Energy on the field was high on Sunday at the DePauw field hockey senior day game at Blackstock West Field. Seniors Kimberly Trainor, Lissy Collin, Luisa Myavec and Sarah Maher all agreed that what makes their team strong is a sense of family.
"This is my family," Maher said. " When I first came here I knew no one. I've always loved every moment of being a team. I'm going to miss being on a team with these girls."
Maher and her family took to the field with other parents and friends before facing Trine University. DePauw dominated on offense throughout the entire game, outshooting the Thunder 60-0 and holding the advantage in penalty corners 32-0. Eight different Tigers scored in the game including two from freshman Kate Javonovic.
Collin said support on and off the field is what keeps the team close.
"Honestly, there are no weak links in this team," Collin said. "Everyone is amazing."
Head coach Gina Preston said the reason the Tigers have been so successful this year comes from leadership from the four seniors.
"This year and last year, [the seniors] have really taken ownership of the team," Preston said. "They have done a really good job of bringing the team together."
Each of the seniors brings something special to the team and has a different leadership style.
Forward Trainor said that as captain, she tries to bring everyone together.
"It's one of the easiest captain positions I've ever had because everyone is a leader," Trainor said. "Regardless of grade, people have really stepped up this year."
Trainor has played in 70 games, scored 23 goals, had 14 assists and 156 shots in four years.
"Kim has been a great player for us for four years," Preston said. "A playmaker up top, scoring goals and giving assists. She's a good person with a great work ethic."
Collin believes that as a leader of the team, her personality brings a lot of energy and confidence to the team.
"I feel like I'm one of the louder voices on the team," Collin said. "People respect what I have to say and I'm not afraid to say it."
Collin has played in 58 games over the last four years. She scored one goal which came in Sunday's game against Trine and has had five assists and 23 shots.
"Lissy's play is so strong," Preston said. "I think it's what she has always wanted to accomplish over the years and she has become that strong player this year."
Midfielder Maher said that as seniors it's important to maintain team unity.
"The team is so big and we have a lot of different personalities," Maher said. "We are doing really well and lots of the teams get into the habit of getting too confident and losing track, and we haven't done that."
Maher has played in 60 games, scored one goal, one assist and 43 shots in four years.
"[Maher] is solid in the backfield," Preston said. "When she plays strong and confident, I think she is one of the best players on the field."
Forward Myavec said that she encourages other players in their effort and confidence.
"I think at the beginning of this year I was looking for potential and I've seen it so much," Myavec said.
Myavec has played in 33 games, scored one goal, had two assists and nine shots in four years.
"Luisa has battled injuries all her years but has always stayed positive about herself," Preston said. "This is the first year where she's really been able to play and is battling an injury right now, but still stays positive with herself and her teammates."
The four seniors are all very nostalgic about their last season.
"I'm going to miss the family," Collin said. "This is the first family I had when I came to college, and every year it's grown."
Trainor said the thing she'll miss the most is being on a team.
"I love the competition," Trainor said. "These girls are my best friends. We're together all the time. We eat together, sleep together, sweat together and cry together."
The tightly-knit team scored a total of 10 goals in the two games this weekend. Junior Bridgette Shamleffer scored the winning goal against Rhodes on Saturday as the team won 1-0. On Sunday, Trainor and Collin each scored goals. The six others who scored goals were Kate Javonovic with two, Courtney Wood, Margaret Ellis, Maggie Campbell, Taylor Helms and Kylie Maloney.
The Tigers improved to 11-1 this weekend after beating on Saturday and Trine on Senior Day. The Tigers play again at Blackstock West Field next weekend on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. for a NCAC game against Wooster.