Erika Wachter was one of four seniors who played their final game for the Orange last weekend at the NCAA Tournament
On The Turf With Erika Wachter
11/16/2011 8:46:15 AM | Field Hockey
Since last November, many of us have been preparing for this weekend: the NCAA tournament. When we came together this August as a complete 2011 team, we knew this weekend was the determining weekend to be able to get a shot at the National Title. We have been knocked out in the second round of play each of the past two years; and so, this year, we were vying to get back to the Final Four, like in 2008. And this year, we wanted to get one step further than the Final Four; we wanted to get to and win the National Championship.
We knew this road was going to be difficult, and unfortunately, as you likely know, the road ended too soon, as we lost an overtime heartbreaker in the second round to defending champion University of Maryland.
Looking back on the week, we practiced and watched video early Thursday morning, so we would be able to start our long drive to Maryland. Not only was this our last practice of the week on our home turf, but it was also coach Ange Bradley's birthday (age not to be disclosed). The team greeted her with a song and cake made by Martina Loncarica. Iona Holloway presented Ange with a card of her likes and dislikes; among these included liking “number 11” and disliking “mental weakness.” Ange had a birthday surprise of her own as she greeted us with her famous “Austin Powers” teeth, last worn on Halloween. After a bit of video, she then went on to say how hot it was in there. She was wearing a lot of gear, which we questioned because it wasn't that cold out! We soon found out that each layer consisted of a t-shirt from a team in our bracket; layered in order of the teams we will face. (Richmond, then Maryland.) Her Iowa attire was no longer because it was from too long ago in her coaching career. Her predictions would pan out in this year's tournament.
After her jokes, we were on the practice field and once finished we gave her a large framed and signed photo of the 2011 BIG EAST Champions. This gift made her feel slightly bad about her highly intense coaching methods shown just a few minutes prior.
Well, practice ended and we went home to shower and do some final packing. We were on the road by 1pm and stopped to pick up some snacks and our Panera Bread lunch orders. We settled into the oldest bus ever and mentally and physically prepared for the lengthy bus ride ahead. There was no wi-fi, so getting a lot of homework done was not realistic, so we put on several movies to help the time pass, and after a great deal of traffic, we decided to stop to get some dinner. We pulled into a shopping center and had the options of pizza and salads, or Subway. A lot of people went to the pizza shop, but it was a little different than what we expected. It was a pizza buffet style restaurant, with children under 5 being the top clientele.
After eating pizza, dessert pizza, a bit of pasta and salad and listening to the flirting attempts of several young employees, we hit the road again to finish the rest of the ride. Not too long after we arrived at the hotel. After settling into our rooms, we found out there was no free wi-fi (this was later taken care of), so we headed to bed and geared up for a full weekend ahead of us.
On Friday morning, we had to eat breakfast by 10:30 a.m., so many of us woke up around 10:00 a.m. to eat close to the deadline. Few of us truly enjoy waking up early. Soon after breakfast, we loaded the bus for practice, accompanied with several SU Athletics staff and administration. The team warmed up just outside of the field and then we got on the field that we hoped would be the field for us to realize our dream. Anyway, we worked hard during the intense and high emotionally charged 75-minute NCAA regulated practice.
After practice we stayed near campus and went to the Universities main street for lunch. We were each given some money, that way we could choose from the many restaurants and local shops on the street. Some of the girls went to a noodle bar, others chose the ever-popular Chipotle and the rest of the team went to a local sandwich shop. There, Stephanie Hussey admired her very tiny sandwich and then questioned how her meal cost $1.50 more than the price listed. After lunch, with time left to spare before we met, girls grabbed Starbucks, Fro-Yo and Coldstone.
We went back to the hotel to get our legs up, nap, do some homework and simply relax for the rest of the afternoon. We met again to depart for dinner at what Steve Simpson calls the best place to eat while at University of Maryland. It was pretty great. We arrived in Bethesda after navigating through the never ending D.C. traffic. The restaurant was quaint and quiet, even though our new orange hoodies were loud, and for a while, we were the only people there. It was very authentic and it reminded myself, Haley Bomboy and Heather Susek of Argentina. One thing that was a bit odd was the frittata that was served almost immediately. The small, square, quiche-like product was unique, but after initial uncertainty, we ate it. Yet, this was not the most unique meal of the evening. On our initial preorder, Anna Crumb, being the hunter girl that she is, ordered rabbit stew. This put some of the team into dismay and disgust, and unfortunately for her, they did not have any more stew. Instead, she settled for deer…Yum? Apparently it was as she shared with several teammates including Liz McInerney and Sophia Openshaw. I wonder if Liz sent a tweet about it.
