the most skilled freshman, Foreman will be looked to help fill the shoes of former All-American, Julie Flachs, who graduated this past May.

"Cathy is really an experienced player," Pankratz said. "In Australia they start at a much younger age and so she has a lot of knowledge about the game. She is probably the best prepared and has a lot of potential."

Zeith echoed her coach's sentiments, saying that Foreman's skills are "amazing."

As for Foreman herself, she is more excited about the Michigan experience.

"It's really good to be here," Foreman said. "The hockey is a lot of fun because it's not as big. But it's really fun because everyone is so loyal to their uni(versity).

"In Australia, we don't have such young towns. The unis are in the big cities, and there's a lot more unity in a uni town."

On the field the biggest adjustment for Foreman comes due to the language barrier - from one accent to another.

"The biggest culture shock was how everyone talks," Foreman said. "Even on the field, my teammates can't understand me because in Australia we use different words.

"I wanted a change and Michigan is really well -known in Australia, so when the opportunity came I took it. It's one of the few American unis that is well known in Australia."

While Foreman has a long time to adjust to American ways, her teammates will continue to adapt parts of the Australian game.

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