Lehigh University Athletics
There’s no place like home for Pacheco
9/30/2015 6:53:00 PM | Field Hockey
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
Zoey Pacheco helped start a trend - staying close to home. The Lehigh Valley features some of the strongest high school field hockey in the nation and the Lehigh field hockey program is taking full advantage.
A product of Emmaus High School, Pacheco and classmate Caitlin Bryan committed to Lehigh four years ago and ever since, more and more local products have become Mountain Hawks.
"Caitlin was a good friend of mine, so we obviously talked about college searching," said Pacheco, a senior midfielder. "Everyone from my high school class went to play field hockey in college, so it was something we were always discussing, but Caitlin and I were never set on going somewhere together."
Flash forward to today and the Lehigh roster has gone from zero to five Emmaus graduates. They all had their individual reasons to commit to Lehigh, which speaks volumes about the opportunity as a student, and athlete, at Lehigh University.
"I came for a visit, met Coach (Eversley) and thought she was great," said Pacheco. "It felt very different than Emmaus, and very similar at the same time. I love the university. I felt like it was a good fit and I could completely see myself here."
Bryan felt similarly and really liked Lehigh's Engineering program.
"We asked each other, 'are you cool if I go?' So we came together," said Pacheco.
Along with Pacheco and Bryan, juniors Kassidy Green, Aislinn Bryan and freshman Teresa Carotenuto have since turned in their Emmaus Green and Yellow for Lehigh Brown and White.
Having that connection with local athletes is important for not only the Lehigh field hockey program, but also the student-athletes. By committing to Lehigh, they commit to a strong all-around college experience, featuring a top-notch education and playing Division I field hockey right in their backyards.
"It is very important to establish a relationship with local athletes," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "The Lehigh Valley is one of the best beds of field hockey, so why wouldn't I want those local athletes to attend college in their hometowns? They could be a local hero, and to be a student-athlete at Lehigh is an amazing opportunity."
Pacheco really took to being close to home.
"I love being so close to home," said Pacheco. "I have a younger brother, a younger sister and an older sister, so I can go home to watch my brother play or go to my sister's plays."
College is essentially a world within itself. For those worried about being too close to home, Pacheco doesn't see it that way.
"Yes, I'm only a half hour away, if that, but sometimes I feel like I'm hours away," said Pacheco. "I'm here unless there's something major to go home for. I love the fact that my family can come to all the games. They've traveled since freshman year."
Pacheco didn't grow up in the Lehigh Valley. She was actually a transplant who caught onto field hockey after moving to the area.
"I grew up in New Jersey, playing basketball and soccer, and I moved to Emmaus in the fifth grade," said Pacheco. "Everyone told me about the field hockey team and that I had to play. My best friend taught me how to play field hockey in her basement and I started playing at Emmaus Coach (Sue) Butz's indoor facility in the sixth grade. I've been playing ever since."
Field hockey has helped lead Pacheco to her tremendous opportunity at Lehigh. Always very serious about her academics, Pacheco was looking into several Patriot League and Ivy League schools when deciding on college.
"I wanted to play field hockey, but I wanted to go to a good academic school. I felt like Lehigh was a great balance," she said. "I felt like Lehigh had a lot of different things to offer. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to pursue in my studies, so I thought Lehigh would be a great place to start."
Pacheco began in the College of Arts and Sciences, which led to her current double major of Political Science and English.
"I knew I liked Arts and Sciences. I've always liked to write," said Pacheco. "I picked up the Political Science major the end of my freshman year, then I was taking a lot of English classes because I'm a pretty avid reader. I decided to get a major in English since I was taking all these classes anyway."
Not only did Emmaus prepare Pacheco for collegiate field hockey, but also the academic rigors of Lehigh University.
"It was a pretty seamless transition," she said. "It's a lot of work, but Emmaus prepares you well. Field hockey wise, it's very different. The program at Emmaus is established; you step in and fill your role. At Lehigh, we're really trying to build something and that's been a very different experience, but at the end of the day, it's all field hockey."
One of Pacheco's primary goals at Lehigh has been changing the team's mindset. When a program is struggling, it's difficult to stay positive, but Pacheco has been focused through thick and thin. Having the right mentality is the first step to success.
