Folk gets start up front
Lynn WloszekSophomore field hockey player Alisa Folk has been patiently waiting.
The forward did not start last year, and watched from the sidelines as CMU completed its best season ever. She played behind four-year-starters Meg Lewis and Jocelyn Gates, and appeared in half of the games.
“Alisa has a great knowledge of offense, but to play on our team you have to play defense, and that’s where she had to get better,” said coach Cristy Freese.
The Richmond, British Columbia native worked on her individual defense in the off-season, and has started every game this year.
“Even though I did not start last season, my effort was still the same,” Folk said. “Starter or not, you still put in the same effort.”
Folk gives much of the credit for her success to Lewis and Gates.
“I learned a lot from them,” Folk said. “Especially Meg, because she played on the left side and she set a good example for me to work up to her level.”
Folk is third on the team with four goals and eight points for the 2-5 Chippewas this season.
“I don’t feel any pressure to score, because there are three forwards, and we’re all capable of scoring,” Folk said. “Lately we have been missing some opportunities. We have all the potential, but now we just need to finish.”
Thursday will be the first game Folk will start at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
“It is always a good game between Kent State and us, and it is going to be an exciting game to watch,” she said. “After our big win on Sunday we are pumped heading into the Kent game.”
Typically, Kent State plays physical, in attempt to knock opposing offenses off of their game, Freese said.
“We are just going to be as aggressive as we can be,” Folk said. “We want to be tough, and push through anything.”
