Stephanie Ballas '20 Recruiting Profile

From the start of my field hockey career, I loved it. I started with camps the summer after my seventh grade, with my official first season being my freshman year of high school.

I love field hockey not only for the sport itself but the people that do it and the dedication it takes. When I step foot on the field at every game, at every practice, I feel at home. When it comes to field hockey it's my home away from home, because when I step on the field the only thing in my mind is field hockey and how I can improve during that practice or that game.

    Field hockey has taught me many things. The most important being is that you have to have confidence, as a defender I have to be confident enough in myself to be able to step up to the ball to clear it from our circle, I also have to be confident enough to be able to stand at post and defend our goal line being behind the goalie. Being a defender has also taught me a lot about communication and how it helps a team function. Being so far back and being able to see the whole field I must be vocal and help my midfielders and even my forwards, but communication is also vital when the ball is in our circle because the defenders need to make sure we have everyone of the offensive players covered so they don't score.

    I have high aspirations for my academic life. I work hard in every subject and I love learning. I want to be a biology major and go on to medical school to become a pediatrician because I love medicine and I love working with kids. I have started to pursue my medical dreams by spending a week at Georgetown University's Medical Institute.

    A few years ago I tore my meniscus in my right knee and ever since I have had to push through when it starts to bother me, it is one of my biggest obstacles that I have to overcome every game and every practice.