Field Hockey Ready to Start Spring 2021 Season

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University field hockey team is ready to start its Spring 2021 season this week.

The Cobras went 10-7 and 6-6 in South Atlantic Conference Carolinas a season ago. Coach Kat Lind is ready for the layoff to end and says the team is hungry to compete in the conference.

"My main goal is for us to come out of the gate strong this season," said Lind. "We won't have non-conference opponents to prepare us for conference play, so I've been focusing on making sure the team is physically and mentally prepared to dive right in this season."

Coker returns a very experienced group of 12 from a season ago, that Lind says the team will rely heavily on.

"The returners will be the ones keeping our formation in check," said Lind. "I'm relying on their field awareness to keep our team working as a unit. "Our lone senior, Payton Baronella-O'Toole is extremely solid in the back of the field and I'm looking forward to seeing her and the entire junior class step up as leaders this season."

Coker also welcomes five new faces to the mix for this season.

"We have an extremely talented freshman class," said Lind. "They all come from high-level club teams and have played high-caliber field hockey, so I know they'll be able to adapt to the college game with ease."

Lind noted that the returners have embraced the incoming class and that the team dynamic has been great for the group.

"The upperclassmen did an excellent job reaching out to the freshman as soon as they signed their NLIs which has helped our family dynamic immensely," said Lind. "I truly believe this has also impacted how comfortable the newcomers felt from the moment they stepped on the field as well."

Lind holds this group to a high set of expectations, and wants the team to accomplish everything they set out to this season.

"I hold the entire team to high expectations," said Lind. "I know what they're capable of and I continue to make sure they're aware of what they could accomplish this season."

The Cobras begin the season tomorrow (Friday, Mar. 12) at Mount Olive, before facing Belmont Abbey on Mar. 16. Coker rounds out the season with games against Queens (N.C.) (Mar. 19), Converse (Mar. 21) and Limestone (Mar. 23).

"I view the entire season as a tough stretch because we have no non-conference opponents to help us prepare for conference play," said Lind. "With everything being so compact we have to make sure we're focused on staying healthy and we're adapting for any situation to arise."

Tomorrow's game at Mount Olive is set for a 2:00 p.m. start, with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.