Full Great Women Great Danes Interview Transcript
UAlbany's Great Women Great Danes is a new series that will be published during Women's History Month. The series will feature Great Danes, past and present, and celebrate the women of UAlbany.
Q: As a student-athlete you were a successful field hockey player at UAlbany, can you tell me about your experience?
A: When I showed up at UAlbany, I was a transfer student in my freshman year. I didn’t really know what to expect but now looking back it was the best decision I have ever made. UAlbany is such a great environment to be an athlete in but also to be a student. I had an amazing career and experience here at UAlbany, both on the athletics side and on the academics side. I think that UAlbany offers a really special diverse environment and we put a big emphasis on our women’s sports teams and those teams have always been super successful here. I am so glad I ended up here.
Q: Several post-season awards culminated in your senior year when you were named America East Midfielder of the Year and an All-American. What does that success feel like?
A: It’s always exciting and it feels good to be recognized for your hard work especially ending that senior year and not finishing as the champions, but at least still having some recognition for our season because we still had a great season that year. I think it is a testament to the support that we get athletically here from our strength and conditioning coaches, all the support staff and especially Phil [Sykes] and [Andy Thornton] as coaches.
Q: In your senior year, you finished third in the America East with goals and points, what can you attribute that success to?
A: Looking back on my senior season, I was definitely super focused and working really hard. Going out to the turf and doing the extra hours of fitness and stick-work … I think that just showed, with that scoring, just putting in the extra work.
Q: Now just about a year after graduation, you are back and you served as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2021 season, what was it like to coach? Especially coaching athletes you played with?
A: Yeah, when I got asked to come back there was no hesitation to come back and be a part of the program again. It was the best four years of playing - I learned so much and I grew so much throughout those four years. So, coming back as a coach now, I feel like I had a lot to share about being a Division I athlete. Especially for the freshmen coming in sharing that insight of like, ‘I was just there, I know what you are going through, this transition period as a player’. I felt like it was really easily relayed to the girls. Of course, for the girls who knew me, they knew what I believed in, what I stood for … hard work, putting in the time on the field and off the field. I think it worked out really well.
Q: You were recently named a full-time assistant coach, what made you choose this career path?
A: I didn’t really expect this career path. I didn’t expect to end up back at UAlbany or even going into college coaching. I had always set my mind on graduate school for counseling. But, of course life never goes as planned and I ended up here and I am so glad I did. I have always been passionate about coaching. I would always coach when I was in high school. I would coach the younger kids and I would go to extra tournaments just to coach when I couldn't even play. Coaching has always been a passion of mine; I think I am just starting to realize that it is something I want to do for my career. It kind of just fell in my lap and I am exploring that now.
Q: What do you think is better, coaching or playing?
A: Of course, just because I am so competitive and I love the game so much, I’ll always miss [the playing] part. I pride myself in going out early to practice, just to play on my own and seeing if any of the girls are up to play. I’ll say ‘oh, do you guys want to play a two vs. two tournament’ just because I just love it so much. I always have loved just being around the game. This coaching definitely fills that missing piece in my heart that I didn’t have in Colorado when I wasn’t playing.
Q: How did the women around you help you to become the athlete and person you are today?
A: Oh wow, I mean, I had some really strong female figures and mentors in my life that really, I think, made me a strong female athlete. Particularly my two sisters, who were older than me and both played Division I field hockey. They were always making me go to the turf with them, putting in the extra time and the extra hours and also just exemplified what a good athlete and a good teammate were. Then, of course, my highschool field hockey coach, Coach Sharon Sarsen, who is in the hall of fame, in the New York records book, she is unbelievable. She really teaches us how to be strong and independent, being accountable for ourselves, I will never be late to anything because of her. Really, those three people have had huge impacts on my career.
Q: What does it feel like to know that young women and girls may look up to you because of your position and success?
A: I think that is a big responsibility to hold, to make sure that you are exemplifying what would contribute to a strong female-athlete, to a strong female figure. I try to always just encourage everyone, even the younger kids that I coach, to make decisions on their own and go out and do things and take initiative and not just sit back and wait for someone to tell them to do something. I try to do that just with my style of coaching. Also, when they get to watch me play, my style of play is just taking initiative on the field.
Q: What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
A: I mean, looking back, I feel so blessed that I grew up in the time that I did. We have so much opportunity and I think back to when even my mom was a track athlete in college, she didn’t have nearly as many resources or recognition that we have now as women in sports. I think that it can only grow larger and get bigger. I feel really blessed to have had the chance to play at a Division I institution that really puts women’s sports on the forefront.
For more interviews from the Women's History Month #GreatWomenGreatDanes series, click here.
