During games, Jackie Hanson flies up and down the field. She runs upon opponents to take the ball and is gone just as quickly down thefield, passing the ball to her teammates to create scoring opportunities.
The energy the midfielder shows on the field not only capturedthe attention of fans this past Sunday, but also exemplifies thefeeling surrounding the Bobcats (2-5-2, 2-0 Mid-American Conference)heading into this weekend after two wins to kick off the MAC season.
Hanson said that since the wins over Kent State and Buffalo, there has been a better energy throughout the team.
From the beginning of the season to now
it just seemed likeevery week we're building up and building up Hanson said. Now thatwe've finally gotten two wins over this (past) weekend everyone'senergy has gone up a lot.
This weekend brings two tough competitors to Chessa Field inBall State and Miami, coach Stacy Strauss and associate head coach JimWelch said. Strauss said she hopes the energy will carry the team intothe rest of the season to chalk up more wins.
The Cardinals are first on the list of opponents this weekend when they come into Athens today.
(Ball State) is a good team
Welch said. We know it's going to be a battle certainly.
Ball State was picked to win the MAC. The Cardinals won the conference last season, edging out the second-place Bobcats.
The Cardinals (5-4, 2-0 MAC) and the Bobcats currently sit atopthe conference, both being undefeated in MAC play. But at the gametoday, someone has to lose.
Graduate assistant coach Amy Switzer said the mind-set of the team has undergone a change from the beginning of the season.
They've come off the winning weekend with a new focus
Switzersaid. I think overall they just have more excitement
and they feellike they've accomplished something and that there's a lot more toaccomplish now.
The 'Cats will face Miami on Sunday. The RedHawks (3-4-2, 1-1MAC) are the Bobcats' rivals, and Strauss said the team does not forgetabout it on the field.
I think that they recognize that (Miami) is a main rival withinthe conference and a team that we enjoy beating when we have in thepast
and we're hoping to do that again
Strauss said.
The game Sunday will end a four-game homestand. The team will goback on the road next weekend with trips to Eastern Michigan andCentral Michigan.
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