Miami Ohio University Athletics
Field Hockey Recruits: Meet Jenna Mengle and Pauline Shih
2/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 9, 2012
OXFORD, Ohio - On Monday, the Miami field hockey team announced the eight recruits that will be joining the team on the field this fall. In today's third profile, MURedHawks.com introduces fans to Jenna Mengle (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Pauline Shih (Clarksville, Md./River Hill).
Jenna Mengle (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley)
|  |
Mengle was a three-year letterwinner for Cumberland Valley High School, where she played forward, midfield and defense. She was the first person in team history to serve as team captain in both her junior and senior years. As a senior in 2011, she scored 20 goals and had three assists, while leading the Eagles to the District Tournament. Mengle was named to the Mid Penn All Star First Team, and got to participate in the All Star game. A strong student, she was a member of the National Honor Society and has been on the honor roll all four years of high school.
"Jenna is known for her leadership and work ethic," commented Miami field hockey head coach Iñako Puzo. "She possesses leadership qualities in abundance and her versatility is a real asset for our program.
"Jenna is a player who brings not just great skills, but also an excellent knowledge of the game. She must be one of the most mature 17-year-old players I have ever met. She takes this maturity level to the field by becoming a great leader on every team for which I have seen her playing. She is someone who, even if your team is winning 3-0 and there is a few seconds left in the game, will shout at the top of her voice at you if she thinks your concentration is going."
Assistant coach Lindsay Markwart got the chance to learn about Mengle's game at a camp this summer.
"I had the chance to coach Jenna at a camp in Virginia this past summer and instantly learned how passionate she is, not only for the game, but about life in general," stated Markwart. "Her maturity level is superior and her knowledge of the game continuously grows as she is a student on the field. Jenna comes from a supportive and athletic family who has clearly passed on great values to her. I'm excited for Jenna to bring her passion and personality to Miami."
 Jenna Mengle | |
Mengle's parents shared the same sentiment when they talked about their daughter's commitment to the RedHawks.
"The Mengle family is very excited about joining the RedHawk Family," said Cheryl and Mark Mengle. "Jenna had been searching for the perfect fit for field hockey and academics and when she spoke to Iñako for the first time, she just had that feeling that she would fit in with his program. Then, when she met the rest of the coaching staff and visited the campus, she knew that Miami was where she wanted to be. From the very first time we were in Oxford, everyone was very friendly and welcoming. She feels very fortunate to be able to continue her field hockey career at the next level and is looking forward to making an impact at Miami on and off the pitch."
The passion and knowledge that Mengle brings to the game is where Puzo believes she will have the most impact on the team over the next four years.
"Jenna has great positional sense, and above all, has pride in her shirt," said Puzo. "She is a person that cares and works hard on a daily basis. Jenna brings great passion for this sport, this university and for everything she does."
Pauline Shih (Clarksville, Md./River Hill)
Shih was a three-year letterwinner as a midfielder for River Hill High School. In 2010, she led the Hawks to the Maryland 3A State Championship and was selected First Team All-Metro by the Baltimore Sun. She was named First Team All-Howard County each of the past two seasons. As a senior in 2011, she scored five goals and had five assists, and was selected to participate in the Senior Maryland All-Star Game. A strong student, she was a member of the National Honor Society and on the honor roll all four years at River Hill.
"We saw Pauline playing at the end of the summer last year, and we knew right the way that she would be a great fit on the field hockey team," recalled Puzo. "We love the way she sees and plays the game. Pauline is a very smart player with great possession and defensive skills. She is the kind of player that can hide the ball from the defender, stay composed, and wait for the right moment to make the best pass."
Assistant coach Chip Rogers agreed with Puzo's assessment after seeing Shih play at one of her high school games.
 Pauline Shih | |
"Watching Pauline, I could see she was a natural leader with and without the ball," stated Rogers. "Her influence on the game, both through her skills on the ball and when she was directing traffic, showed me a maturity that will translate well here at Miami."
Shih's parents were real excited about her decision.
"We are very pleased with Pauline's decision to attend Miami and become a family member of RedHawk field hockey team," said Stella and Ivan Shih. "Pauline has incredible passion for field hockey and always wants to excel in her academic pursuits. Miami is the best fit for her since Miami has the most outstanding field hockey coaching staff and the most remarkable academic environment among the colleges we visited. We trust Pauline will experience one of the nation's best college education situations, filled with intellectual exploration and invaluable learning communities."
Shih played her club field hockey for the Washington Wolves and head coach Amy Wood. In Shih, Wood sees someone who will fit in well at the collegiate level.
"Pauline joined Wolves as a sophomore and from her first practice her potential was evident," said Wood. "Not only does she possess athleticism and athletic intelligence, but also the work ethic to succeed at the next level. Her versatility as a player and adaptability allowed us to play her in several different positions with ease. She has been so much fun to coach because she is so easy to coach: she wants to improve, learn new skills and take her game to a higher level."
Puzo, sees Shih as a mature player who already has the talent to fit in at Miami, but will also work to take her game to the next level.
"Pauline knows what she wants to do with the ball before she gets it, but can make adjustments under pressure," Puzo commented. "She makes it all look very easy. You rarely see her lose possession of the ball. Pauline has wonderful vision and can deliver killer passes for the strikers. Her first touch on the ball is great which enables her more time and space.
"Unlike so many young players, she does not let incidents or foul play against her disrupt her concentration and high performance. She is a model for other young players."
Check back with MURedHawks.com on Friday for the final installment of this series, when Demi Wideman (St. Louis, Mo./Villa Duchesne Oak Hill) and Sarah Scott Worth (Raleigh, N.C./Saint Mary's) will be profiled.
