Lindsey Brown is committed to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois to play Division I field hockey while planning to study communications and earn a business certificate.

When did you first start playing field hockey?

“I first started playing field hockey in sixth grade, because my mom said I should play another sport rather than just ice hockey and it had hockey in the name.”

What is your favorite thing about field hockey?

“My favorite thing about field hockey is that it’s a game that is very competitive; it’s a fast paced game that pushes you and makes you competitive. It gets more fast paced as you get older, because as you get older and the stakes get higher, it just becomes more fun to play because it pushes you to become better.”

What position do you play and what do you most enjoy about playing that position?

“My primary position is center back or center defense. I like playing center back because you are the one dictating where everyone goes in the field, and you are the one that sets up the presses and the outlets. And, because you’re the farthest one back, you can see the whole field. 
You just get so much information, and you have to be able to decide which is the right path and what’s the right thing. There’s just a lot of thinking to go on in that role, which makes it not only physically hard, but mentally hard. I like it because it pushes me.” 

Why did you want to play field hockey at the collegiate level?

“I wanted to play field hockey at the higher level because, from a young age, I always knew I wanted to try and play a sport in college, whether that was ice hockey or field hockey. With field hockey, it’s just a completely different game at the college level; it’s faster paced and you have to think very quick. I would love to be able to get my degree from a really good school while being able to play the sport I love.”

What about this college enticed you to play for them?

“There’s so much. On top of it being a top university, Northwestern is a university that very much values its female sports. I feel like they put a lot of time and dedication into the importance of all their sports, but especially female sports, which is something you don’t really see a lot of in other schools. When I stepped on campus for the first time, I met the coaches and met all of the trainers and athletic directors, they just made it seem very obvious that female sports were super important to them. Northwestern has Tracey Fuchs as the head coach, who is one of the greatest field hockey players in American history, and being able to play under her and for her is such a dream of mine; I’m gonna learn so much. On top of being a top university, it’s a top field hockey school; as they said in my recruiting, it’s jumping into the deep end of college field hockey, which is going to be very challenging to adjust from high school, but I’m ready and I want to push myself and challenge myself.” 

What are you most looking forward to in these next four years of your life?

“I’m most looking forward to joining a team that just came off of winning the national championship and being a part of an atmosphere that is built on winning championships. I’m super excited for the experience, and I’m looking forward to joining a team with a competitive atmosphere, and I can’t wait to dive into that. 
And I’m looking forward to being able to find my way as a student-athlete balancing top Division I sports and top academic studies.” 

Do you have hopes to play field hockey beyond the collegiate level?

“Currently, I’m involved in the USA Field Hockey pipeline, and playing for the U18 Junior National team, and I hope to keep doing that throughout my college career and after that with the goal to one day play at the Olympics. That’s my ultimate goal for all of this. While in college, I hope to be able to age up from the U18 team, to the U21 team. 
And then after college, I hope to still continue and be able to make the jump from U21 to the Olympic team. My goal is just to be able to keep continuing to represent my country.”

Do you have any ideas of majors or other focuses you’d like to pursue at Northwestern University?

“I’m planning on majoring in communications and receiving a Certificate of Business, in hopes of graduating and being able to attend grad school at Kellogg [Northwestern’s school of management] to get my MBA [Master of Business Administration]. I hope to join the Best Buddies chapter at Northwestern.”

Zach Rutherfield is committed to Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York to play Division III soccer. He will be majoring in business and is grateful for the opportunity, as well as looking forward to the challenges ahead.

When did you first start playing soccer?

“As early as I could, probably around kindergarten or preschool in those early days, and I’ve played ever since.”

What is your favorite thing about soccer?

“Overall, just the game. I just love winning and connecting with my teammates. There are always highs and lows, but working through them and the practices, all the hard work pays off in the games and it’s overall a lot of fun.”

What position do you play and what do you most enjoy about playing that position?

“For high school, I play striker. I’m going to miss playing with my teammates and scoring goals, having assists and winning a lot of games, but in college and in club [soccer] I play left back and that’s what I got recruited to play.”

Why did you want to play soccer at the collegiate level?

“It’s just been a goal all my life; always looking to play at the next level and all the hard work, all the time and sacrifices I’ve put in led to this moment. Also, looking up to my brother. He graduated from Worcester Academy three years ago and he also plays in college in Connecticut. Looking up to him, knowing I wanted that to be one of my goals, I made it my duty to reach out to coaches, try to get recruited and eventually commit to play at the next level.”

What about this college enticed you to play for them?

“They have a really nice business school and I knew I wanted to do something in business, so when I narrowed down my schools I knew that I needed a good business school, and a good major that would set me up with a good alumni network to land a job after. Overall, it came down to the coach. The coach was nice, really liked me and we were always in contact.”

