Beatson’s true self has shone through
10/30/2015 11:36:00 AM | Field Hockey
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
Flash back to 2012. Alex Beatson was a reserved freshman looking to do anything she could to help the team. Today, you will find someone who has blossomed into her true self - a confident leader, both on and off the field.
"In high school, I knew who I was, but when you come to college as a freshman, you don't really know who you are and you try to adapt," said Beatson.
Beatson's career at Lehigh has featured growth in several areas.
"College is when you truly find yourself," she said. "From freshman year to now, I'm definitely more outspoken, but my friends who have always known me at college always knew that was my true self."
As an upperclassman, Beatson has found herself as a model student, athlete and leader. The true Alex Beatson has come to the forefront.
"Alex has really come in to her own," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "When she steps on the field, she gives her best. She is a natural competitor who always wants to win and is one of the most mentally-tough individuals I have coached at Lehigh."
The true Alex Beatson is a leader who makes a difference on the field, in the classroom and in the local community. A Wilmington, Delaware native, she has to be a vocal leader as a center back, a role she just took on this year.
"Playing center back, you're controlling the whole field," she said. "I see the field better than anyone else just because I'm the furthest person back. I don't think I could have stepped into the role without knowing the importance of the position. It controls the whole backfield and midfield."
Beatson was a midfielder in high school, who initially started out in the midfield at Lehigh. Last season, she started playing a bit of defense (along with midfield), but didn't move full time to center back until this season.
"I was always a more defensive-oriented midfielder," said Beatson. "Even in midfield play, I was always better at the defensive aspect. The more structure and training I received at defense, it became a better fit for me."
Classmate and fellow defender Kat Kneizys believes the move to the back line was good for the team.
"Alex started in the midfield because of her aggressiveness and ability to distribute the ball," said Kneizys. "However, I believe it is more useful to our defense because now we can have smoother transitions up the field and give up fewer goals in our circle. I don't think anyone questions that she belongs in the backfield, and I'm glad our team was able to recognize her value on the defensive line. The transition was obvious because it made our defense stronger as a whole. It seemed effortless on Alex's part."
A key aspect of center back is leadership and taking charge. Beatson is essentially the team's quarterback.
"I can see the holes and I like being able to tell people where to step and where to swing the ball," she said. "I don't stop talking the entire game. Everyone on the field is talking, but once it gets to our defensive zone, you'll hear me even more. It's usually me talking, along with our goalkeeper Julia (Ward), when we get in the circle. You don't always see behind you, so people always have to be talking."
"Alex directs the whole team from the backfield and helps push the play up the field," said Kneizys. "More importantly, she helps us focus. If someone is struggling, she pulls them aside and help them get back into the game. She is always cheering on the girls, but at the same time, challenging them to perform better. She leads our team with her competitive, yet nurturing, spirit that everyone appreciates."
Beatson takes pride in the little things, which is important to truly embrace her role.
"Defense isn't a very glorified position," she said. "We get pumped when we have a shutout or hold teams to just a few shots. I like playing defense because it's a lot of the dirty work that makes everything else tick."
At the pulse of the Mountain Hawks' program are people like Beatson. Field hockey brought Beatson to Lehigh and it's been beneficial for both sides.
"I knew I wanted to stay close to home," she said. "I knew when I took the campus tour that I really liked it. It's nice that my family is able to come up whenever they want."
Beatson's adjustment to Lehigh was fairly seamless.
"I went to a very good high school in Delaware, so I think it prepared me pretty well for the academic rigors of Lehigh," she said. "I was prepared for how hard everything was going to be. We had athletes from my school go Division I in the past, so they really emphasized the importance of being organized and talking to your professors."
Beatson has also embraced another aspect of being a Lehigh student-athlete, involvement in extracurricular activities outside of academics and athletics. When Beatson was a sophomore, former teammate Erinn Bonshak held a leadership position with Adopt-A-Family, an event run by the Student-Athlete Council.
"Erinn was one of the three people who organized the event," said Beatson. "She thought it was something I would like, so I joined SAC and was put in the community service branch. When I was a junior, there was an opportunity to be part of Adopt-A-Family. I obviously really like it because I'm doing it again this year. It's really nice to be part of something that's so giving."
Adopt-A-Family is an opportunity for every Lehigh Athletics team to develop a special relationship with an underprivileged local family around the holidays. By "adopting" a family, the Mountain Hawks support them and provide them a holiday season. The entire event includes raising funds, shopping for gifts, wrapping the gifts and the final event when the student-athletes meet their families and provide gifts. The entire process is extremely rewarding.
"I really like kids," she said. "I really love working with kids and I love coaching our summer camps. I've always taught kids sports or hung out with them babysitting. Adopt-A-Family is something I really enjoy being a part of. When I was in high school, I did community service for a local daycare center that was in need."