"I've definitely become more confident in my ability to lead and become more confident in myself," said Pacheco, a two-time team captain. "I think that confidence is infectious with my teammates. Throughout my four years, I've tried to focus on team unity and bringing the team together. We've really tried to push and establish that mindset of winning."
Even though the results haven't been to their liking, the Mountain Hawks are making strides due in large part to Pacheco's efforts. The foundation is being built which is leading to smaller victories, building blocks which will lead to sustained success. Most importantly, the team knows it can play with, and beat, anybody.
"We're close," said Pacheco. "It's encouraging, but also frustrating because we're right there. The main thing that's changed is the culture. There is a mentality that we're going to work hard in practice and we're going to win. Field hockey is at the forefront of everyone's minds. I also think basic fitness and basic skills are improving."
The Mountain Hawks are living and breathing field hockey. They are getting ever so close. One example came on Saturday, Sept. 19 when Lehigh took perennial power American to overtime, allowing just one first-half shot and only seven shots through regulation. The Mountain Hawks also had several chances of their own… it was truly anybody's game.
Pacheco has been a mainstay from day one for the Mountain Hawks, entering her senior season playing 51 games with 43 starts, tallying one goal and two assists. Individual stats are nice, but it's not what Pacheco, or her teammates, are worried about.
"Across classes, we are all very close," she said. "Our class has worked on establishing that unity. I think that's why it shows on the field. It's less individual hockey and more of a team effort."
Enjoying success as a program isn't easy. It takes a lot of time and effort to have success, then sustain it. The Mountain Hawks were better as a program with Pacheco joining its team in 2012, and they're even better now after all the hard work she's put in.
The experience at Lehigh has proved invaluable for Pacheco, and it's not over yet.
"On the field, the goal is to make it to the Patriot League Tournament," she said "We've never done it, so we'd really like to get to the tournament before we leave. We think the team has grown a lot. We'd really like to get that tangible result in our senior season."
"Zoey has a very powerful influence and presence on the team," said Green, a teammate of Pacheco's for six of the last eight years (three years in high school and three years in college). "She is a very natural leader, which makes it really easy to look up to and follow her. She truly believes that we're headed in the right direction and is always working and pushing for the rest of the team to believe it, too."
Off the field, Pacheco has grown as a leader, thanks to her work in the Lehigh Athletics leadership programs. She is currently in the Leadership Legacies program.
"In the spring, we focus on developing the group and making sure we're comfortable with other leaders across the different teams," she said. "Come fall, because we've built those relationships with other leaders, we're comfortable talking to them about conflict resolution, how to resolve team issues and those types of things."
Pacheco looks back to her Lehigh experience and all of her growth, thankful for the opportunities Lehigh has presented.
"Lehigh is challenging academically, but it also instills confidence in individuals," she said. "From freshman year on, Lehigh really helps you establish your network and focus on your career aspirations. Freshman year, you start hearing about making a resume so by the time you're a senior, you're more than prepared to go out and interview."
The fact that Pacheco was named a team captain during the spring of her sophomore year speaks volumes of her impact, and her growth, over the last four years.
"Zoey is a two-time captain who is respected by her teammates," said Eversley. "I love that she is always thinking of the team first. It's hard to come into a program that is changing the culture, but she and the upperclassmen have certainly helped do that. As for her play, she sees space like no athlete I have ever coached at Lehigh. It's truly such a gift, and unstoppable, when she makes the connections with her teammates."
Pacheco has been an asset to Lehigh University in many ways, and has made a lasting impact on her classmates, teammates and everyone she's dealt with. However the rest of this season unfolds, Pacheco has created a lasting legacy.
"I think we all have very similar mindsets of the way we approach the game and how we mentally look at wins and losses," she said. "I think I lost two games in high school. We definitely all have that winning mentality and I think that translates to the way we approach Lehigh. We wanted to bring that winning mentality, and while the numbers haven't necessarily translated, we're making progress."
"Zoey's efforts to make this team better day in and day out are tremendous," said Eversley. "No one understands how much extra time she puts in to make sure the team is in a positive place and competing from game to game. I thank her very much for helping establish and set standards."