What are you most looking forward to in these next four years of your life?

“Obviously, it’s a big stepping stone from high school to college. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, first of all, and I’m also looking forward to a brand new team. These are teammates I’ve never met, that I’ve never played with before and I’m going to be playing against bigger, faster and better people so it’s going to be challenging, but with that challenge comes a lot of responsibility. Ultimately, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, especially to play soccer for another four years, which I’m very thankful for.”

Do you have hopes to play soccer beyond the collegiate level?

“As of right now, probably not but it also depends on how my collegiate level goes. I’m focusing right now on building connections and hopefully landing a nice business job after college.”

Do you have any ideas of majors or other focuses you’d like to pursue at Clarkson University?

“I am majoring in business administration. It’s the overall business major, so the first year classes are all the same and if you want to change after your first year or second year, you could go into finance or entrepreneurship and stuff like that.”

Do you have anything else that you think is important to include about your experiences with soccer or your commitment?

“It was a very long and tiring process and a lot of work that built into it, but overall, the day I committed it was a lot of weight off my shoulders. I finally got what I wanted and my goal throughout my high school and youth career with a school that I really like. It’s just very rewarding and also a great challenge ahead.”

Committed Senior Max Oelkers will be attending St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire after being recruited in his junior year for Division III soccer. Oelkers plans to study finance.

When did you first start playing soccer?

“Really young, basically since I could walk. Both my older sisters play soccer. So, ever since I was a kid.”

What is your favorite thing about soccer?

“I feel like when I play soccer, it’s all you think about. All the worries you have or anything like that go away. It’s just such a fun game. I also love the team aspect of it, there are just so many different aspects physically, mentally and strategically to soccer.”

What position do you play and what do you most enjoy about playing that position?

“I play defensive midfield. It’s not a very glorified position because you don’t really like to score goals, but I like it because you’re in the middle of everything and you’re defending but also providing to the attack. You’re also the passer. I like passing; I feel like that’s a big part of the position.”

Why did you want to play soccer at the collegiate level?

“My oldest sister plays [Division III soccer] at Clark, and she had a really good experience there. I just really love the sport and it was always a goal of mine when I was young. I saw something to strive for and I think it’d be a good experience.”

What about this college enticed you to play for them?

“What enticed me most was the camaraderie of the team and the coaching staff – they made me feel welcomed and excited to be a part of the program. I also really liked the campus; it’s in a beautiful part of New Hampshire. I especially love the fall, when the leaves change color and the whole campus lights up even more. Financial aid was also a big factor in my decision. I received close to the maximum merit scholarship they offer, along with a solid athletic scholarship. On top of that, the school has a great reputation—it’s ranked number one in New Hampshire for job placement after graduation. The liberal arts approach, with specialized concentrations like business, allows students to grow not just academically, but personally and spiritually as well.”

What are you most looking forward to in these next four years of your life?

“Making new friends, new teammates and experiencing something new. It’s not too far [from home], it’s not a crazy change, but it’s a new school, a new college. No matter where it is, it’s going to be a different experience and different things to learn from.”

Do you have hopes to play soccer beyond the collegiate level?

“As much as I love soccer, I don’t see myself playing beyond the collegiate level. After college, I want to shift my focus toward building my career.”

Do you have any ideas of majors or other focuses you’d like to pursue at St. Anselm College?

“I’m majoring in finance with a minor in accounting. I was stuck between that and business management, but I feel like their finance program is a little more specific. My dad also works in finance, so I will follow in his footsteps. I also feel like there’s a lot of money in it and there are a lot of avenues where you can go with it.”

Do you have anything else that you think is important to include about your experiences with soccer or your commitment?

“The whole recruitment process is very stressful. But when you get that offer, when you get that commitment and when you find your people in the school you want to be at, it’s a great feeling. I’m super excited to go and experience the next level and go make so many new memories.”

Senior Olivia Demember is committed to Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts to play Division III Women’s Soccer. She is planning to study nursing with a concentration in anesthesiology. 

When did you first start playing soccer?

“Around when I was five years old.”

What is your favorite thing about soccer?

“I would say being not just yourself, but being a part of a team. You’re all trying to accomplish one goal, which is winning for each other.”

What position do you play and what do you most enjoy about playing that position?

“I play midfield and I like it most because I can do both attacking and defending. You’re not in one area, [but] you’re also in the middle, so you kind of just do whatever you feel like you need to do.”

Why did you want to play soccer at the collegiate level?

“I didn’t really want to, but then thinking about my life without something I have been doing my whole life, it just didn’t feel right. I just feel like I would not feel like myself without it.”

What about this college enticed you to play for them?

