Wolverine Spotlight Q&A: Allie Sardo
10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 23, 2015
Junior/sophomore Allie Sardo, after redshirting her freshman year and coming off the bench a year ago, is enjoying a breakout year for the Wolverines this season. She has scored a pair of goals, including one in U-M's most recent outing against Central Michigan, and has started eight games, including each of the last four on the Wolverine forward line.
With the Maize and Blue preparing for a Sunday slate against in-state rival Michigan State, Allie took time after practice to talk about fellow Massachusetts native Marcia Pankratz, her development since arriving at Michigan and the Wolverines' attention to details.
Q. Marcia [Pankratz] seems to have some affinity for fellow Massachusetts kids. Does that lead to a unique relationship?
A. Being from the same area as her and having friends from the town she's from really gives us something in common. We get along really well. It's nice to have a little Massachusetts clan now, with Maggie [Bettez] and Leah [Cardarelli] and some more on the way.
Q. Marcia is known for being competitive and a little fiery. Does the team take on that personality?
A. Absolutely. I think we all had that personality before coming to Michigan. She just instills that in us every day -- to play with passion, intensity and a little competitive fire.
Q. How much do you feel you've progressed over the last few years?
A. I improved a whole lot. Coming in freshman year and redshirting was great for me. It helped me get to know the type of play in DI and specifically with our team. Last year was a huge growing year for me after the season, and it's carried through into this year. I've really stepped up my game since then.
Q. When do you make those improvements? Does it come in the spring? During the course of a season?
A. It definitely started sophomore year in the spring. That's when you get the most one-on-one with the coaches. It's small-game hockey, so it gets you a lot of touches. It's the memory part; you keep repeating over and over again. You can carry that into the season and bring it into game play under a lot more pressure.
Q. What do you think has contributed to the team's success this year?
A. I think we have a great work ethic. Everyone is always on the same page. Even if we're not all necessarily feeling it one day, we somehow get it done. That's really important. It's such a cohesive team; it's really something special. This is the best team I've been on.
Q. The team came into the season with an experienced and veteran defense, and the goal scoring has really come on over the last several weeks. How has the attack evolved?
A. Our defense has held strong all season. They've been the backbone of the team. It's given us the time and the patience to figure out how to get the ball in the back of the net. We've definitely been improving in that area. I think it's just been repetition. Scoring is something that you can't necessarily perfect, like you can a hit. But once one goal drops, more drop -- for that same player and for the entire team. It's more of a feeling.
Q. Is the team excited for the two rivalry games coming up with Michigan State and Ohio State, especially as the regular season comes to a close?
A. Rivalries are the best. They're way more fun to play than any other. Our goals are all still in front of us. I think we've gotten a lot better at not focusing on the outcome but more the process and attention to detail. But we still keep that ultimate goal in the back of our minds.
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