Student-Athlete Spotlight: Inside the Heart of Moravian Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The field hockey team at Moravian University isn’t defined by one player, one class, or one position.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The field hockey team at Moravian University isn't defined by one player, one class, or one position.
It's defined by the way players like Kayleigh Hill, Maia Machado, and Shawna Mamrak talk about their team…and almost every time, they end up talking about the same thing: each other.
Hill, a defensive midfielder from the Class of 2028, Machado, a junior goalkeeper and dual-sport athlete, and Mamrak, a senior field hockey player involved in Back the Pack, all described the program in nearly identical ways without ever comparing answers.
The common theme was family.
"My favorite part has definitely been the relationships I've built," Mamrak said. "It's a really close-knit environment, and that balance of competitiveness and genuine friendship has made the experience really meaningful."
Machado shared a similar perspective, saying, "My favorite part about being on the Moravian University field hockey team has been building relationships with my teammates… it truly feels like a second family."
Hill agreed, explaining that the team is constantly spending time together outside of practice and games and that being part of the team has given her "a family and a home away from home."
While their experiences and roles on the field are different, the way they describe the team culture is nearly identical.
Mamrak called the culture "hardworking, supportive, and driven," while Machado said, "We are all in; we rely on each other, encourage one another, and want everyone to succeed." Hill summed it up even more simply: "We are honestly just one big family."
The closeness of the team shows up most in big moments, and when asked about a memory that stood out, all three players pointed to the same game…a double overtime shootout win against Juniata.
"It was a game we needed to win for the playoffs, and it was very competitive," Mamrak said. "It really showed how resilient we are as a team and how we come together in big moments."
Machado remembered the ending of the game just as clearly. "My favorite team memory is our first playoff game. We ended up going into shootouts, and my roommate Maddie scored the winning goal, which caused all the parents to rush onto the field to cheer. It was the best win of my career."
Hill described the game from the field perspective, calling it "long, but very driven, rushing, rewarding," and remembering the moment everyone ran onto the field after the winning goal.
Even when talking about motivation, the players again pointed back to the team rather than themselves.
Hill said, "When I'm building up my teammates, I'm also building up myself."
Mamrak explained, "Seeing how much effort they put in and how they push me to be better makes me want to give my all every day. I want to show up not just for myself, but for them."
Machado's mindset is a little different but still centered on effort and growth:
"I strongly believe that everything is earned. If you keep working hard at whatever you're doing at the moment, I believe it will pay off in the future."
Their goals for the rest of the season also reflect that team-first mindset.
Hill wants the team to be "more connected on the field" and improve communication. Mamrak wants to continue improving while also being "someone my teammates can rely on." Machado, approaching the end of her career, said, "I don't want to leave with regrets. My goal is to give everything I can on the field while having fun because it really does go by fast."
Off the field, each player contributes to the Moravian community in different ways.
Hill works with athletics social media, creating videos and interviewing students around campus. Mamrak is involved with Back the Pack, which helps raise money to support Moravian athletics programs. Machado balances being a dual-sport athlete in both field hockey and lacrosse, which she says requires strong time management and organization, but has been one of the most rewarding parts of her college experience.
When asked what being a student-athlete at Moravian means to them, their answers once again reflected similar values.
Mamrak said it's "learning how to balance responsibility, discipline, and teamwork."
Machado described it as "striving for success both academically and athletically while representing your school positively."
Hill said being a student-athlete "means honestly everything" because of the friendships and connections she has made across different teams.
Three different players. Three different roles. Three different paths to Moravian.
But when they talk about field hockey, they all end up telling the same story…
One about teamwork, friendship, and being part of something bigger than themselves.
Story by Katherine Georgiou '27
