For juniors Kayla DeAngelis, Kerry Hosford and Katie Farley, field hockey is more than just a game. The sport is the backbone of their collegiate lives.
Each began playing field hockey in seventh grade, a time when it was “just the sport to play,” according to Hosford. She and DeAngelis both played soccer at the time, but their parents encouraged them to switch to field hockey.
As for Farley, she admits that she only started playing because her friend was playing and that she struggled early on.
“I liked it … [though] I never really thought much of it until I got to high school,” she said.
Farley and DeAngelis met in the preseason before their freshman year, but Hosford attended Providence College. She quickly realized that Providence was not the right fit for her, so she quit the team and transferred to Geneseo her second semester. Hosford said she originally planned on attending Geneseo before Providence offered her a scholarship.
Hosford said that even though she came here after the fall season, DeAngelis and Farley took her in and made her feel like a part of the team.
In fact, the trio has lived together the last two years, along with three other members of the field hockey team, which they say has helped develop their chemistry on the field.
“We can depend on each other on the field now,” Hosford said.
Each player brings something unique to the team. Farley described DeAngelis, who broke the school scoring record last year as “very fast … one of the best people I’ve ever seen inside the circle.”
Hosford said Farley is “very feisty … [She] really holds the field together in the middle.”
DeAngelis said Hosford is a good receiver, and “for being a forward she has really good defensive skills.”
The three account for 37 of the team’s 70 points this season. On Sunday Oct. 14, the trio accounted for six of the 11 shots against Washington & Jefferson College.
Geneseo pulled off a tight 1-0 win in double overtime with a penalty stroke from senior Rachel Atkins.
Despite the win, head coach Jessica Seren said the team needs to put the ball into the cage more often.
“We have to stay positive,” she said. “We’re doing all the right things … It’s a matter of keeping our focus.”