The 1983 field hockey team was the first in Scots history to win the MIAA outright. Alma’s ‘83 squad ended the season at 9-2-1, with 19 points in MIAA play. That was just enough to edge rivals Hope College (8-2-2, 18 pts) and then Calvin College (8-3-1, 17 pts). The Scots secured the title with a win over Calvin in the final game of the season. Both teams entered level on 17 points, and a 2-1 victory saw Alma jump Hope and grab the crown.
Alma’s identity as a team was far from one dimensional. The Scots pumped in 30 goals in league play, the most of any team in the conference, and were tied with Hope in allowing the fewest goals with 10. This gave the Scots an MIAA best +20 in goal differential.
Alma placed four student-athletes on the All-MIAA teams, all of them being named to the first team. Lori Fedewa, Mary Douglas, Lori Audrain, and Stacey Emeott garnered the honors.
The Scots laid claim to four of the top 12 point scorers in the conference in ‘83. Freshman Kim Neimeyer led the way with 17 points, good for joint second place in the individual race. Narrowly behind were Douglas with 15 points, Audrain with 13 points, and Fedewa with 12.
Neimeyer was the third leading scorer in the conference with seven tallies. Audrain and Douglas each netted six. Margot Kinnear scored five times, and Fedewa four. Krystal Palmreuter picked up a team high five assists in her freshman season.
In total it was Alma’s completeness as a team that propelled them to the title. The Scots had eight different players score a point on the season, tying them with Hope for the most of any league team that season.
