By Marian Hambrick

Friday, planes flew over Trager Stadium for the first time since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. The field hockey team expressed its reactions to the aftermath as it prepared for upcoming competition. Previously, the Cardinals were scheduled to play the University of Massachusetts and Maryland over the weekend. However, all collegiate events through Sunday were cancelled in response to the attacks.

Members of the team agreed with the cancellations. “I don’t want the terrorists to feel as though they’ve backed us into a corner and that we’re terrified and scared,” junior forward Joanie Frame said. “But also I think it was a great decision to make as far as respect for the victims and their families.” Instead, the Cardinals used the time to prepare for yesterday’s game against No.15 Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Scheduled just after the NCAA cancellations, the match pitted two competitive teams against one another in regional action.

Despite Tuesday’s tragedy, the team readied itself both physically and mentally to play. “The team is shocked, but we’ve come together just like everyone else,” freshman forward Olivia Netzler said. “We’ve been training hard, and hopefully we can go out and play well.”

The team acknowledged, however, that playing in no way diminished the gravity of the situation. “It’s been hard to keep things going as business as usual,” Head Coach Pam Bustin said. “But also paying the proper tribute and taking the time to actually grieve what’s happened. You can’t go on pretending things are normal, because they absolutely are not.”

Last Tuesday, the team did receive some good news on an otherwise solemn day. Only two weeks into the season, the Cardinals were awarded a No. 10 national ranking by the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll.

“To receive our national ranking on the day that this happened, everything is put in perspective,” Bustin said. “We’re trying to still feel the excitement and pride of our small world, hockey, within the huge world.”

Additionally, junior midfielder Pip Sanders was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Week. She scored three goals and had two assists in wins over St. Louis, Stanford, Virginia Commonwealth, and Duke.Friday, U of L plays Ball State in Muncie, Ind.