by Casey Fry
This past Sunday we played La Salle for our third game in conference play. It was a hard-fought game between the two teams. We were down a goal within the first minute of play, but we answered right back with a beautiful goal and continued to score two more later on. In today's game we demonstrated our stick-to-stick passing and our ability to recover on defense. Also, our off-ball movement improves with every game. I think with the exception of the first minute of play we played very well. As a team we were all playing offense and all playing defense which created some of our fast breaks out of our defensive end. Overall, I thought the team showed heart and the desire on the field today, and proved that we are capable of winning even though we were down a goal early on.
Today was also Senior Day. We celebrated seven seniors who have been an intricate part of our team for the past four years. Since we have so many upperclassmen, we have many positive role models on and off the field. It has been a pleasure to be able to get to know these girls and play with them for the past four years. I have had such a wonderful experience at SJU and would not change a thing.
As a team we look forward to playing away at Penn on Wednesday for a non-conference game, then return to the Atlantic 10 by playing Saint Louis on Friday and going to Massachusetts on Sunday.
Thank you for the Support!
Casey
Kelly Swanick and Jen Wrublesky also shared their thoughts on Senior Day...
When I woke up this morning it was hard to believe it was already Senior Day...where is the time going? The team outdid themselves with locker room decorations and pictures, and they even made " We <3 Our Seniors" t-shirts! The girls on this team, and their families, all have become my family for the past four years. It is incredible that such a strong bond can be formed in merely four years. My time here on Hawk Hill has been unforgettable. My friends made on this field will surely become friends for the rest of my life. Playing field hockey at St. Joe's has made me so much more of a well-rounded person. It has taught me leadership, teamwork, time management and discipline. Michelle has been a great coach; the thing I admire most is her ability to recognize that as students we have other commitments we must put before field hockey at times (this is in reference to my junior year spring accounting internship) and allowing us to take these opportunities that present themselves to us. As it is my senior year I plan on holding nothing back for the rest of the season and hope for myself as well as the team nothing but our best play from this point forward. I would like to thank everyone who has made my field hockey career what it is today and without your love and support none of this would have been accomplished. This team and the past four years have exceeded all expectations I could have ever hoped for. Thank you!
Kelly
I can't believe Senior Day has already come and gone! Vivid memories of reporting for my first collegiate preseason in August of 2007 are still fresh in my mind--the nervousness, trying to get names right, leaving home for the first time, and most importantly joining a whole new team. I remember how confident the seniors were, how they welcomed all seven of us new freshmen onto the team, and most importantly how quickly the nervousness faded. Looking back on three years of senior days I always thought that my senior day was so far off! The team did a wonderful job decorating the locker room and making the seniors feel so loved. Ultimately, Senior Day ended with a win, a fabulous tailgate, and a wonderful event put together by the underclassmen.
Senior year is a funny thing; we have all grown both on and off the field. We are more confident in our play and our futures are beginning to take shape, yet the feeling of being a teammate and part of our field hockey "family" feels like it is just right. This team is one of the closest I have ever played on, and to think that it is almost time to move on is bittersweet. To see all the same emotions I felt my first day of preseason reflected in three different year's worth of teammates, the friendships that have developed, and the personalities that emerged made this day truly special. Now we just have to keep winning all the way through the A-10 tournament to prolong our time together!
Jen
