Spotlight on Senior Claire Byrne

Spotlight on Claire Byrne '10

A midfielder in field hockey can be one of the most demanding positions. The center midfielder is the de facto "quarterback" on the field. Their job is to move the ball from defense to its offense and vice-versa, to interrupt an opposing team's passing game coming back down the field.

That role requires physical endurance, precision hitting and passing and also sound decision-making, whether on offense or on defense. A midfielder's play is rarely recognizable unless you know what you're looking for. They're the ghosts of the game, creating havoc, sometimes sight unseen.

Being a midfielder also means that recognition of your play will most likely not show up on the scoresheet but for senior Claire Byrne that's not a big deal.

"I like being the transition player and being integral in different parts of the game," she explained. "What matters to me is how both myself and my teammates feel I've played. I feel its better to be recognized within the team, and how my teammates look to me as a leader and someone who can be counted on during the course of a game is so much more important then numbers on a stat sheet.

"It's been great to continue to develop as a midfielder and stay exclusively in that area. Playing that position is something I'm definitely comfortable with as I was also a midfielder in high school. I like being able to work with both sides of the ball and help with transition. I really like running and midfield has a lot of freedom so it's a position that you can really use to your advantage."

Associate head coach Andy Smith echoed that sentiment as he said, "Claire is one of those players who goes out, does her job and can always walk back to the bench head held high because she did exactly what we asked of her. She's very uncompromising in her play and I think she's one of the best midfielders in the Ivy League. She's very fast and can think on her feet, she can see plays developing and can figure out where she needs to get to on the field to break something up."

While not one for racking up the numbers, Byrne has continuously improved her game during her four years with the Big Green. In her freshman campaign she recorded two assists with eight shots. While not getting the same numbers as a sophomore she was still able to improve every aspect of her game that season. As a junior she got her first collegiate goal and this year, her senior year, she's recorded an impressive 17 points (4 goals, 9 assists).

"I'm not sure what changed this season," she said with a laugh. "I think it was knowing it was my last year to play and we really had some goals we wanted to accomplish. When we lost one of our best players in Kelly Hood, we all had to step up and help the team."

Hood was lost to the Big Green on Oct. 16 and in the final four games of the season, Byrne racked up two goals and three assists helping her team shutout Harvard and thump Vermont in two victories during that span.

Byrne attributes some of her production to a confidence boost and experience.

"A lot of it has to do with confidence and opportunity. This year I've gotten some opportunities, and that has really helped my confidence," Byrne said.

Byrne finished her senior campaign fifth on the team in scoring, behind classmates Virginia Peisch with 34 points and Kelly McHenry with 31 points but she knows that not one person can be responsible for everything that happens with a team.

"I came in with three other girls who were really committed and devoted to field hockey and we've each bounced off and used each other's energy for the past four years," Byrne said. "We've all been invested in the same type of work ethic and attitude towards field hockey so I don't think you can really individually target someone as being soley responsible for how successful our team has become in the last two years. I think it's a combination of the people I entered the program with and how well we work together and how well we get along. For them I'll always be grateful."

Work ethic has never been something Byrne has found lacking. As a two-sport athlete in high school she helped her field hockey team to the league championship twice and the state final twice. Her lacrosse team was the Class C state semi-finalist two years in a row and she won two gold medals competing at the Empire State Games for Hudson Valley field hockey.

"Claire has always been one of the hardest working players on the team," Smith said. "She never complains, never questions, just goes out and does her job and helps her team."

For Byrne it's about the team and doing the task assigned. "It's taking the role you are given and doing it to the best of your ability to help the team. It's not just one person; it's got to be a team effort," she said.

As a co-captain this season Bryne has had the opportunity to mentor and help the younger players on the squad.

"I tried to take the leadership role on in a different way," she explained. "Virginia, the other co-captain, was able to get experience last season in the position and was very comfortable with that leadership role. I felt that since I wasn't the most boisterous individual I knew that I had to lead by example through my work ethic and how I approached each practice and game. I just wanted to establish myself as someone that could be relied on."