Field Hockey Seniors
Photo by: Hannahally Photography

Transformational LUFH Senior Class Reflects on Careers

10/21/2021 1:23:00 PM | Field Hockey, Features

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh field hockey senior class has played an integral role in the rise of the Mountain Hawks, culminating in this season, which has truly been historic. Most notably, Lehigh has its most wins, 10, since 1994, while also securing its first overall winning record since that same season. The Mountain Hawks have also qualified for the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2011 – and first time since the league expanded to seven teams. These seniors have paved the way for this success with their hard work, persistence and leadership. It's a group that also includes two fifth-year players, who had such a strong belief in Lehigh field hockey that they wanted to come back for one more year. That belief has paid off, not only for these student-athletes, but also the entire program.
 
We caught up with the seniors ahead of their Senior Night Game on Friday vs. Lafayette in The Rivalry presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network and Coordinated Health.
 
#3 Leah Mullery – Nanticoke, Pa. – Holy Redeemer – Biology
Leah Mullery 
What's your favorite Lehigh Field Hockey memory up until this point?
LM: My favorite Lehigh field hockey memory up to this point has to be earning a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. I remember first day of preseason freshman year, we listed making the PL tournament as one of the goals for the season. Since then, it's been at the top of our list. It's crazy to think that just four years later, what once seemed impossible, is finally happening! The runner-up for favorite LUFH memory is definitely winning the Chopped competition this year during preseason.
 
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
LM: I can't imagine what college, both on and off the field, would have been like with different group of girls. We've been through a lot of adversity together, like fitness tests, losing seasons, and COVID protocols. However, they are the reason it's been worth it; I don't know where I'd be without them. I'm extremely grateful to Lehigh for bringing us together and I wouldn't trade our relationships for anything!
 
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
LM: These past four years have gone by so quickly! It's sad knowing my field hockey career is coming to an end, but LUFH will always be a part of me. I'm excited for the next chapter of my life, whatever it will be!
 
What will you miss most about Lehigh Field Hockey?
LM: I will miss the people the most. Teammates, coaches, fans, trainers, athletics staff and everyone else who has been a part of my career here have shaped me into who I am today. Because of them, this has been an experience I'll never forget. It's more than just field hockey; it's a family.
 
How proud are you of what this program has accomplished, and how much pride do you take in being a key part of the change?
LM: I'm beyond proud of what LUFH has accomplished in my time here. Our steps towards a tournament berth and first winning season in decades wouldn't have been possible without the coaches, supporters, and every teammate I've had since freshman year. Every person involved in this program, no matter how big or small, has played such a vital role in the change!
 
What are your postgraduate plans?
LM: I'm not entirely sure what my postgraduate plans are. For now, I'm going to be exploring options in the biological field or a possible continuance of studies.
 
#8 Lenke Havas – Maastricht, The Netherlands – Sint-Maartenscollege – Applied Economics (Master's)
Lenke Havas 
What's your favorite Lehigh Field Hockey memory up until this point?
LH: Overtime wins are always really special and exciting, and our Lafayette win my freshman season and our BU win my junior year are moments I will never forget. Just the thrill and joy of winning in overtime, especially against two important opponents, are some of my favorite memories. I also have great memories from all of our away trips and the team dinners, sleepovers and activities that came with those. Especially this season, our trip to Holy Cross felt really special and us all sitting together around the campfire at Taylor's family house after a big win is a memory I will cherish. 
 
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
LH: From the moment we all arrived here, we have had the same mindset and determination to LUFH. We knew we had to continue to drive the change that the coaches had started for the program and that bonded us. We have experienced a lot of ups and downs together and I wouldn't want to go through it with any other group of people. They have all become my best friends over the years and they are besides great field hockey players, really great people.
 
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
LH: It feels very surreal, and I haven't fully processed that this will be my last home game. All I can think of is just how grateful I am to be here and to be surrounded by all these amazing teammates, coaches and families. I could not have asked for a better ending than being able to come back for another season and to experience the success and fun we have had this year. 
 
What will you miss most about Lehigh Field Hockey?
LH: I think I will miss the small moments with my teammates the most, from dancing in the locker room, to speed walking competitions outside the hotel on away trips. Besides that, I will miss the feeling of competing, the nerves you get right before the game starts and the thrill when we score a goal. I will miss having a common goal to work towards as a team and working together every day to get better.
 
