A weekend split gave field hockey coach Laurie Bell a positive feeling about her team.

The Huskies’ opened their season with a 1-0 win over Ball State. Although they got off to a slow start, the Huskies dominated the second half. The only goal came with under 21 minutes left in the second half when midfielder Debbie Beans passed the ball to a wide open Maaike Schroeder who slapped the shot past Cardinal ‘keeper Lisa Libby for the winning score.

Old Dominion, boasting one of the nation’s top programs, showed the Huskies the difference between the respective teams, winning 4-0 Saturday. Although the Huskies matched them shot for shot, Old Dominion took advantage of their opportunities, the Huskies didn’t.

NIU, however, did play a competitive game. The Huskies created five penalty corners and gave six opportunities to Old Dominion. NIU had nine shots on goal; Old Dominion had 13.

Bell can not be accused of being unresourceful. She made a surprise move last Friday when she moved senior defender Jenny “Stevie” Van Delft to goal. “I left that decision up to my assistant, Andrea Bradley, she felt that Stevie was the keeper to start,” Bell said.

Bell also installed a 3-3-3-1 scheme to the Huskies attack, abandoning the 4-2-3-1 they had been using. Bell said this new scheme is designed to give the Huskies better angles and more control over the mid-field.