Pregame Quotes
11/18/2010 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 18, 2010
Maryland Head Coach Missy Meharg
Opening statement:
"Maryland is honored to have made the Final Four in College Park. All season and since Katie O'Donnell's and Amanda Himmelheber's freshman year and Alicia Morawski's sophomore year when we have had the opportunity to be here we have found it a little bit distracting in our preparations. We are very honored at the level of competition that will be here, we had a hard and a great route having played University of Massachusetts and University of Connecticut and we are pleased to be in College Park."
On playing some tough teams in route to the Final Four:
"We have been fortunate at Maryland to be a place that has traditionally been able to host some regional play. We have had some years that competition is not to the level of that which we face in the ACC and that has not been to our advantage in the Final Four. We would rather have the great teams like Massachusetts and Connecticut to prepare us for this opportunity."
On potential distractions in playing at home in the Final Four:
"The athlete's might know a little bit more than me but what we try to do as a staff is limit the distractions and stay focused on what we are doing, finite the plan, adjust a little bit to what we see on video and in the scouting reports. But for the most part stay on track with what we are doing, identify any distractions there may be and limit them and look forward to playing great hockey."
Maryland Senior Attacker Katie O'Donnell
On the advantage of playing at home:
"I personally think playing at home is a huge advantage for us. You have all of our friends and family. We practice on this field day in and day out and know the field well. We know the surrounding area and going in to playing a game at your home field it definitely plays a part in the outcome of the game. Stepping onto the field going into the Final Four is a huge advantage for us."
Maryland Senior Defender Alicia Morawski
On what it means to play in the Final Four at home:
"There is no doubt that it would be a great way to end it, being home field is just like what Katie said. Being here is special, having everyone around us, our family and friends, giving them a chance to be out here is gong to be a phenomenal feeling."
North Carolina Head Coach Karen Shelton
Opening statement:
"First I would like to thank the University of Maryland for hosting this fantastic event. We are delighted to be here and are looking forward to playing a very familiar opponent in the University of Virginia. They are very well respect, we know what a challenge we have before us. Everyone knows it is very difficult to beat a good team three times in one season and the odds may be against us but we are going to do the best we can. Our kids are rested and in a good frame of mind and we look forward to playing tomorrow."
On playing University of Virginia for a third time this season:
"We both know each other very well and I expect Virginia to make some changes and I have no idea what they will be. I think that we know their strengths very well and the last time that we played Virginia in the ACC tournament a couple of their players were somewhat injured and not at full strength. Both (Paige) Selenski and (Michelle) Vittese had tweaked ankles, so neither one of them was at 100 percent. I know that based on the information I received from last weekend they are both back and fine. I think we are going to see a stronger team then we saw last time."
On the pressure to try and repeat as champions:
"I think that we don't really feel any pressure at all, the pressure is really to get here. I feel like we felt, and I know that I did as coach, a lot of pressure last weekend to get here simply because of our record throughout the season and the fact that we had done so well that if we didn't advance, it would have been like shocking at the end. I have always felt like once you get to the Final Four it's a time to celebrate and celebrate the season and play a little freer because everyone who gets here has had a great season."
On the demanding schedule of playing in the ACC and if that is an advantage:
"I think that all three teams have played a very difficult schedule and I think of the three teams we may have played the weakest schedule. There is no question that it helps us prepare, when you play in those big games there is pressure so each time you play a pressure packed game it helps you be a little more settled next time around. Its just preparation I think that the ACC tournament is a pressure cooker and all three teams did well and we use it to prepare for a final four scenario. I don't think that any one team has an advantage over the other in that regard. We are all used to playing big time games."
Virginia Head Coach Michelle Madison
Opening statement:
"The University of Virginia is very excited to be here in the Final Four and we are looking forward to our game tomorrow."
On if having made an appearance in the Final Four before is an advantage:
"It takes one time to be a pro and learn what to do. Being here once you are figuring everything out because you can't really explain what it is to the players. To see the ceremony and really feel like you achieved something because once you get to the Final Four it is a big deal both to the NCAA and the sport. I think you have a feeling of being with the winners and it's a tournament of the winners at this point."
On what they have to do to break through against North Carolina:
"We have to be dangerous and put the ball in scoring positions more often and we have been working on it since the last time we played them. We need to play the ball more and play the odds and produce in the circle."
Junior Midfielder Paige Selenski
On playing North Carolina for a third time this year:
"I think that UNC is a great team and it's going to be a fight either way. It's going to be a fast-paced game and we are looking forward for it."
Ohio State Head Coach Anne Wilkinson
Opening statement:
"Well obviously along with the other three teams we are just very excited to play in the Final Four. With the season that we have had, we have had a great season and have been on quite a roll and we are hoping that it continues."
On what they have learned from playing ACC teams so far this year:
"Well I think that we have learned a lot this year in playing the ACC teams, it is a different style but at the end of the day it's the same. It's about showing up and competing and taking advantage of the opportunities that we have."
On having the opportunity to play in the Final Four:
"I think it has been incredible, after our Syracuse game is when it hit us. It was a tough weekend with the Albany game going down to the last minute to put us in a position to play Syracuse and once that game was over it dawned on us that we were going to the Final Four."
On what they need to do to beat Maryland:
"I think that we need to put pressure on them early and give ourselves some opportunities to score early in the game and get into our rhythm and dictate the tempo. We are here to get down there and attack and not just sit back and prevent Maryland but we have to go after a championship."
On the style of Ohio State field hockey:
"I would say we play an up tempo game, we look to move the ball around the feel a lot and get a lot of touches. We try to find the first pass we can and keep things simple and create opportunities."
On what they need to do to stop Maryland's Katie O'Donnell:
"She has a lot of different clubs in her bag. You can't really let her get the ball, every coach really tires to deny her as many opportunities a possible. We know what she is capable of and that we need to put a lot of pressure on her. Aside from here they have other forwards who can do things, so we need to play as a team and its not necessarily about Katie O'Donnell its about playing team defense."
Ohio State Junior Midfielder Aisling Coyle
On the excitement of playing in the Final Four:
"I think that like coach said if was after the Syracuse game that it really hit us that night with the drive back from Penn State we were all very happy and excited. After that we regrouped and thought about it and we feel like we do deserve to be here and we have worked towards it all year. We are not just happy to be in the final four, we are looking forward to playing Maryland and giving them a good game and hopefully coming out with a win."
