The NIU field hockey team (9-2-1) just may earn a spot in national rankings after knocking off 19th-ranked St. Louis in a 2-0 shutout Sunday at Huskie Stadium.

The fact that the St. Louis Billikins were nationally ranked didn’t have any effect on the Huskie performance mainly because the team didn’t know. NIU coach Laurie Bell chose not to tell her team about the Billikens being ranked.

“It was better not to tell them because this was such an important game to win. If St. Louis took an early lead then they (Huskies) would probably feel that a ranked team was supposed to win,” Bell said.

Bell knew what she was up against when St. Louis came to town. The Billikens entered the contest after a 2-0 victory over Central Michigan. The Huskies, however, squared off with the Chippewas Saturday night and walked away with a 5-1 win.

In the first half of Sunday’s match, both teams were well balanced and engaged in tough defensive play. The Huskies had a slight offense advantage in freshman attacker Anne Marie Roozendaal’s quickness and successful ball control. However, both teams were deadlocked in a scoreless battle at the end of the first frame.

Adjustments in the second half were essential to the success of both squads. The Huskies capitalized on the advice of Bell during halftime and produced two second-half goals.

“Our defense really came to life, and we were able to get the ball back to the attack a lot quicker,” Bell said. “We were really much more intense in the second half and did a good job of staying inside their circle.”

After eight minutes of second-half action freshman attacker Laura Wherman carried the ball into Billiken territory and centered a pass. The shot was saved by St. Louis goalie Debbie Kargl but picked up by Huskie attacker Regina Vanderwerf. Vanderwerf hooked in a shot to the upper-right hand corner of the goal eluding Kargl to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

Vanderwerf’s goal was her fifth goal in two games. Against Central Michigan she scored four goals to lead the Huskie offense. “She scored four goals yesterday and produced once again,” Bell said.

The goal sparked the Huskies both offensviely and defensively. Senior center-fullback Mary Fike and sophomore sweeper Jenny McCreary denied the Billikens any penetration. All-America candidate goalie Colleen Preston saved a total of just five St. Louis shots.

Offensively the Huskies added to the lead with another goal after 11 minutes of play in the second half. Defender Julie Teeman set the ball into play with a free hit in Billiken territory. Roozendaal then pounded the ball in for the second goal as the Huskies began to sieze control of the game with a 2-0 lead.

“We can compete with any team now because we have the offensive quickness in Anne Marie (Roozendaal), along with Colleen (Preston) in goal,” Bell said. The team heads into a break of play until Oct. 9 when the Huskies face Michigan.

Bell said the team deserves a break after an intense season and should be ready to play Michigan. “Once again we are challenged by a Big 10 team, but I think they have more confidence now and know they can win,” Bell said.