Not since 1983 has the NIU field hockey team been ranked in the NCAA standings. But last Tuesday the NCAA named NIU to the 17th slot (tied with Duke) after the Huskies defeated 19th ranked St. Louis in a 2-0 shutout last Sunday.

NIU coach Laurie Bell expected a successful season, but admitted that being nationally ranked was not the first item on her list.

“I didn’t expect it this year because, I thought the kids were still a little young, but we are happy to be there and we want to stay there,” Bell said.

Claiming national exposure is never easy for a team, but Bell said that continuing to be successful is even tougher. “We have to maintain a consistent level of play and remain unbeaten,” Bell said.

The last time NIU lost a game was early in the season in a 3-0 loss to Northwestern. Ranked fifth in the country the Wildcats hold prestige, tradition and experience. NIU will face the Wildcats once again on Oct. 18, a game Bell feels will be a challenge for her team.

“We didn’t play them well earlier on, they have been in the final four for the last seven years. They have a lot of tradition and exceptionally nice skill, we will have to be our best,” Bell said.

Being ranked exposes NIU as a credible program and will serve well in recruiting new players as well. “We are a young program, and it would definitely help in recruiting new players, people will have heard of us,” Bell said.

But the Huskies have not just looked to the East coast for talent. Freshman attacker Anne Marie Roozendaal and junior midfielder Jady Psek are products of overseas recruiting. Roozendaal, a product of the Netherlands, leads the team with eleven goals scored and poses a threat to opposing teams with her quickness and effective ball control.

Psek, from South Africa, carries the team through the transitions of defense to offense and is involved with setting up an attack.

“Some of the other teams know about Anne Marie’s speed, but most of them know about Colleen Preston in goal,” Bell said. Preston is one of eight goalies vying for a spot on the 1990 Pan-Am Games.

“We have a good combination in Anne Marie on offense and Colleen in the goal,” Bell said. “Our primary goal is to take one game at a time and turn in our best effort—that way we will remain within the top 20,” Bell said.