Meals came out and they were delicious, but very small portions. The server would bring the parmesan cheese by and sprinkle some on your meal. Kelsey Millman kept requesting more and we think she should have just left it for us on the table! Nicole Nelson ordered lamb and Steve (Simpson) said it was a classy choice, probably because he ordered the same meal!
Dinner was delightful and then we boarded the bus again. On our way back to the hotel, we exchanged inspirational letters to each other. Leann Stiver won the popularity contest with the most letters. After the short amusement, we returned to the hotel and met for a review of the game plan for the first round game against Richmond Saturday, and even got to see the SU football game. We got a good night sleep and before we knew it, it was game day. After our usual jog/stretch at the hotel, we ate breakfast and then got game ready. We made the game more difficult then it should've been, but we were able to defeat a strong opponent in Richmond, by a score of 2-0. Fittingly, senior Heather (Susek) fought to continue her final season and scored both of the beautiful goals!
After the game, we went over to the Comcast Center to regenerate and stretch and then returned to the field to tailgate with our friends and families. Luckily the food there was delicious and plentiful because our dinner several hours later was not. We were without a bus for the evening; we were getting a new one and it would have wi-fi. We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. Unfortunately, the meal was nowhere near the quality as the previous night's dinner. Instead, the steaks seemed to have just been pre-prepared and then reheated meat. The worst thing was the crab soup. Nicole (Nelson) and I both ordered it, but when only one was brought, we quickly cancelled the other order. The soup was not a soup-consistency. It looked more like pudding; extremely thick. It was gross, but luckily some people orders, like Rachel Sayer's salmon and Leann (Stiver's) “when in doubt” chicken tenders, were tasty.
After dinner, we returned to our rooms and then reconvened a few hours later for our own team meeting. We set individual goals and wanted to get our minds right for what could be our last game as a 2011 team. We then met with the coaches and made some final preparations before hitting the hay early.
Game day was here again and we met in the morning for our jog/stretch, followed by game plan meeting. This meeting was one of a kind. We were in a hotel meeting room, but several minutes into the meeting, we noticed some music began playing. The music through the wall got louder and the voices of gospel singers filled the air. It was distracting and hilarious, but we all attempted to keep our focus as we began tapping along to the beat. It was clear that Adrian Chambers was eager to join in on the harmonizing festivities. After the partial church session, we ate breakfast and then headed over to the field.
Energy was high and we were ready! The game was a battle. After being down 1-0, Kelsey (Millman) scored the tying goal from a scramble in front of the cage. Unfortunately, one was not enough and we fell to UMD in the last minutes of overtime. Despite the loss, it was amazing to see so many field hockey alumni and their families showing their support for us there! We truly are a family.
It is always a tough moment after the end of a season. We truly believed that this was going to be our year. However, the cards don't always fall your way. Even still, after many tears and hugs, we headed back to our home in Syracuse. While the bus ride was sad, we also had a lot to be proud of. We may not have won it all, but we did win the BIG EAST Championship, moved up to No. 3 in the nation, and most importantly, we grew to become a tight knit team. The memories with this team, this year, are ones we will never, ever forget.
For me, and my fellow seniors Martu (Loncarica), Heather (Susek) and Nicole (Nelson), that was our final Syracuse game of our college careers, and our last bus trip as a part of the SU field hockey team. The four years have flown by in the blink of an eye, and it is surreal that we won't be going to the field after class for a long day of practice, or meeting in the spring for early morning workouts. Every hard day was worth it and it is with great pride that we can say we made it! We have been one of the winningest classes at SU, and it has truly been an amazing ride.
But before we say goodbye, we want to thank our families for their patience, constant support and belief in us and our dreams. We also want to thank our coaching staff for their passion and preparation, teaching us so much over the years and helping us grow as both hockey players and as young women.