Zoey Pacheco helped start a trend - staying close to home. The Lehigh Valley features some of the strongest high school field hockey in the nation and the Lehigh field hockey program is taking full advantage.
A product of Emmaus High School, Pacheco and classmate Caitlin Bryan committed to Lehigh four years ago and ever since, more and more local products have become Mountain Hawks.
"Caitlin was a good friend of mine, so we obviously talked about college searching," said Pacheco, a senior midfielder. "Everyone from my high school class went to play field hockey in college, so it was something we were always discussing, but Caitlin and I were never set on going somewhere together."
Flash forward to today and the Lehigh roster has gone from zero to five Emmaus graduates. They all had their individual reasons to commit to Lehigh, which speaks volumes about the opportunity as a student, and athlete, at Lehigh University.
"I came for a visit, met Coach (Eversley) and thought she was great," said Pacheco. "It felt very different than Emmaus, and very similar at the same time. I love the university. I felt like it was a good fit and I could completely see myself here."
Bryan felt similarly and really liked Lehigh's Engineering program.
"We asked each other, 'are you cool if I go?' So we came together," said Pacheco.
Along with Pacheco and Bryan, juniors Kassidy Green, Aislinn Bryan and freshman Teresa Carotenuto have since turned in their Emmaus Green and Yellow for Lehigh Brown and White.
Having that connection with local athletes is important for not only the Lehigh field hockey program, but also the student-athletes. By committing to Lehigh, they commit to a strong all-around college experience, featuring a top-notch education and playing Division I field hockey right in their backyards.
"It is very important to establish a relationship with local athletes," said Lehigh head coach Stacey Eversley. "The Lehigh Valley is one of the best beds of field hockey, so why wouldn't I want those local athletes to attend college in their hometowns? They could be a local hero, and to be a student-athlete at Lehigh is an amazing opportunity."
Pacheco really took to being close to home.
"I love being so close to home," said Pacheco. "I have a younger brother, a younger sister and an older sister, so I can go home to watch my brother play or go to my sister's plays."
College is essentially a world within itself. For those worried about being too close to home, Pacheco doesn't see it that way.
"Yes, I'm only a half hour away, if that, but sometimes I feel like I'm hours away," said Pacheco. "I'm here unless there's something major to go home for. I love the fact that my family can come to all the games. They've traveled since freshman year."
Pacheco didn't grow up in the Lehigh Valley. She was actually a transplant who caught onto field hockey after moving to the area.
"I grew up in New Jersey, playing basketball and soccer, and I moved to Emmaus in the fifth grade," said Pacheco. "Everyone told me about the field hockey team and that I had to play. My best friend taught me how to play field hockey in her basement and I started playing at Emmaus Coach (Sue) Butz's indoor facility in the sixth grade. I've been playing ever since."
Field hockey has helped lead Pacheco to her tremendous opportunity at Lehigh. Always very serious about her academics, Pacheco was looking into several Patriot League and Ivy League schools when deciding on college.
"I wanted to play field hockey, but I wanted to go to a good academic school. I felt like Lehigh was a great balance," she said. "I felt like Lehigh had a lot of different things to offer. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to pursue in my studies, so I thought Lehigh would be a great place to start."
Pacheco began in the College of Arts and Sciences, which led to her current double major of Political Science and English.
"I knew I liked Arts and Sciences. I've always liked to write," said Pacheco. "I picked up the Political Science major the end of my freshman year, then I was taking a lot of English classes because I'm a pretty avid reader. I decided to get a major in English since I was taking all these classes anyway."
Not only did Emmaus prepare Pacheco for collegiate field hockey, but also the academic rigors of Lehigh University.
"It was a pretty seamless transition," she said. "It's a lot of work, but Emmaus prepares you well. Field hockey wise, it's very different. The program at Emmaus is established; you step in and fill your role. At Lehigh, we're really trying to build something and that's been a very different experience, but at the end of the day, it's all field hockey."
One of Pacheco's primary goals at Lehigh has been changing the team's mindset. When a program is struggling, it's difficult to stay positive, but Pacheco has been focused through thick and thin. Having the right mentality is the first step to success.
