Curtain call

By David Roth n Daily Sports Writer

But since current seniors Jocelyn LaFace, Kati Oakes, Erica Widder and Ashley Reichenbach entered the fray as freshmen when the team had a slushy 7-11 record, the Wolverines have roared past the opposition, notching a 50-12 record over the past three seasons.

DAVID KATZ/Daily The Michigan women's field hockey team piles on top of senior Ashley Reichenbach while celebrating a victory over Penn State en route to Michigan's first-ever Big Ten Tournament championship. That was just the start of good things for Michigan.

Thanks to this talented quartet, Michigan has spiced up its resume with a Big Ten regular-season championship, a Big Ten Tournament championship, and now, an NCAA Final Four berth.

This fearless foursome's career together has been a roller coaster that will now end in Boston, either tomorrow or Sunday . The Seniors will then be forced to compact everything, from fiery August practices at Ocker Field to emotions from season-ending losses, into their final two games.

The seniors, along with their teammates, will put their field hockey balls on the line against undefeated Connecticut tomorrow in the hope of earning a spot in the championship game versus the Iowa-Maryland winner on Sunday.

Each player knows that each game she plays could possibly be the last one for the seniors. Throughout the postseason, and especially during the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, Michigan has been striving to keep playing just one more game.

Sophomore midfielder Catherine Foreman, who helped keep the Wolverines' season alive last Sunday versus Wake Forest by saving a shot with just her stick, knows how crucial the seniors have been in turning around the Michigan field hockey program.

"They have been here through everything," Foreman said. "They came in as freshmen when Michigan (field) hockey was not a force at all.

"This year we have done it on our own and proved that we're a force to be reckoned with, and (the seniors) are a big part of it. For years they have been knocked out and have not even made the (NCAA) tournament."

Michigan's seniors have taken a cue this year from comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who once said, "There's only one way to go out - on top."

"I'm excited to go out this way," senior LaFace said. "I can't imagine a better way to go out. If these are your final games, to go out with a bang and be in the Final Four is amazing."

"I couldn't go any other way," Reichenbach added. "No regrets. We played well and it's been a great season. I can't wait to play my last two games, and after that it's a proper ending."

Senior netminder Oakes, who actually has junior eligibility but will be graduating nevertheless, said that she will try to put her emotions aside and will instead focus on enjoying her final road trip.

"We're all really pumped," Oakes said. "They're huge games, regardless of whether they are my last two games or if they were my first two games."

Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz hopes that this tournament puts the cherry on top of what has been a sweet career so far for her seniors.

"I think that there's nothing better than ending your career on a win," Pankratz said. "They've certainly earned it and deserve to be in the championship. I am just proud of them and they're the reason that we're here."

Widder wants to make the final games of her Michigan career count, and expects the same high level of effort this weekend that the team has given all season.

"It's exciting. I just want to go out on the field and leave with no regrets. I know that we'll play our best. Whatever happens will be great."

Since field hockey has been such integral part of her life as a Wolverine, Widder does not know how she will respond when Monday comes and the team does not have practice.

"It'll be sad because I love Michigan and leaving will be a bad thing," Widder said.

"Not playing hockey is going to be weird."

The seniors' effect on their younger teammates has been enormous. Players like Reichenbach and Widder have acted as mentors to Molly Powers and other freshmen to show them the ropes.

"I think that we're all really excited that this is end of the season and this is the last time we're going to be playing all together," Powers said. "Playing with the seniors - they've been such the leaders of this year on and off the field. We're definitely going to miss them. They're four really awesome girls."

Though these are obviously huge games for the seniors this weekend, the underclassmen know that going to the Final Four may not be an annual opportunity for them, either, and they also want to make the most of their moment in the sun.

"I think we all know that we have to play hard, seniors or not," sophomore Ashley Thomas said. "I think that the rest of us are going to try to send our seniors out with a national championship."

"We want to win it for them and for ourselves," sophomore Stephanie Sackellares added. "We'll play especially hard since it's their last game."

All four seniors have stamped their considerable footprints on the Michigan field hockey program. Without question, all four have helped catapult Michigan out of the basement and into the limelight.

The Wolverines, who only a few years ago defined mediocrity, now have distinguished themselves as one of the premier teams in the country, thanks in large part to the efforts of the senior class.

This weekend in Beantown, all eyes will be on the seniors, and their teammates, as they try to snag the first women's championship ever in the history of Michigan athletics.

11-18-99