Sports Editor Matthew Yannie sat down and spoke with field hockey forward Brittany Montgomery í10. She has been a four year starter who recently recorded her first career hat trick. She now sits in eighth place in all-time scoring for the field hockey program.
Montgomery is part of a senior class that has won four straight NCAC regular season championships.† The Scots will play in the NCAC tournament championship tomorrow at 5 p.m. against Ohio Wesleyan University at John P. Papp Stadium.
MY: As a senior, what does the legacy of four straight NCAC regular season championships mean to you when you look back at your four years at the College?
BM: Coming into the season the rest of the team and I really wanted to get the fourth consecutive championship because legacy means a lot to Wooster field hockey. Every year we talk about the tradition and the significance of our play on those who have come before us. Winning is a field hockey tradition, and being the NCAC champion is something we strive for every year. Getting the fourth [regular season] title in a row means a lot to not only the four seniors but also to the rest of the players because it is our legacy of success.
MY: How does the fact that last year was the teamís first NCAC tournament title and first NCAA appearance since 2001 keep this team hungry and focused on not settling at this point in the season?
BM: Even though last year was our first trip to the NCAAs, we knew we should have been there before. Finally making it last year proved to us and past teammates who missed that opportunity that we belonged. It made us want to work that much harder to make sure we didnít let ourselves down at the end of the season. Making it back [to the NCAA tournament] has been a goal of ours since before we even came back to campus this year because we know we are that talented as long as we donít let ourselves down.
MY: With the two conference losses happening on the road against Denison and Wittenberg University, how important was getting the home field advantage in the conference tournament?† What benefits will being at home have?
BM: Home field advantage is one of our big goals at the beginning of every season. It is really important because we donít have to travel, and we have our home fans to support us. We are in our own comfort zone at home on the turf.
MY: Looking forward to the hopeful NCAC Championship game on Saturday and the possibility of a second straight NCAA tournament birth, what does this team need to do to make sure it does not fall short of expectations or potential?
BM: We need to make sure we donít walk into any game thinking that weíve already won. We know that doesnít work as we saw against Denison early in the season. We need to understand that every second matters because nothing is guaranteed, and for four of us it could be the last game of our career. Every second could be my last second, and I hope the rest of the team understands that. At the end of your time on the team you finally realize what every senior has told you all along, that you need to cherish the opportunity that you have. I want to win for all of those players who didnít make it to the NCAA tournament because they taught me so much about how to play and how to conduct myself that I owe it to them to win.
To read the rest of the interview, go to Matthew Yannieís blog at http://matthewyannie.wordpress.com or www.thewoostervoice.com