{"id":250,"date":"2025-10-15T00:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T04:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/magazine\/?p=250"},"modified":"2025-11-03T11:47:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T16:47:07","slug":"clarkies-far-afield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/magazine\/clarkies-far-afield\/","title":{"rendered":"Clarkies far afield"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Clark
Clark goalkeepers Rachel Reiter \u201927 and Loren Root \u201926.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no place like home for field hockey team to start the season<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Clark field hockey team\u2019s visit to Costa Rica this summer involved the typical activities of a trip abroad: swimming and snorkeling; a ziplining adventure; lessons on cooking local delicacies; hiking in a national park; and plenty of shared meals and laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But other aspects were less typical, like bringing much-needed supplies to Cerros Elementary School and teaching the students the fundamentals of field hockey. Or cleaning up the sands at Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala Wildlife Refuge \u2014 an activity the players describe as a \u201cgive-back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there were the games. Clark emerged with a split record, defeating the Costa Rica national team 3\u20130 and losing 2\u20131 to El Salvador. The games were played in a Hockey 5s format, a modified version of the sport that involves a smaller field ringed by boards, with each team deploying four players and a goalie. The pace is fast and relentless over the course of two 15-minute halves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Field
Field hockey captain Alison Kopec plays in a game against the national team of El Salvador.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was such a fun challenge and definitely tested our skills in a different way,\u201d says team captain Alison Kopec. \u201cWe even had some alumni join us, which made it really special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCosta Rica also welcomed us warmly, even gifting us bracelets. Overall, I was really happy with how our team played, but more importantly, I valued the cultural exchange and camaraderie that came with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to third-year coach Laura-Ann Lane, the trip \u2014 which took place June 25 to July 1 and was 18 months in the planning \u2014 paid clear dividends for building team unity. \u201cWe really bonded in Costa Rica,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The excursion abroad was a nice tune-up for the fall. Lane points to last year\u2019s victories against talented rivals Salve Regina and Wellesley as both highlights of 2024 and harbingers of good things for 2025. The new season kicks off this Saturday at 2 p.m. with a home game against Worcester State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe pieces are coming together,\u201d Lane said of her team during a recent interview. \u201cWe\u2019re learning to be a strong passing team instead of relying on one or two people; moving down the field as all 10 players.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lane said she\u2019s proud of her players\u2019 accomplishments on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. The team\u2019s efforts on behalf of the children at Cerros Elementary were especially indicative of their sense of purpose, she noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt means we\u2019re getting the right type of student and the right type of person to wear Clark on their uniform,\u201d Lane said. \u201cWhen people see us on campus, we want them to know about us and what we stand for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"In
In Costa Rica, Morgan Brown \u201926 teaches a Cerros Elementary School student about field hockey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kopec agrees that the work at the school was a highlight for the players. The team taught field hockey skills to a fourth-grade class, enjoyed games of soccer and handball, and shared some American candy (Starburst and Skittles were particular favorites).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, it\u2019s on to the fall season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited to see all that we can accomplish on the field,\u201d Kopec says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been putting a big emphasis on elevating our pace of play, and I think that\u2019s going to make a real difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a senior, I\u2019m especially looking forward to leading the team through another competitive season and pushing for more NEWMAC wins. And we\u2019ve been laying the groundwork to make that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Clark field hockey team spent a week in Costa Rica this summer. They are pictured with Josef Richardson, M.A. \u201979 (back row, fourth from right).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clark\u2019s field hockey team brought supplies, taught field hockey, and volunteered at a wildlife refuge in Costa Rica.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"departments":[5],"issues":[3],"class_list":["post-250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","departments-red-square","issues-fall-winter-2025"],"yoast_head":"\nClarkies far afield | Clark Magazine | Clark University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/magazine\/clarkies-far-afield\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Clarkies far 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