Eva Cucinell '22 Recruiting Profile

My passion for field hockey started when my aunt, who was a former college field hockey player and high school coach, gave me a stick when I was eight years old.   Immediately after I picked up that stick I knew this was going to be my sport. I played for the modified field hockey team in seventh and eighth grade. On the modified team I did not play a specific position but I fell in love with being a defender. As a freshman, I was chosen to be captain of my junior varsity team by my teammates and coaches. As a freshman I got pulled up to varsity to join them in the first round of sectionals where we unfortunately lost. I looked up to a specific player on my team immediately because we played the same position and she taught me how to persevere through that tough game.  That spring, I joined Futures and went to their Syracuse tournament to compete.  Playing with girls from different schools taught me how to trust teammates I had never met before. Before sophomore year, I played on a summer league team to better myself for the regular season. I tried out and made the varsity team as a sophomore. I started as left defense.  Although my coach liked me in that position, she always knew she could count on me to play anywhere on the field. This year we made it to the second round of sectionals but lost. Although we were disappointed that our season had ended, we grew as a cohesive unit. We worked together as a team, played hard as a team, and lost as a team. In that, we found something extra to be proud of. In previous sports (I did competitive cheerleading for 10 years), I was always on a team with older girls; I think this has helped me to become a better athlete because I would look up to the older girls. I would want to be as talented as them.  I learned how to work hard and not to give up even when struggling to complete a task. After this season, I decided to join an indoor club team to better myself as a player in the off season.  I focused on my stick skills and controlling the ball. Each practice I strive to play smarter and to work on all my skills because no one skill is ever perfect. Playing this sport as much as I have, both in and off season, has made me want to play field hockey on a collegiate level. I am looking for a program that will challenge me academically and athletically. My determination and desire to succeed would make me a great addition to your team!