B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 4, 2004
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BY JAMES V. DOWD
DAILY SPORTS WRITER
"We meshed right away," Beth Riley, left, said of Molly Maloney. Despite fierce competition for the starting goalkeeper's job on the Michigan
field hockey team, the pair achieved a goal even rarer than the ones they allow on the field -- a relationship that reaches beyond the game.
~a lking into a wnen's basketbag~ game last winter then-freshman
Beth Riley was greeted warmly by her field hockey teammates anfd
friends. Hu~gs, handshakes, high fives- there was, nothing unusual
about these exchanges, but w~hen senor goalkeeper Molly Maloney put her arm
around Riley's shoulder, it was a sign that the two competitors have overcome the
difficulties ftiends encounlter when competingfor a job.
Athletes that are competing for aposition alienate each ther. They refse< to speak
to each other or help each other, and their hostility has a negative effect on te
chemistry
With two talented goalkeepers on her roster" Michigan coach Marcia-,Pankrat4
has ntalvays known what to expect. Instead offinding a goalkeeper controversy
Pankratz discovered a healthy and competitive relationship between two players
whose maturity extends far beyond their years.'
Wolverines won the national championship, becoming thle first women's sports teams
to dd-so in school history. Though she _id not see game action, the lessons Maloney
took from her experiences with the championship tean would stick with her.
"The reason that we won was because we worked hard, and it paid off,' Maloney
said."'That was why we won'-~ we,,.ever quit,"
Tasch graduated, and the starting job was Maloney's for the taking. The sopho-
more took a similar attitude to practice day in
and 'day outIHer ever-present tenacity has
helped the Wolverines improve as' a team
every season since..
Former teamnmate and current undergradu- Beth Riley
ate assistant coach April Fronzoni remnem-
bers Maloney never giving an mnch.
"In practice I lovd going up agaiist
(Maloney) because she always brought
her 4-game,',,Fronzoni said. "I'm like, _
oy!WaistedaCntyulet a couple of them go in and make
me feel goo'"'
In her sophomore season, Maio-
ney's work ethic helped the Wolver-
ines~win a Bag Ten title. Maloney
set a school record, winning 18
games. In conference play, she just
two..goals in six contests and led
the league in shutouts.
After enjoying such suc-
position as iistarter, but a'Ie
2003 season came aroud h
found' herself againtmp
LEADER' OF THE PACK
All the players are suipportive of each other, but Maloney's voice often rings
higher than her teammates. Before and during~games Maloney's ema*,r-
ognize that she always has a word of encouragement.
S"She is always the first one to encourage us, to cheer for us, to make sure that
we're all set as far as ready for the gam~e" Riley said. "If wemreed a lttle bost of
+confidence, she's always the first person to take care of that."
Maloney has, undergone a difficult transition.
"It's tough," Maloney said. "I have trouble when people walk fauster thanI o,s;,
Iam so competitive. Going from a role being the big cheese, going from the big
games to watching the big games is hard."
Despite her disappointment with her new role, Maloney is taking advantage of
her situation to gow as a person.
"I probably larmore about myself whenwI am oni the sidelbiethan whuenlI
am playing in the big games," Maloney said. "My role on this team is somethn ifrn.ta ati obbti siprat fm oei ipymkn
(Riley) better, and makilng her work Ihard, then that',a-my role on thi~s team, And
it is important."
A Awy from the field, people close to Maloney see how hardships she as endured
as aplayer have helped herfmature Mloi 0 rLorraine, eels that the
tough times her daughter has edrsa ~ake have changed Molly
~for the better.-
"She has had to accept 'n '' o r one skid. "She has
-,,
m
Al