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09/10/2024 01:32 PMLena Goldberg did not find her way to a field hockey turf until right before her high school career began. But in such a short span, the Valley Regional athlete has covered a lot of ground on the field and earned an additional stewardship appointment away from it for her merits.
The junior tried her efforts at several different sports in junior high, but she could not find her niche. But then her teacher, Amanda Baldwin, introduced her to field hockey, and it was then that Lena found what she was looking for. Only in her third year with the Warriors, she has worked her way up to a leadership appointment as captain and defensive midfielder for a youthful Warriors’ squad looking to be on the rise this fall.
“Amanda Baldwin really encouraged me with field hockey. I saw it as something unique, and it clicked with me immediately. I like having full control of the ball on the field,” says Lena. “My success comes from just pushing myself; it has really gotten me to where I am now. My sophomore year, I was hit in the face with the ball. I was timid to go back onto the field. I had to step out of my comfort zone, and my confidence level increased which was helpful.”
The war between the ears is a focal point for not only Lena this year, but her entire club. She explains that no matter how high stakes or high stress any on-field situation gets, the simple solution is to remember the basic essence of why we all watch and take part in sports.
“This year, we are focusing on our mental game a lot,” says Lena. “When I am on the field and upset, it is important to remind myself that it is just a game. If I make a mistake, no one will judge me. You have to play the game for fun. Sometimes people take it too seriously, but you have to have fun.”
Lena loves to get on a fast break and have a lane to the cage, as it is the perfect outlet to showcase the greatest aspects of her skill set. She conversely explains it can be tough to earn those clears on defense, though the emotional payoff is what she craves.
“I love when I get a breakaway chance, or I have a 1-v-1 chance to show my skills. It can be tricky playing defense because I originally started freshman year as an attacker,” Lena says. “It can be tough when it is up to you to get the ball out, but when you do, it is an adrenaline rush that I live for.”
While being a ball striker that shows her strength, Lena additionally can bring the flash and be evasive from opposing defenders when she has possession of the ball. She is also working diligently on staying more disciplined when defending the Warriors’ end, in addition to rebounding quicker to anyone that passes by her.
“I got a good drive down when I hit the ball. I have also improved in finessing the ball around people and dodging them,” says Lena. “I am really good at dodging other players, but I need to work on staying low on defense. I also have to get better at running back when someone gets by me.”
There will be a bit of a rebuilding element to the Warriors’ club this year with a youthful group. But as a leader, Lena is ready for the challenge to make the younger underclassmen feel welcomed and confident to excel and stay in the game for years to come.
“It will be a tough year, but our goal is to create a safe and fun environment,” says Lena. “I want to do that because the captains in my freshman year did a really good job of that. I want to make sure I do my best to make sure everyone feels good about what they are doing. That is a lot more important than winning.”
Valley Head Coach Julie Labbadia explains that Lena holds a great interpersonal sense with newcomers to the team and sport. She has concrete examples of how Lena presents herself as not only an outstanding ambassador of the squad, but the groundwork of intangibles to coach one day.
“Beyond her skills, Lena is often the person that freshmen or new players go to when they have questions or need someone to talk to. She is so sweet and knows how to give feedback to our new players in a kind but constructive way. Her dedication and determination is contagious for her teammates,” says Labbadia. “For example, she convinced her best friend, Emily Bachand, to play last year and then worked with her before and after practice most days. Now, with Lena’s help, and of course, Emily’s own hard work and dedication, Emily has become an integral part of our defensive line. Lena has led many others to success in this same fashion as well. She brings joy and positivity to our team practices and knows how to balance the social dynamics of a team, which can be tricky in high school, so that the underclassmen feel seen.”
As she is one of the few veterans on the roster this year, Lena looks forward to serving in a junior coach’s role as an instructor of the game to several teammates. She concludes that if the girls stick to the plan and keep grinding, the Warriors can generate a lot of traction in the Shoreline standings.
“We only have one senior on the team, so it will be a tricky year. We have a lot of new players,” Lena says. “But I am excited to have new players, so I can teach them the game, and hopefully they stick with it. If we work hard, then we will be in good shape. We improved an insane amount from our first scrimmage until the last one. I am excited for the year, and I think we will have a good team.”