One Last Roar: Maddie Miller, Field Hockey

"One Last Roar" is a series that will recognize the accomplishments of the senior student-athletes at Mount Holyoke College graduating during the 2020-21 academic year. From now until May, read about our senior student-athletes as they reflect on their careers as members of Lyons Nation. Make sure to check out Mount Holyoke College Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see photos of their top memories with their teammates over the past four years.

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Maddie Miller (Marblehead, Mass.), an environmental studies major and four-year field hockey student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College, will graduate at the completion of the Fall 2020 semester. One of three goalkeepers for the Lyons, Miller played in 13 games during her career and made her first-career start versus Smith College on October 30, 2018. Miller graduates from Mount Holyoke College with a goals-against average of 1.60 in just under 275 minutes of action.

From Head Mount Holyoke field hockey coach, Andy Whitcomb:

"Maddie Miller has been an integral part of the MHC field hockey team, and she has handled all of the adversity she has faced with bravery and steadfastness. Maddie worked hard as a player to improve her game every season, but, more importantly, she was a super teammate and one that other players always looked to for advice or a simple pick-me-up. I was saddened when I heard Maddie would be graduating in December, but what an accomplishment on her part to graduate early and get out in that "real world" and begin making a difference. Maddie was a great supporter of accessibility services and was always open and willing to discuss the challenges as well as how one may better navigate their time at MHC. We shall miss Maddie and her kindness, and we look forward to having her suiting back up for our Alumnae game in 2021!"

More about Maddie...

Overall, share a few sentences about your time as a student-athlete at Mount Holyoke College. How has your experience as a student-athlete help develop you into the person you are today?

My experience on the MHC field hockey team was great despite being cut short I am so grateful for the skills and friendships it has given me. I may not have been a starter, but that pushed me because although I did not play a ton of games, I got to practice hard in hopes of starting and work to prove myself each and every day. Looking back on my time, as much as I love the sport, what I really got was life-long friendships and relationships I know I can depend on. There are people on my team that I will have in my life forever and for that I am so grateful.

What were some of your favorite memories as a member of the field hockey team?

I always loved the bus rides, the energy heading to the game was focused and ready. And when we came home with a win we sang and danced. One particular time after a win we played "All I want for Christmas" by Mariah Carey but changed it to "All I want for Christmas is NEWMACS" having that positive energy and hope always made me so happy and ready for the next big game. I can also say that once you travel all the way across the world to Australia with a team you are bonded for life. Playing games against amazing Australians and following that with a sausage sizzle are memories I will never forget.

What are your plans following graduation?

I plan on taking a year to apply and decided on graduate schools and then perusing a life in public policy. I really want to become a public servant, and whether that be at the local, state, or federal level I have yet to decide.

Who have been some of your biggest supporters during your time at Mount Holyoke College? This can be anyone (i.e. family, friends, professors, coaches, etc.)

I had support from so many in my time at college. My mom and step-dad came to every home weekend game and every game we had in the Boston area. They supported me even when I didn't even make it on the field for playing time and that means the world to me. They were there to support all the work I had put in practicing and just to be on a DIII level team.

My best friends from college are also on the team and they supported me as I'd hope they'd say I did. Every day of college isn't some perfect, wonderful, and happy day and having teammates that know that and give you the emotional support on your good but especially bad days makes things real. I lost my grandmother who helped raise me after the loss of my father, my sophomore year over October break. It was a devastating loss, she attended every home game while I was in high school so it was a tough loss. When I had to go back to school, I was really nervous about dealing with my grief and being away from family only to realize I could depend on the people around me, my team. On the bus to back from the Simmons game (the first one after my grandma had passed) the team and coaches welcomed me back with such open arms and hearts and a card signed by everyone with loving notes of condolence. I knew then I could depend on these people with all aspects of my life on and off the field.

What is your favorite Mount Holyoke tradition?

I love DIS-O and convocation, for four years I grew out my hair so my senior year I could be the person on stage whose hair they chop off. This of course did not happen but I still followed my plan and chopped off nine inches for donation. DIS-O is just such a fun, loud and wild time that I am sure to miss. I also love convocation, the glitter throwing, silly string, color fest was tough to go without but my memories of dressing up with my teammates in the class of 2021 green are memories I am sure to treasure.

Any words of advice you have for the future student-athletes of Mount Holyoke College?

I would say work as hard as you can and know that you will have lasting memories from your time on MHC Athletics and teammates turned friends you get to keep forever.