As part of her role as an organizer of Adopt-A-Family, Beatson has been forced to take charge, much like how she's taken charge as a center back on the field. The event itself is rewarding; Beatson doesn't need to sell her peers on that part. One way Alex's leadership has made a difference is getting people excited from the beginning to raise funds, shop and wrap gifts for their families.
"Collecting money and getting people to come to shopping day is where it gets challenging," said Beatson. "A lot of times, underclassmen don't realize the importance of what we're doing. Once they get to the final event, they realize how much of an impact we're having."
Beatson's experience organizing Adopt-A-Family was so good, she's serving as one of the leaders again this year.
"I didn't have any doubt I wanted to do it again," she said. "It's a big commitment, but it's worth the time."
"What Alex does for Adopt-A-Family is wonderful," said Eversley. "She is responsible, fun, influential and an all-around hard worker. I am not surprised at all of the great work she's done to organize and pull off a great event. I am very proud of her."
Beyond her work on the field and in the community, the Earth and Environmental Science major has aspirations of working in a geotechnical firm, government or industry.
"I really stumbled upon my major," said Beatson. "When I was a freshman, I came in as a Biology major because I was unsure if I wanted to either teach or be a veterinarian. Then I took an environmental sciences class and really liked it."
Along with her busy schedule, Beatson has already garnered experience in the field.
"This past summer, I worked at Drexel in Dr. Pete DeCarlo's lab," said Beatson. "He's an air pollution specialist. We looked at air pollution in the Marcellus Shale Region of Pennsylvania, looking at the natural gas pipelines and seeing if they let off emissions."
Between all her experiences at Lehigh, Beatson is leaving a legacy.
"On the field Alex leads by example. She gives everything she has to put LU field hockey into the best situation possible," said Eversley. "Off the field, I would say the same; she cares very much about others."
Athletics teaches real-world skills, which is certainly true for Beatson.
"Lehigh has made me a lot more confident in who I am," she said. "I don't have a problem going up to anyone and talking to them now. Lehigh has grown my confidence in all aspects."
That confidence has shown through. From being a shy freshman looking to make her mark, Beatson's true self has shined brightly.
"Playing center back has definitely helped me with my confidence because you have to be confident to play the position," said Beatson. "You have to be confident in what you're saying and where you're telling people to move because you're directing everyone. Overall, Lehigh has made me a more confident person and a better communicator."
Flash back to 2012. Alex Beatson was a reserved freshman looking to do anything she could to help the team. Today, you will find someone who has blossomed into her true self - a confident leader, both on and off the field.
"In high school, I knew who I was, but when you come to college as a freshman, you don't really know who you are and you try to adapt," said Beatson.
Beatson's career at Lehigh has featured growth in several areas.
"College is when you truly find yourself," she said. "From freshman year to now, I'm definitely more outspoken, but my friends who have always known me at college always knew that was my true self."
As an upperclassman, Beatson has found herself as a model student, athlete and leader. The true Alex Beatson has come to the forefront.
"Alex has really come in to her own," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "When she steps on the field, she gives her best. She is a natural competitor who always wants to win and is one of the most mentally-tough individuals I have coached at Lehigh."
The true Alex Beatson is a leader who makes a difference on the field, in the classroom and in the local community. A Wilmington, Delaware native, she has to be a vocal leader as a center back, a role she just took on this year.
"Playing center back, you're controlling the whole field," she said. "I see the field better than anyone else just because I'm the furthest person back. I don't think I could have stepped into the role without knowing the importance of the position. It controls the whole backfield and midfield."
Beatson was a midfielder in high school, who initially started out in the midfield at Lehigh. Last season, she started playing a bit of defense (along with midfield), but didn't move full time to center back until this season.
"I was always a more defensive-oriented midfielder," said Beatson. "Even in midfield play, I was always better at the defensive aspect. The more structure and training I received at defense, it became a better fit for me."
Classmate and fellow defender Kat Kneizys believes the move to the back line was good for the team.
"Alex started in the midfield because of her aggressiveness and ability to distribute the ball," said Kneizys. "However, I believe it is more useful to our defense because now we can have smoother transitions up the field and give up fewer goals in our circle. I don't think anyone questions that she belongs in the backfield, and I'm glad our team was able to recognize her value on the defensive line. The transition was obvious because it made our defense stronger as a whole. It seemed effortless on Alex's part."
A key aspect of center back is leadership and taking charge. Beatson is essentially the team's quarterback.
"I can see the holes and I like being able to tell people where to step and where to swing the ball," she said. "I don't stop talking the entire game. Everyone on the field is talking, but once it gets to our defensive zone, you'll hear me even more. It's usually me talking, along with our goalkeeper Julia (Ward), when we get in the circle. You don't always see behind you, so people always have to be talking."