How proud are you of what this program has accomplished, and how much pride do you take in being a key part of the change?
LH: I am beyond proud of what we have accomplished as a program so far and am so grateful to have been a part of the change. We all knew coming in that our work might not translate to results on the field right away, and to actually still be here for the success feels amazing. Having a winning season and making the tournament has been a goal for us since freshman year, so it feels really rewarding to be able to achieve that in our final season at Lehigh. We went through a lot of changes on and off the field to get to this point and I am very proud of everyone who has bought in along the way.
 
What are your postgraduate plans?
LH:
I haven't decided what I want to do after graduation. I am exploring job opportunities in the U.S., but am also open to returning to the Netherlands.
 
#9 Sam Nason – Phoenix, Md. – Notre Dame Preparatory School – Industrial and Systems Engineering
Sam Nason 
What's your favorite Lehigh Field Hockey memory up until this point?
SN: I can't necessarily pinpoint one specific memory, but I love away weekends! This fall, we traveled to Massachusetts where we had a big Patriot League win against Holy Cross as well as a win against Merrimack. We also went to Taylor's lakeside house where we enjoyed time with our teammates, a delicious dinner and the beautiful view!
 
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SN: In the past four years, the senior class has become really close as we grew individually and developed strong relationships with each other. We have been through so much together, such as navigating college during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have relied on each other through the highs and lows. Together, we have made many lasting memories that I will always cherish. 
 
Describe the feeling going into Senior Night? What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
SN: Going into Senior Night feels bittersweet. I am so proud of the team and the senior class, but it also signifies my final collegiate game on Ulrich Field. Even though I have been trying to enjoy every moment of this season to its fullest, this fall has gone by so quickly! As I am nearing the end of my collegiate career and I think back, I remember so many great moments that I have shared with my teammates and I am so grateful for these.

What will you miss most about Lehigh Field Hockey?
SN: I will definitely miss my teammates; I can't imagine not seeing them every day, whether it is in the locker room or at practice and lift. I will miss playing field hockey, but most of all, I will miss the camaraderie and team atmosphere of LUFH.   
 
How proud are you of what this program has accomplished, and how much pride do you take in being a key part of the change?
SN: I am very proud of the team's accomplishments. During the four years that I have been a part of LUFH, the team has developed so much and it has been amazing to have been able to be a part of this progress. This season, in particular, has been crucial in showing how much the team has grown, by going to the Patriot League Tournament and having a winning season this year. I can't wait to see what the future holds for LUFH!

What are your postgraduate plans?
SN: I am currently exploring my interests and positions following graduation in May. 
 
#10 Olivia Perrone – Berlin, N.J. – Eastern – Health, Medicine and Society & Sociology (Double Major)
Olivia Perrone 
What's your favorite Lehigh Field Hockey memory up until this point?
OP: My favorite LUFH memory is my freshman year when we traveled to DC. No matter the outcome of the weekend or the games that were played, we were able to enjoy the present time together. We were walking around DC looking at all the history, and later got treated to a dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.
 
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
OP: My relationship with my fellow seniors is something very special, especially since we now have Lenke and Drew in our class. We all came in as freshmen wanting to make a positive change to this program and be a part of something bigger than us. This group of seniors has been through so many ups and downs together, but we've always relied on each other to keep pushing through the lowest of lows. 

Describe the feeling going into Senior Night? What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
OP: It feels as if it was yesterday when I was saying goodbye to my parents in front of Taylor Gym. It does not feel like this is my last year of being a college athlete. I'm excited for a new chapter in my life, but also feel a twinge of bitterness that I will no longer be a part of LUFH. Everyone says that time flies, but you never realize it until it's your last practice, last game, or last day of school when it fully hits. 

What will you miss most about Lehigh Field Hockey?
OP: I do not think I can single out one aspect of LUFH that I will miss, because there are just simply too many aspects to pick from. One thing I can say is how I will miss being a part of a growing program. Accomplishing the unthinkable and reaching every goal since freshman is an amazing feeling. 
 
How proud are you of what this program has accomplished, and how much pride do you take in being a key part of the change?
OP: I am beyond proud of this program and what we have been able to accomplish. Since my freshman year, we have been breaking records and doing things that a LUFH team has not done in decades. Everyone who wanted to be a part of the process knew what they were signing up for and that shows in our accomplishments that everyone is all in. 

