A tough schedule and inexperience could make this year a long one for the NIU field hockey team.

NIU, one of last year’s top 20 teams, which finished with a 9-8 record, has lost key players in its attack positions and has two freshmen goalkeepers.

However, NIU has veteran mid-fielders and defenders. They will be the key to the Huskies’ success. The Huskies are uncertain about their scoring capabilities and their goal defending ability, so fifth-year coach Laurie Bell is looking for the veteran middle group to keep the Huskies on the offensive.

They may not be sure about the goalie’s abilities, but the Huskies have a veteran defensive unit as well. That defense may not give the opponents a chance to exploit the freshmen goalies.

“Our senior mid-fielders and defenders have made our program into a nationally recognized program. We’ve been on the bubble the last two years. We’ve been close but not close enough. This year is not going to be easy, but we’ll take it game by game.”

Leading the Huskie defense will be senior Jenny McCreary. She will be depended upon to keep the Huskies in position during the games and helped maintain the solid 20 goals allowed in 17 games last season.

McCreary led the defense with three saves, but she’s not the lone defensive star. Last year’s Most Valuable Player Debbie Beans teams with Julie Teaman to ensure a solid defense which will make the Huskies competitive in each game. But, Bell knows too well how difficult it will be to compete in the Midwest Collegiate Field Hockey Conference. The MCFHC boasts two final four teams from last year in Iowa and Northwestern.

The Huskies, despite being ranked as high as No. 17 in last year’s mid-October polls, finished conference play with a 4-6 record. This year could be more of the same for the Huskies with Iowa and Northwestern boasting strong squads.

“We have a very, very tough schedule before we start our conference play. Hopefully, the high level of competition in the beginning will help us through our conference schedule,” Bell said.

Although the attacking part of the Huskie team is a question mark, Maaike Schroeder, sophomore attacker, could make it an exclamation mark. Schroeder scored only three goals last season, but had nine assists.

“We would like for her to change those (goals/assists) around,” said Bell. “As you can tell by her stats, she’s been around the goal, but she usually passed it around. We would like for her to take the shots this year.”

Bell said the Huskies are going to be a run and shoot team. “We have a lot of speed. But it’s going to take some time to work together well. We’ll need to work on our stick skills, but I think that’s just a matter of time.”

In the long run, time is on the Huskies’ side, but in the near future, the Huskies may be over their heads. The Huskies take on Ball State, the defending Mid-American Conference champions, this Friday. The Cardinals will bring 12 returners to Huskie Stadium.

On Saturday, the Huskies take on NCAA runner-up Old Dominion in Evanston. Old Dominion suffered a 2-1 loss in three overtimes to University of North Carolina in the championship game. They have 17 returners, eight of whom were starters from last year. OD is led by senior Winifred Sanders who had three goals and a devastating 46 assists.

Things don’t get much better in the Huskies’ suicide schedule. The Huskies head east to play in the Temple University Invitational in Philadelphia and may get to play the defending national champs, UNC. In this trip, the Huskies could improve or they could fold.

“The traveling will take a lot of toll on our kids, but we’re just gonna take it game by game. If we work hard and improve every time, things will work out,” said Bell.