With a new year comes a new season.

For sophomore and double athlete Erica Chareth, a transfer student from Assumption College, that means a whole new team and campus as well.

Chareth grew up in Amherst, New Hampshire, and started playing field hockey in seventh grade.

She started playing lacrosse in second grade and, since then, has been in love with both.

Jake Paquin / Photo Editor

“When I first played, I played in seventh grade and I was playing on grass and I was like, ‘Wow, I could really like this.’ I could tell it was the start of something,” said Chareth.

Chareth is in the midst of her first season at Keene State College and is easing into field hockey.

“It’s just as intense as D[ivision] II was in my opinion. It’s still a very fast-paced game which is fun. It’s definitely different, but there are a lot of things that are the same. Physically, it’s just as challenging. I wouldn’t say D[ivision] III is any easier than D[ivision] II,” said Chareth.

As a double athlete, Chareth is facing more hard work, but her love for each sport drives her to succeed.

“I love both [lacrosse and field hockey],” Chareth said.

“I still haven’t been able to just choose one and focus on it because I like them both so much.”

Junior and fellow teammate in field hockey Julia Babbitt reflected on Chareth’s transfer into the field hockey team, saying,

“I think she’s doing great. When she first came in, she was super. Some people are shy, especially coming from being a sophomore and not knowing anyone. She was super eager to meet new people and become friends with us. I know she was definitely excited to be here and get fully emerged right away.”

Erica Stauffer, who is also a junior and fellow teammate in field hockey, said,

“Since she came from another school, she kind of knew what she was getting herself into, like pre-season. She helped the younger kids and really knew what to do and how to handle everything.”

Although the athletic aspect plays a key part in Chareth’s transfer, she also sees things from an academic perspective.

“I was looking for a little bit of a bigger school. It’s a little bit bigger, but like the perfect size. The nutrition program, that’s a big part of why I transferred and then I was looking for a school where I could handle the academics and continue to play both sports. Keene was perfect fit,” said Chareth.

With a younger set of players, the women’s field hockey team is facing a whole new dynamic.

“We had a strong group of seniors last year, so everything kinda bounced off of them. They were a huge part of our team. I think this year, we’re relying a lot on the freshman. There are three or four freshman/transfers starting, so we’re having to put trust in people we haven’t known long,” said Babbitt.

Stauffer, who mirrored Babbitt’s comments, said,

“We just started playing together, so it’s the transition and just trying to see how everyone plays and how we can work them into the way we were playing last year.”

Although the field hockey team is a young one, they still are aiming for full success.

“I think we definitely have a lot of field hockey talent; we’re all different, but we all love field hockey. We’re a fast team, we are open to change and we’re coachable,” said Chareth.

With much to look forward to, Chareth strives to do well in school and obtain her nutrition degree within three years, as well as play field hockey and lacrosse for her remaining time at Keene State.

Caroline Perry can be contacted at cperry@kscequinox.com

Transfer student Ally McCall is finding her stride as she tackles field hockey and a new college environment.

With a whirlwind of new teammates, a new campus and a whole new style of life, there is a lot to take in the first week after move-in day. Now a sophomore and an official Keene State College  Owl, McCall reflects on her journey from University of Vermont (UVM) to KSC, as well the circumstances of her transfer.

“UVM was huge,” McCall said. “I committed so early that I don’t think I realized that I knew I didn’t want a big school. So that was a big reason for me transferring. Before, walking around campus at UVM, I could maybe say hi to one of my teammates, but now, it’s like I say hi to everyone. I’ve made so many more connections.”

However, her love for the game and her desire for competition has in no way been affected.

Photo by Jake Paquin / Photo Editor
Photo illustration by Alexandria Saurman / Managing Executive Editor

“Playing-wise, it was still challenging; pre-season was just as challenging at Keene as it was at UVM, especially physically,” McCall said. “My transition was great though, I don’t think it could’ve been any better. I love everyone on the team. The coaching staff is amazing. It’s fun, we work hard, but it’s honestly so much fun.”

Downsizing from a Division I college to a Division III college is a huge difference for any student, especially a student athlete.

Finding yourself again at a new college and in a new team can be challenging, but McCall has taken this new experience head on. “I love it here,” McCall said, “I think it was easier for me because I already had a year behind me, so I can manage. The transition has been very smooth.”

McCall’s teammate, Erica Chareth, is also a sophomore transfer, coming from Assumption College. “I like it here a lot more already,” Chareth said. “It’s a different dynamic, but it’s still definitely intense. Ally’s transition is going good, she is a very versatile player or a player that can handle anything. She gets thrown on a new team with a bunch of new people and is killing it already; she’s so good.”

Although transferring to a new team may seem intimidating, McCall is already thriving. “I love my team and I’ve made a lot of friends,” McCall said. “I actually have gotten pretty close with one teammate, she is a transfer student like me. That really helps us connect.”

Being able to transition so easily for McCall has made her realize that her previous desire for a smaller school was not misguided. McCall said, “As soon as I visited, I knew this was the place I needed to be.”

Kendal Brown, a senior on the field hockey team, has been playing for four years.

“Ally’s transfer has been amazing, she fits right in,” Brown said. “She’s honestly been the connecting part of our team. She is really good, knows the game very well. We worked really hard to be in shape so we could be faster than the other teams. Because we’re so new, we still need to get used to working with each other, but this year there is a really great group of girls. We’ve been having a lot of fun. It’s just like a community.”

Keene State’s field hockey team is excited about their newest editions and are ready to tackle this season, said Brown.

With her UVM campus behind her, McCall confidently takes on what KSC has to offer. McCall looks forward to tackling her elementary education and math degree, as well as working hard on her position at midfield.

With each year comes new challenges, and McCall said she is “more than excited to be a part of the Keene State community.”

Caroline Perry can contacted at cperry@kscequinox.com