What are your postgraduate plans?
OP: My postgraduate plans are not definite in any way, but I know that I want to work in the animal field – whether that be a wildlife conservationist or going to veterinary school. 
 
#17 Drew Pecora – Marlton, N.J. – Bishop Eustace Prep – Health, Medicine and Society & Sociology (Double Major)
Drew Pecora 
What's your favorite Lehigh Field Hockey memory up until this point?
DP:
I honestly can't think of only one memory, but I have a couple. I always love our away trips. Our trip to Boston when the bus broke down, our DC trip, our trip to Taylor's family house. I also love all the Senior Days and the games. I love being able to celebrate my seniors and all the hard work they have put into the program. I also love our holiday parties, especially Halloween and seeing everyone's costumes. (too many memories over these five years to pick lol).
 
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
DP: We are a family. The senior class really took Lenk and I in with open arms and made us feel like we've been a part of their class the whole time. I think from the beginning, we were always super close, but this season really brought us together. They are my best friends and I'm so lucky to be ending my career with this group!

Describe the feeling going into Senior Night? What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
DP: I don't think it has really hit me yet that this is the last game I'll play on this field. It is all I have known for the past five years and it feels really strange for it to all be coming to an end. But, on the other hand, I feel super accomplished and am so proud of what we were able to do this last year. Our goals of making the tournament and being .500 were accomplished (we definitely have more to go), but I am lucky to have been a part of those successes this year.

What will you miss most about Lehigh Field Hockey?
DP: Definitely my teammates and being able to play the sport I love with them every day. Our team makes early wakeups and hard practices worth it. They never fail to brighten my day or make me smile when I am needing it the most. I'm definitely going to miss making memories on and off the field with these girls.
 
How proud are you of what this program has accomplished, and how much pride do you take in being a key part of the change?
DP:
I am so beyond proud of this team. I knew I wasn't ready to end my career here without accomplishing the goals we set freshman year such as making the tournament and being .500. it is crazy for me to think about where I started and how much I have individually grown and how much this team has grown. I honestly get emotional thinking about all the highs and lows that have happened these past five years and to know it was all worth it. Coach always told us it was going to take time and to be patient, and I can see the change happening right in front of us and I'm so grateful to be a part of it. And we're not done yet!

What are your postgraduate plans?
DP:
I am in the process of applying to medical school, so hopefully attending medical school.

Sujin Kang – Louisville, Ky. – Sacred Heart Academy – Biology
Sujin Kang
What's your favorite Lehigh Field Hockey memory up until this point?
SK: I don't have any specific LUFH memory that comes to mind. Overall, it's the feeling of being with each other in the locker room or cheering on the sidelines that makes being a part of the program. No matter how hard a practice was or having a tough game, there was always a positive mindset to do better and be better. Being better not only as individuals, but also as a team. 

Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SK: My fellow seniors are the types of friends who you can relate to on all levels. Being teammates on the field and friends off the field brings a whole new level to a relationship. We have been through a lot since freshman year (pandemic included) but we never fail to be there for one another. It has become easy to be open with one another and communicate, whether it be about field hockey, academics or our own personal lives. I am grateful to have had Liv, Leah and Sam through all four years. I have loved watching them grow as players and as individuals and am excited what the future holds for each of them. 

Describe the feeling going into Senior Night? What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
SK: Going into Senior Night is bittersweet. I am able to look back and appreciate the moments I have had on the field, while being reminded I only have a semester left at Lehigh. Being a part of LUFH was a part of my identity as a Lehigh student-athlete. I have learned the importance of teamwork and commitment to a bigger purpose. 

What will you miss most about Lehigh Field Hockey?
SK: I will miss most the relationships we have been able to develop over these years. The friends I have made from and through this program make being on the team even more special and meaningful. Makes waking up and going to practices easier.
 
How proud are you of what this program has accomplished, and how much pride do you take in being a key part of the change?
SK: I cannot even put into words the accomplishments this program has made since I was a freshman. We have earned the right to be called a winning team after all the hard work and hours my teammates have put into this team. LUFH's values hold true to this day and has built a strong foundation for us. I am so proud to be a part of this team and love seeing the hard work paying off.

What are your postgraduate plans?
SK: Postgrad, I plan to apply to dental school and meanwhile, will be working at a dental office back home in Kentucky!
 

Players Mentioned

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