Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University field hockey team opens its season at 1:00 p.m. Aug. 28 against Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y., and in all likelihood Stephanie Seeley (Louisville, Ky. / Ballard) will be in the net. The senior goalkeeper enters her final season with the Colonials ranked third in nation among active goalies in career saves and holds the most career wins by a Robert Morris goalie. Recently she sat down with RMUColonials.com to talk about the being a senior and the upcoming campaign with the Colonials.
What most excites you about the upcoming season?
Seeley: "This season, I am most excited about seeing the improvement over last year and seeing how the freshmen are going to change the dynamic of our team."
What is the best thing about playing field hockey at Robert Morris?
Seeley: "The atmosphere of the school. Everyone comes out to support you and to support all the athletes, so it is a really close knit community."
What are your expectations for this season's team?
Seeley: "This year, I hope that we improve everyday and improve every game. I would like to see us have a .500 season."
What is the most important thing to do during the summer to prepare for the start of the preseason?
Seeley: "The most important thing you can do is prepare physically and get ready mentally to be pushed to the edge, especially in the first few days of practice.
As one of the team's more experienced players, what type of leader will you be?
Seeley: "This year I hope to be an inspirational and supportive leader and help the team when the going gets tough."
How have you developed as a player since you first arrived at Robert Morris?
Seeley: "Since I have started at Robert Morris, I have become a calmer, more stable and dependable player on and off the field. I have grown into my role as a leader and a goalkeeper to help anchor the team."
What advice would you give the freshman class heading into the start of preseason?
Seeley: "Keep your head up and each year its gets better. The first preseason is the toughest."
What is the one thing you have really worked on from the end of last season to the start of the 2010 season?
Seeley: "The thing I have worked on the most is keeping a cooler head and calmer presence on the field and I've tried to help anchor the defense in a more consistent way."
What are some of the goals you have for yourself and for the Colonials this season?
Seeley: "This year I hope to improve my records and make sure they stay on the books. As a team, I think that we can win the conference and I want to see us make it the NEC (Northeast Conference Tournament) finals."