Lastly, we want to thank our teammates, both past and present. You girls have all had such a strong impact on our lives and are one of the biggest reasons we came out to play each and every day. It has been an honor to be a part of the Syracuse field hockey family with you. You have pushed and challenged each of us in numerous ways. We hope you continue to dream big and share the SU pride and way! We'll be cheering you on from the stands. Go 'Cuse!
We knew this road was going to be difficult, and unfortunately, as you likely know, the road ended too soon, as we lost an overtime heartbreaker in the second round to defending champion University of Maryland.
Looking back on the week, we practiced and watched video early Thursday morning, so we would be able to start our long drive to Maryland. Not only was this our last practice of the week on our home turf, but it was also coach Ange Bradley's birthday (age not to be disclosed). The team greeted her with a song and cake made by Martina Loncarica. Iona Holloway presented Ange with a card of her likes and dislikes; among these included liking “number 11” and disliking “mental weakness.” Ange had a birthday surprise of her own as she greeted us with her famous “Austin Powers” teeth, last worn on Halloween. After a bit of video, she then went on to say how hot it was in there. She was wearing a lot of gear, which we questioned because it wasn't that cold out! We soon found out that each layer consisted of a t-shirt from a team in our bracket; layered in order of the teams we will face. (Richmond, then Maryland.) Her Iowa attire was no longer because it was from too long ago in her coaching career. Her predictions would pan out in this year's tournament.
After her jokes, we were on the practice field and once finished we gave her a large framed and signed photo of the 2011 BIG EAST Champions. This gift made her feel slightly bad about her highly intense coaching methods shown just a few minutes prior.
Well, practice ended and we went home to shower and do some final packing. We were on the road by 1pm and stopped to pick up some snacks and our Panera Bread lunch orders. We settled into the oldest bus ever and mentally and physically prepared for the lengthy bus ride ahead. There was no wi-fi, so getting a lot of homework done was not realistic, so we put on several movies to help the time pass, and after a great deal of traffic, we decided to stop to get some dinner. We pulled into a shopping center and had the options of pizza and salads, or Subway. A lot of people went to the pizza shop, but it was a little different than what we expected. It was a pizza buffet style restaurant, with children under 5 being the top clientele.
After eating pizza, dessert pizza, a bit of pasta and salad and listening to the flirting attempts of several young employees, we hit the road again to finish the rest of the ride. Not too long after we arrived at the hotel. After settling into our rooms, we found out there was no free wi-fi (this was later taken care of), so we headed to bed and geared up for a full weekend ahead of us.
On Friday morning, we had to eat breakfast by 10:30 a.m., so many of us woke up around 10:00 a.m. to eat close to the deadline. Few of us truly enjoy waking up early. Soon after breakfast, we loaded the bus for practice, accompanied with several SU Athletics staff and administration. The team warmed up just outside of the field and then we got on the field that we hoped would be the field for us to realize our dream. Anyway, we worked hard during the intense and high emotionally charged 75-minute NCAA regulated practice.
After practice we stayed near campus and went to the Universities main street for lunch. We were each given some money, that way we could choose from the many restaurants and local shops on the street. Some of the girls went to a noodle bar, others chose the ever-popular Chipotle and the rest of the team went to a local sandwich shop. There, Stephanie Hussey admired her very tiny sandwich and then questioned how her meal cost $1.50 more than the price listed. After lunch, with time left to spare before we met, girls grabbed Starbucks, Fro-Yo and Coldstone.
We went back to the hotel to get our legs up, nap, do some homework and simply relax for the rest of the afternoon. We met again to depart for dinner at what Steve Simpson calls the best place to eat while at University of Maryland. It was pretty great. We arrived in Bethesda after navigating through the never ending D.C. traffic. The restaurant was quaint and quiet, even though our new orange hoodies were loud, and for a while, we were the only people there. It was very authentic and it reminded myself, Haley Bomboy and Heather Susek of Argentina. One thing that was a bit odd was the frittata that was served almost immediately. The small, square, quiche-like product was unique, but after initial uncertainty, we ate it. Yet, this was not the most unique meal of the evening. On our initial preorder, Anna Crumb, being the hunter girl that she is, ordered rabbit stew. This put some of the team into dismay and disgust, and unfortunately for her, they did not have any more stew. Instead, she settled for deer…Yum? Apparently it was as she shared with several teammates including Liz McInerney and Sophia Openshaw. I wonder if Liz sent a tweet about it.
