Senior captains Ellen Rowe and Rachel Walsh have been updating Hawk fans throughout the season via the "Captain's Corner" blog. As their seniors seasons came to an end, both student-athletes shared their reflections on four years of Hawk field hockey.
It's been a little over a week since our season is over and it still doesn't feel real to me. No more early morning practices, sleepless nights before games, pre-game pasta dinners, bus trip pranks or locker room talks. My last blog was before the Lock Haven game. This was how things panned out since that point on.
Friday morning we loaded up the bus for our last away game of the season, and the seniors' last away game ever. It was roughly a three-hour ride to Lock Haven's mountainous field on a chilly, bleak fall day. The ride up was fairly tame. Everyone listened to their iPods as their minds weighed heavily on the pending game. Upon arrival, we entered the locker room of our rival, a familiar scene for some. Some of the freshmen class was assigned pump-up duty for the day. They chose to read an inspirational excerpt from the ice hockey movie "Miracle" and ask all of the players to turn to the person on her right and say what she brings to the team. Shortly after, we headed out to the field for warm-up. When it was time for the official start of the game, we were ready to take them on. The entire game was an all-out brawl. After scoring in the last few minutes of the game, we had tied it up; signaling overtime. The score was 1-1. The Hawks battled for the first overtime period. It was exhausting, and although we were controlling the game, we couldn't put one in to end it. We were headed for a second period of overtime. I had a feeling we were going to pull through. We were the faster bunch out there. It seemed like it was in the cards for us. But shortly after the start of the second half there was a controversial call and Lock Haven had come out with the W. Despite the outcome, we fought hard all the way til the end, and I'm proud of my team for overcoming the adversity with the refs, opposing team, and the Lock Haven fans. We may not have left the field winners on the scoreboard, but we were winners in our hearts.
After Friday, we had one final practice for the 2011 season, and due to inclement weather, we didn't even get to spend it on Ellen Ryan Field. We played a relaxing, yet competitive, game of kickball in the gym (which the upperclassmen won) due to an odd downpour of snow outside. That night brought on a mixture of feelings. Sunday was Senior Day, a day that is supposed to be happy and fun, but it was also our last game, which was sad. Going to sleep that night was hard. It was my last "night-before-a-game" butterflies I would experience. The next morning the seniors entered the hallway to the locker room together for one last time. The underclassmen decorated the walls with posters with our names. Inside the locker room, they had strung lights from the ceiling, put balloons with our names on them on our stools, decorated every aspect of our lockers and had the nicest Senior Day shirts made. We were all so thankful to have such great underclassmen that appreciate us. After our final pregame talk, it was time to hit the field for one last game. Hung on the practice field hockey cages were life-size action shot posters of the five seniors. We were announced with our parents before the start of the game. Four years worth of accomplishments from years of dedication to the sport were announced to the stands. With tears in our eyes and heavy hearts we accepted our framed photos and flowers.
Our names were announced for one final time as we ran through the team, slapping hands and cheering for each other. Holding hands, we silently stood in the middle of the field for the national anthem. Theresa Testa yelled, "HERE WE GO ST. JOES!" one last time, which is something that I will remember every time I hear the national anthem. For 70 minutes everyone on that field played her heart out. The final score was 3-1 Hawks over Saint Louis. As the seconds ticked down and the final whistle blew, I closed my eyes and savored the moment. I turned to my left and hugged Therese Doyle as the team ran on to the field to embrace each other. It was a bittersweet feeling, moreso sad than anything. What we have come to know and love had come to an end.
As an athlete, you never think that the day will come when you hang up your turfs and clean out your locker, never to set foot on the field again wearing that uniform. Even as the days started winding down in our season I never truly thought that final day would come. I guess I was in denial. I wish more than anything that I could be a freshman again. I'd give anything for one more season, but then again I wouldn't be ready for that one to end either. As sad as it is, I know that something I am so passionate about will be a part of my life forever. My field hockey days at SJU may have ended, but field hockey will never "end" for me.