"Alex directs the whole team from the backfield and helps push the play up the field," said Kneizys. "More importantly, she helps us focus. If someone is struggling, she pulls them aside and help them get back into the game. She is always cheering on the girls, but at the same time, challenging them to perform better. She leads our team with her competitive, yet nurturing, spirit that everyone appreciates."
Beatson takes pride in the little things, which is important to truly embrace her role.
"Defense isn't a very glorified position," she said. "We get pumped when we have a shutout or hold teams to just a few shots. I like playing defense because it's a lot of the dirty work that makes everything else tick."
At the pulse of the Mountain Hawks' program are people like Beatson. Field hockey brought Beatson to Lehigh and it's been beneficial for both sides.
"I knew I wanted to stay close to home," she said. "I knew when I took the campus tour that I really liked it. It's nice that my family is able to come up whenever they want."
Beatson's adjustment to Lehigh was fairly seamless.
"I went to a very good high school in Delaware, so I think it prepared me pretty well for the academic rigors of Lehigh," she said. "I was prepared for how hard everything was going to be. We had athletes from my school go Division I in the past, so they really emphasized the importance of being organized and talking to your professors."
Beatson has also embraced another aspect of being a Lehigh student-athlete, involvement in extracurricular activities outside of academics and athletics. When Beatson was a sophomore, former teammate Erinn Bonshak held a leadership position with Adopt-A-Family, an event run by the Student-Athlete Council.
"Erinn was one of the three people who organized the event," said Beatson. "She thought it was something I would like, so I joined SAC and was put in the community service branch. When I was a junior, there was an opportunity to be part of Adopt-A-Family. I obviously really like it because I'm doing it again this year. It's really nice to be part of something that's so giving."
Adopt-A-Family is an opportunity for every Lehigh Athletics team to develop a special relationship with an underprivileged local family around the holidays. By "adopting" a family, the Mountain Hawks support them and provide them a holiday season. The entire event includes raising funds, shopping for gifts, wrapping the gifts and the final event when the student-athletes meet their families and provide gifts. The entire process is extremely rewarding.
"I really like kids," she said. "I really love working with kids and I love coaching our summer camps. I've always taught kids sports or hung out with them babysitting. Adopt-A-Family is something I really enjoy being a part of. When I was in high school, I did community service for a local daycare center that was in need."
As part of her role as an organizer of Adopt-A-Family, Beatson has been forced to take charge, much like how she's taken charge as a center back on the field. The event itself is rewarding; Beatson doesn't need to sell her peers on that part. One way Alex's leadership has made a difference is getting people excited from the beginning to raise funds, shop and wrap gifts for their families.
"Collecting money and getting people to come to shopping day is where it gets challenging," said Beatson. "A lot of times, underclassmen don't realize the importance of what we're doing. Once they get to the final event, they realize how much of an impact we're having."
Beatson's experience organizing Adopt-A-Family was so good, she's serving as one of the leaders again this year.
"I didn't have any doubt I wanted to do it again," she said. "It's a big commitment, but it's worth the time."
"What Alex does for Adopt-A-Family is wonderful," said Eversley. "She is responsible, fun, influential and an all-around hard worker. I am not surprised at all of the great work she's done to organize and pull off a great event. I am very proud of her."
Beyond her work on the field and in the community, the Earth and Environmental Science major has aspirations of working in a geotechnical firm, government or industry.
"I really stumbled upon my major," said Beatson. "When I was a freshman, I came in as a Biology major because I was unsure if I wanted to either teach or be a veterinarian. Then I took an environmental sciences class and really liked it."
Along with her busy schedule, Beatson has already garnered experience in the field.
"This past summer, I worked at Drexel in Dr. Pete DeCarlo's lab," said Beatson. "He's an air pollution specialist. We looked at air pollution in the Marcellus Shale Region of Pennsylvania, looking at the natural gas pipelines and seeing if they let off emissions."
Between all her experiences at Lehigh, Beatson is leaving a legacy.
"On the field Alex leads by example. She gives everything she has to put LU field hockey into the best situation possible," said Eversley. "Off the field, I would say the same; she cares very much about others."
Athletics teaches real-world skills, which is certainly true for Beatson.
"Lehigh has made me a lot more confident in who I am," she said. "I don't have a problem going up to anyone and talking to them now. Lehigh has grown my confidence in all aspects."
That confidence has shown through. From being a shy freshman looking to make her mark, Beatson's true self has shined brightly.
"Playing center back has definitely helped me with my confidence because you have to be confident to play the position," said Beatson. "You have to be confident in what you're saying and where you're telling people to move because you're directing everyone. Overall, Lehigh has made me a more confident person and a better communicator."
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