The University City High School Field Hockey Team has a new coach for the 2011 season. Field Hockey Coach Mercedes Muñoz has great expectations for both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams this year.

One of the biggest changes that came with coach Muñoz was the size of teams. This year, during field hockey try-outs, no cuts were made. According to Muñoz, making cuts to the team just didn’t seem necessary. This change allowed more students the opportunity to play on a team.

According to the official Urban Dictionary website, a typical Field Hockey Team has eleven to twenty players (urbandictionary.com).  According to Muñoz, the Varsity Team has twenty one players, while JV has twenty five. These team sizes are much larger than average.

Muñoz said that she received her coaching position by applying and interviewing with both Athletic Director Ed Yandall and Vice Principal Heidi Murphy, and was later offered the position Head Field Hockey Coach.

“Our new coach is different, but we have already beaten our two rival teams, Mira Mesa and Cathedral, so I guess her style is working. Our last coach was well loved, so her leaving was really upsetting. However, I feel very confident about this year. I would only change our communication skills as a team while on the field,” said Senior Shannon Smith.

Muñoz has big plans for the field hockey program. “[I hope that] varsity goes into playoffs with a first-round bye and advances to at least the semi-finals. [My goals for] JV is to end the season with a winning record.  [I strive to] develop a strong skill set and encourage a good work ethic in all players, so that we are ready for another excellent season in fall 2012,” said Muñoz.