Thank you to all the dedicated fans that have supported us through countless adversities over the years. Thank you to all of the parents, who throw the best tailgates in the world. Thank you to all of the coaches who have been with us in the last four seasons. And finally, I want to thank all of the girls on the team, past and present, for being wonderful teammates through thick and thin, wins and losses. I will never forget staying in the Crowne Plaza for preseason freshmen year, bottomless chips at Chili's, plyos practices during free period with Jackie in the asbestos gym, forking Mary Beaman's lawn, THE GAUNTLET, Tuesday morning non-stop running sessions, the hurricane practice, the little boys taunting us at Drexel, Ted, the index card game in the hotels, beating the underclassmen at every singing contest on the bus, our many nights at Olive Garden (where it was always someone's birthday), finally getting a home field, the infinite weekend, temporarily severing friendships during "competition practices" and so much more. The times with the team will always be my favorite college memories. To the underclassmen: best of luck next season! Strive to be undefeated and never give up. To my seniors: thanks for so many precious memories. We had a good run. I love you all, and I know we will be friends for life. Ruff Ryders <3
-Ellen
It breaks my heart to have to type this last blog: our season has ended. These girls, my team, and I will never step on the same field together again. That thought brings tears to my eyes every time it enters into my head, but I look back on the years I've spent with this incredible group of people and I just have to sit back and smile.
When I look back on my career and this season, it's not the wins or losses I'll remember, it's the memories I've created with our team--my family. Sure, there are some games that will forever be embedded in my mind, like our overtime win against Villanova and our Senior Day game against Saint Louis. Those games were two of the best: the Villanova game we came together as a team to collectively pull out a well-deserved win, and the Saint Louis game was just memorable on so many levels (it was my Senior Day game, last game ever, and we played an amazing game collectively). I could go on and on and on about memories off the field that I'll take with me for life. I won't bore readers, but for my fellow teammates: practicing in hurricanes, being slimed, saw masks on road trips, T-pain's infamous song, GET OUTTA YOUR MIND, van rides to Drexel, and so many more. I leave SJUFH knowing that these stories will keep me connected to this program, and to my teammates (past and present) for life.
Overall, this season has taught me a lot of things. I learned how to represent and speak for my team, and to communicate effectively. I have learned how to work with new teammates and strengthen my relationships with older ones. I am better at accepting defeat, but more importantly cherishing victories. Most importantly, I have learned to move forward with my team, accept what I cannot change, and better myself for my team along the way.
To my team: I love you all very much. You girls have been with me through good and bad. We share so many memories, so many goals, and so much love.
FRESHMEN, to you, this all was so new. I commend you for dealing with the tremendous changes you have experienced this year with excellence and poise. Coming into a new team at an intense level can be so hard, but you gave us no choice but to love you. I hope you get all you want out of this program and that you keep making strides to achieve your goals. You helped shaped my season and definitely made it VERY interesting, and fairy-dust filled. You are all princesses to me.
SOPHOMORES, you too have so much going for you. Your hard work continues to surprise me, and you inspire me to better myself. You bring such a spark to this team, not to mention temptations to go shopping (Sara).
JUNIORS, you are the closest class to us, and I'm happy to have spent a majority of my career at St. Joe's with you. From the moment you came in as little freshmen, we've hit it off and been close. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls to carry on the legacy. You girls have what it takes to go far, and I'll be there to cheer you on every step of the way.
Finally, to my four best friends, the five of us have been through it all. This season wasn't the most perfect, but we did the best we could to leave our mark on SJUFH--and looking back, I believe we did. We have overcome so much together and have come out of this with the most important thing: each other. I wouldn't trade having a field or winning a championship for the experiences I've had with all of you.
Like I said before, this season wasn't that great on paper, but to me, it was all it should've been. I learned so much on and off the field, strengthened my relationships, and built new ones. I look forward to the next chapter in my life, and to supporting SJUFH in its next chapter. I am so grateful and happy to have been a part of such an amazing organization with dedicated, motivating coaches, and a family full of amazing girls.
-Rachel