Meals came out and they were delicious, but very small portions. The server would bring the parmesan cheese by and sprinkle some on your meal. Kelsey Millman kept requesting more and we think she should have just left it for us on the table! Nicole Nelson ordered lamb and Steve (Simpson) said it was a classy choice, probably because he ordered the same meal!
Dinner was delightful and then we boarded the bus again. On our way back to the hotel, we exchanged inspirational letters to each other. Leann Stiver won the popularity contest with the most letters. After the short amusement, we returned to the hotel and met for a review of the game plan for the first round game against Richmond Saturday, and even got to see the SU football game. We got a good night sleep and before we knew it, it was game day. After our usual jog/stretch at the hotel, we ate breakfast and then got game ready. We made the game more difficult then it should've been, but we were able to defeat a strong opponent in Richmond, by a score of 2-0. Fittingly, senior Heather (Susek) fought to continue her final season and scored both of the beautiful goals!
After the game, we went over to the Comcast Center to regenerate and stretch and then returned to the field to tailgate with our friends and families. Luckily the food there was delicious and plentiful because our dinner several hours later was not. We were without a bus for the evening; we were getting a new one and it would have wi-fi. We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. Unfortunately, the meal was nowhere near the quality as the previous night's dinner. Instead, the steaks seemed to have just been pre-prepared and then reheated meat. The worst thing was the crab soup. Nicole (Nelson) and I both ordered it, but when only one was brought, we quickly cancelled the other order. The soup was not a soup-consistency. It looked more like pudding; extremely thick. It was gross, but luckily some people orders, like Rachel Sayer's salmon and Leann (Stiver's) “when in doubt” chicken tenders, were tasty.
After dinner, we returned to our rooms and then reconvened a few hours later for our own team meeting. We set individual goals and wanted to get our minds right for what could be our last game as a 2011 team. We then met with the coaches and made some final preparations before hitting the hay early.
Game day was here again and we met in the morning for our jog/stretch, followed by game plan meeting. This meeting was one of a kind. We were in a hotel meeting room, but several minutes into the meeting, we noticed some music began playing. The music through the wall got louder and the voices of gospel singers filled the air. It was distracting and hilarious, but we all attempted to keep our focus as we began tapping along to the beat. It was clear that Adrian Chambers was eager to join in on the harmonizing festivities. After the partial church session, we ate breakfast and then headed over to the field.
Energy was high and we were ready! The game was a battle. After being down 1-0, Kelsey (Millman) scored the tying goal from a scramble in front of the cage. Unfortunately, one was not enough and we fell to UMD in the last minutes of overtime. Despite the loss, it was amazing to see so many field hockey alumni and their families showing their support for us there! We truly are a family.
It is always a tough moment after the end of a season. We truly believed that this was going to be our year. However, the cards don't always fall your way. Even still, after many tears and hugs, we headed back to our home in Syracuse. While the bus ride was sad, we also had a lot to be proud of. We may not have won it all, but we did win the BIG EAST Championship, moved up to No. 3 in the nation, and most importantly, we grew to become a tight knit team. The memories with this team, this year, are ones we will never, ever forget.
For me, and my fellow seniors Martu (Loncarica), Heather (Susek) and Nicole (Nelson), that was our final Syracuse game of our college careers, and our last bus trip as a part of the SU field hockey team. The four years have flown by in the blink of an eye, and it is surreal that we won't be going to the field after class for a long day of practice, or meeting in the spring for early morning workouts. Every hard day was worth it and it is with great pride that we can say we made it! We have been one of the winningest classes at SU, and it has truly been an amazing ride.
But before we say goodbye, we want to thank our families for their patience, constant support and belief in us and our dreams. We also want to thank our coaching staff for their passion and preparation, teaching us so much over the years and helping us grow as both hockey players and as young women.
Lastly, we want to thank our teammates, both past and present. You girls have all had such a strong impact on our lives and are one of the biggest reasons we came out to play each and every day. It has been an honor to be a part of the Syracuse field hockey family with you. You have pushed and challenged each of us in numerous ways. We hope you continue to dream big and share the SU pride and way! We'll be cheering you on from the stands. Go 'Cuse!
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