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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Erin Fleming had been in talks to join the University of Rochester field hockey team for awhile, but nothing had been set.
That all changed when she received an email on December 12 from Rochester coach Wendy Andreatta, officially offering her a spot on the team.
“We are very excited to welcome Erin Fleming to our University of Rochester Field Hockey program. Erin caught my eye with her athleticism, strong low defensive tackles, and tenacity,” Andreatta said. “During the recruiting process, I spoke with Erin’s high school coach, JoAnne Hostig, who shared with me that Erin was an amazing leader for her, and one of the hardest workers she had ever coached.”
Fleming discussed what the process was like on her end and why Rochester became the right fit.
“I was drawn to the University of Rochester at first for their academics. They have great cluster programs with lots of options. They’re a good size with a beautiful campus,” Fleming said. “I actually got to visit the campus, so I was super lucky. It was a team visit and Coach Wendy is so kind, she’s amazing and the team just felt like a family and that sealed the deal for me.”
The Saratoga Springs senior captain has been thinking about studying Spanish, while also majoring in a field like education or nursing.
“I think that Spanish and nursing would be a really cool combination because it helps minority communities get better access to healthcare that they need,” Fleming said. “Nursing has always been in the back of my mind since I was little. My grandma always wanted me to be a doctor since I’ve always been super attentive. COVID has had such toll on our healthcare system, so that definitely pushed be a bit more in this direction. I think what all the doctors and nurses are doing right now is so admirable.”
While the response to the coronavirus has provided some insight for Fleming on what she wants to study, it also helped her decide that she definitely wanted to play college sports.
As a junior in March during the first shut-down, she missed her lacrosse season, showing her for the first time what it’s like not to be playing sports.
“I’m so excited to go back this spring because we didn’t have our season for lacrosse last year at all. That was honestly something that really inspired me to play in college. After the feeling of not being able to play I realized that I’m not done yet, there’s no way I could be done. I’m so excited to get another chance out on that field,” Fleming said.
Fleming discussed a shift that she had over the years where she eventually chose to play field hockey in college instead of lacrosse.
“Originally, my plan was to play lacrosse in college and I was so set on it. As I’ve gotten older, I grew a lot more confidence in field hockey. I love the field hockey vibe and found myself being more of a leader in field hockey. In the end, it was a better choice.”
This season, Fleming was co-captain of the Blue Streaks field hockey team with fellow senior Jane Ginley. They put their leadership skills to the test after an 8-0 loss to Shenendehowa on October 21.
“At practice the next day, we got in a circle and everyone had a partner. We had everyone say something that they needed from their partner, not something that they needed to improved on, just something that we needed from them to help us play better. That really helped us start communicating more and got us back on track to winning games again. Getting out of our own heads was something that was really important for us this year.”
After that game, Saratoga went 6-2 to finish the regular season, outscoring opponents 23-3. They fell in the Suburban Council semi-finals, also known as the ‘COVID Cup,’ to Burnt Hills during sudden-death overtime.
Andreatta will be looking for Fleming to bring that sort of leadership to the turf as a member of the Yellow Jackets.
“Coach Hostig told me that Erin was a player she could count on to lead her team through a tough practice or an intense game. Coach Hostig has an excellent program and I am excited to have the opportunity to coach one of her players here at the University of Rochester,” Andreatta said.
While Fleming will get to experience a new turf field at the college level, it was the opportunity to play on Saratoga’s brand new field during her senior year that is perhaps the most meaningful.
“I was so afraid that we were just going to have to stare at the field all season and not be able to play on it. I have a direct view from my class and I thought that was the closest I’d get to it. Our first game on that field was so exciting, we beat the former section champs. We all worked together and it was a great game.”
When Fleming arrives at the Rochester campus to begin her freshman semester she will be joining former Blue Streak and lacrosse teammate, Liz McGinn.
“My really good friend Liz McGinn, from lacrosse, she goes to the University of Rochester and is playing on their team. When I went to do my visit, she met up with me before and showed me her dorm and around campus, so she’ll be able to help me out when I get there.”
Not only will she have a former teammate, as well as new teammates to show her around, but as a member of the Liberty League, Fleming may have the opportunity to play a college in her hometown.
The schedules flip every year, but every year Rochester plays Skidmore, Union, and RPI as part of their conference schedule.
“My mom and I were talking about that and thinking about whether we could have a pasta dinner party or something before we went back to Rochester. That was something I was super excited about, that I’d get to come back home and play at like Skidmore.”
Fleming has missed those team dinners this season, since COVID restriction have limited such gatherings.
“I was super proud of how we did this season, our games were super fun. I think what really stands out to me is how close and supportive our team was. Even though we weren’t allowed to have any pasta parties or anything fun after practice. In my experience on varsity, this was the closest team I’ve even been on. I thought that was a really cool way to play out my senior year.”
“I’m really looking forward to being on a growing on a team where we really bond and actually travel to real away games that are super-far.”
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