"I've definitely become more confident in my ability to lead and become more confident in myself," said Pacheco, a two-time team captain. "I think that confidence is infectious with my teammates. Throughout my four years, I've tried to focus on team unity and bringing the team together. We've really tried to push and establish that mindset of winning."
Even though the results haven't been to their liking, the Mountain Hawks are making strides due in large part to Pacheco's efforts. The foundation is being built which is leading to smaller victories, building blocks which will lead to sustained success. Most importantly, the team knows it can play with, and beat, anybody.
"We're close," said Pacheco. "It's encouraging, but also frustrating because we're right there. The main thing that's changed is the culture. There is a mentality that we're going to work hard in practice and we're going to win. Field hockey is at the forefront of everyone's minds. I also think basic fitness and basic skills are improving."
The Mountain Hawks are living and breathing field hockey. They are getting ever so close. One example came on Saturday, Sept. 19 when Lehigh took perennial power American to overtime, allowing just one first-half shot and only seven shots through regulation. The Mountain Hawks also had several chances of their own… it was truly anybody's game.
Pacheco has been a mainstay from day one for the Mountain Hawks, entering her senior season playing 51 games with 43 starts, tallying one goal and two assists. Individual stats are nice, but it's not what Pacheco, or her teammates, are worried about.
"Across classes, we are all very close," she said. "Our class has worked on establishing that unity. I think that's why it shows on the field. It's less individual hockey and more of a team effort."
Enjoying success as a program isn't easy. It takes a lot of time and effort to have success, then sustain it. The Mountain Hawks were better as a program with Pacheco joining its team in 2012, and they're even better now after all the hard work she's put in.
The experience at Lehigh has proved invaluable for Pacheco, and it's not over yet.
"On the field, the goal is to make it to the Patriot League Tournament," she said "We've never done it, so we'd really like to get to the tournament before we leave. We think the team has grown a lot. We'd really like to get that tangible result in our senior season."
"Zoey has a very powerful influence and presence on the team," said Green, a teammate of Pacheco's for six of the last eight years (three years in high school and three years in college). "She is a very natural leader, which makes it really easy to look up to and follow her. She truly believes that we're headed in the right direction and is always working and pushing for the rest of the team to believe it, too."
Off the field, Pacheco has grown as a leader, thanks to her work in the Lehigh Athletics leadership programs. She is currently in the Leadership Legacies program.
"In the spring, we focus on developing the group and making sure we're comfortable with other leaders across the different teams," she said. "Come fall, because we've built those relationships with other leaders, we're comfortable talking to them about conflict resolution, how to resolve team issues and those types of things."
Pacheco looks back to her Lehigh experience and all of her growth, thankful for the opportunities Lehigh has presented.
"Lehigh is challenging academically, but it also instills confidence in individuals," she said. "From freshman year on, Lehigh really helps you establish your network and focus on your career aspirations. Freshman year, you start hearing about making a resume so by the time you're a senior, you're more than prepared to go out and interview."
The fact that Pacheco was named a team captain during the spring of her sophomore year speaks volumes of her impact, and her growth, over the last four years.
"Zoey is a two-time captain who is respected by her teammates," said Eversley. "I love that she is always thinking of the team first. It's hard to come into a program that is changing the culture, but she and the upperclassmen have certainly helped do that. As for her play, she sees space like no athlete I have ever coached at Lehigh. It's truly such a gift, and unstoppable, when she makes the connections with her teammates."
Pacheco has been an asset to Lehigh University in many ways, and has made a lasting impact on her classmates, teammates and everyone she's dealt with. However the rest of this season unfolds, Pacheco has created a lasting legacy.
"I think we all have very similar mindsets of the way we approach the game and how we mentally look at wins and losses," she said. "I think I lost two games in high school. We definitely all have that winning mentality and I think that translates to the way we approach Lehigh. We wanted to bring that winning mentality, and while the numbers haven't necessarily translated, we're making progress."
"Zoey's efforts to make this team better day in and day out are tremendous," said Eversley. "No one understands how much extra time she puts in to make sure the team is in a positive place and competing from game to game. I thank her very much for helping establish and set standards."
Players Mentioned
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