“Kylie [Tomasetti] is someone I played with for two years on a team, and I really liked her. She kind of introduced me to it, and then when I went over [to Westfield], all of the girls [and coach] were super nice. [We’ve] played in really stressful situations, the national level was super stressful, but he just made sure that we knew it was for fun, but also to win.”

What are you most looking forward to in these next four years of your life?

“Just a fun experience and growing more as a person. I feel like I’ve grown so much because of soccer and I’m excited for another four years.”

Do you have hopes to play soccer beyond the collegiate level?

“I used to, but honestly, I don’t see it in the future anymore. I don’t think I see myself doing it after the four years, but I have my own plans.”

Do you have any ideas of majors or other focuses you’d like to pursue at Westfield State University?

“I want to do nursing, and I was planning on doing a more specialized part of it, which is anesthesiology.”

Do you have anything else that you think is important to include about your experiences with soccer or your commitment?

“I’m just excited.”

Committed senior Gaby Lomuto will be attending Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD after being recruited for their Division I rugby program. Lomuto plans to study health science.

When did you first start playing rugby?

“I started playing rugby my freshman year at Algonquin… I joined the team because my field hockey captain, [who was] also the rugby captain, was pushing me to try it out, and I wanted to stay in shape for field hockey in the offseason. So I tried it out, and I ended up liking it way more.”

What is your favorite thing about rugby?

“Definitely the culture aspect of it. It’s different from any other sport I’ve ever played. It’s like you beat each other up on the field for seventy minutes, and then after you have a pizza party and those become some of your best friends…It’s such a cool thing.”

What position do you play and what do you most enjoy about playing that position?

“I play fullback, which is the last line of defense in the back of the field, and I really like it because you have to have speed to play it, but also I get to tackle people more often than I get tackled, which is pretty fun. It’s a lot of pressure definitely to be the last one in the back there, trying to save the day if all else goes wrong. But if I do catch them, which hopefully usually happens, then it makes me feel really good about myself. And that’s what I’ve been playing ever since I started playing, so I’m just used to it, and I really like it.”

Why did you want to play rugby at the collegiate level?

“I really have developed such a passion for the game. I’ve known for a long time that I’ve wanted to play a sport in college because I just love being a part of a team. And I do have such a strong passion for rugby throughout high school that I wanted to continue doing that in college. And so when I started going to tournaments and showcase events to meet with college coaches, then I kinda got the vibe that this would be somewhere that I would fit in.”

What about this college enticed you to play for them?

“I originally wasn’t even gonna go down and check it out, like I had no interest. It was pretty far, Emmitsburg, Maryland, and they didn’t have nutrition and dietetics [programs] specifically, which is what I want to go into. But then I got a good financial package, so then I just decided to go and check it out and ended up falling in love with the campus. The coach is super sweet. The girls were super welcoming right off the bat. We went to a girls’ basketball game together, and it was just a super good vibe, inclusive, welcoming. I really felt at home there.”

What are you most looking forward to in these next four years of your life?

“Definitely watching myself progress on and off the pitch. I think even throughout high school on and off the pitch, I’ve developed so much confidence and leadership skills throughout being a captain this year and last year. I think I can see myself continuing to grow in college on the pitch, obviously with improving my skills, but also making new friends and taking my career, hopefully, also after school.”

Do you have hopes to play rugby beyond the collegiate level?

“Yeah. Really, my dream is to continue to grow… There’s officially a pro league women’s team in the US that just became a thing a few months ago. I really someday would like to play for the Boston Banshees, which is our Boston team. And then hopefully, if I continue uninjured, I want to still play in the future. I really would like to take my skills to the USA team eventually.”

Do you have any ideas of majors or other focuses you’d like to pursue at Mount Saint Mary’s?

“So I originally wanted to go into nutrition and dietetics. That’s been my passion. But as I said before, Mount Saint Mary’s doesn’t have that major specifically. I’m going to go into health science. That’s my plan right now because with that, you can still have more options because I could be a nutritionist, physical therapist, personal trainer… I took public speaking this year, and I really have developed a love for it. And they have some good sports broadcasting programs there, so I might wanna do something with that potentially too.”

Do you have anything else that you think is important to include about your experiences with rugby or your commitment?

“I think that for anyone out there who is thinking about trying the sport, it definitely right off the bat seems so intimidating and it takes a lot of time and effort to get used to it; there’s so many rules and it’s an intense contact sport, but I can’t emphasize it enough that one of the best decisions of my life was to join the Algonquin rugby team. The friendships I’ve made are lasting for the rest of my life. The skills and mental health I’ve developed from it is just beyond anything I could have asked for. I definitely recommend it. And I’ll just say that I’m really excited for this opportunity to be going to play in the NCAA and at the Division I level, and I think the Mount was a really good fit for me, and I can’t wait to go there.”