Future Lyon Featured in Daily Hampshire Gazette
Original Gazette Article | MassLive.com Video
By: Jim Pignatiello, Daily Hampshire Gazette
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (April 29, 2010) - The last time Steph Slysz played field hockey at Mount Holyoke College, the Smith Academy senior was helping the Falcons win their second Western Massachusetts Division 3 Tournament championship in three years.
The next time she plays there, it will be her home field.
Slysz, the Smith Academy class president, National Honor Society and Model United Nations member, honor student and peer tutor, chose to attend the college in South Hadley after an overnight visit earlier this month.
Coincidentally, Slysz will be joined on the Lyons by Emily McClintock, a South Hadley senior defensive standout who led the Tigers to the sectional final before falling to the Falcons at MHC.
"It's funny that it worked out that way," Slysz said. "It will be nice to have her on my team this time."
Slysz, who scored a team-high 42 points and 24 assists for Smith last season, finished her career with 84 points (35 goals, 49 assists). Her speed, passing and stick-handling abilities made her one of the region's best players throughout her career.
"I am very excited that Steph will be joining us this fall," Mount Holyoke coach Andy Whitcomb said. "I have certainly seen her play enough to know that she will do very well at the next level.
"The timing is perfect for both of us as we graduate a four-year starter at the forward position," she added, praising her high school background playing for long-time Smith Academy coach Sherry Webb.
"Steph comes from a storied program with excellent coaching and we look forward to challenging her both academically and athletically as she begins this new chapter," Whitcomb said.
The first-year players will have quite an introduction to the program, as the Lyons head to South Africa for 10 days in August to play teams from that country as well as being tourists.
The team is "going to be really close, really fast after that," Slysz said. "You can't help but bond when you experience something like that. It's amazing. They have a trip every four years and it just happens to be when I'm a freshman. I can't wait."