University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

f The Other Hockey Men ' s Field Hockey, While the women ' s field hockey team fights for Athletic Department dollars, the men ' s t1cld hockey team labors in deeper obscurity, within the Rec Sports division. Like many club sports, however, the field hockey play- ers maintain excellent standards and often contend with better- funded teams for national titles, all w ithout benefit of a single scholarship. " In fact, three of our freshman players this year graduated from that program at Berkeley High. " Kadanavich said. " and all three of them are currently on tJie US under-2 1 national squad. " The Bears also spon three older players on the regular national team. While the six member teams in the BAFHA are the only known men ' s teams in Northern California, tliere are " Compared to last year, our season was terrible, " said Andreas Kadavanich, a Cal grad student and team member, discussing an 1 1-2-1 season. Of course, this enviable record does look less rosy next to last year, when the Bears were undefeated and made an appearance at the national club championships. This year, the Bears will have to content themselves w ilh doing well at the Cal Cup Tournament to he played in Southern California Memorial l)a_\ weekend. " This will most likely be our toughest competition. " Kadanavich said. " Every game will be important and the competition will be intense, including some of the top teams from the West Coast and Canada. " Playing in the Bay Area Field Hockey Association (BAFHA). the Bears are about fifty percent students and fifty percent community members. The team boasts a lairK inter- national roster, with players from Northern Kuropc, India. Pakistan, Australia and Germany, as well as a Scottish coach. Adrian Land. " In the US, men ' s field hockey is pretty much a Innge sport, " said Kadanavich. noting that many other countries have long-standing traditions in the sport. Working to change hiKkey ' s status in .America, the club has started a men ' s field hockey program at Berkeley High. slightly more clubs in Southern California, as well as a comparatively health) showing sprinkled along the East Coast and throughout Canada. " 1 play hockey because 1 think it ' s a great game, " Kadanavich said. " It ' s very fast-paced and exciting, not unlike soccer. 1 think it ' s more fun to watch than soccer, because the division of labor between moving the body and moving the ball is much better in hockev - more interesting plays are possible. " Men ' s field hinrkey rules are identical to the women ' s, but the style of play varies. " In general. " Kadanavich explains, " men ' s hiKkey is more of an individual game with frequent one-on-one play, dribbling and individual effort. Women tend to play better as teams with more passing and basic ball movements. Which style is better - or more fun to watch - is in the eye of the beholder. " Standouts this year were Steve Danielscn. Raj l > ;nhoy (Cal ' y.^). Phil Sykes. Oamian Glennon. Pieier Laagav. Arshan Poursohi and Ka danavich. Next year, the team hopes to return to its undefeated status and to the national championships. ■ Men ' s Field Hockev 237