By Halle Frisco
Staff Writer
Desiraye Mack is one of five seniors on East Stroudsburg University’s field hockey team. She stands out on the field, both for her style of play and her neon yellow stick.
On Sept. 19, she was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Field Hockey Player of the Week.
She was one of three captains on the team.
“Desi has been a key performer for ESU as long as I have known her. She’s the type of athlete that is going to give everything she has on the field so that as a team we can come out on top. Her drive to succeed and will to win is what makes her such a great player,” said fellow captain, Emily Howell.
The center midfielder is known for her ‘never say die’ attitude and determination to continuously better herself and her team. In her freshman year, that attitude was put to the test. Mack sustained a wrist injury that cost her the season before it had even begun, placing a medical redshirt on her first year.
“It made freshman year a challenge; I couldn’t even write notes in class,” said Mack.
A redshirt gives a player an extra semester of eligibility and is most commonly used for injured players or freshman who still need time to develop their skills.
She returned for her second season with the team ready to play and started all nineteen games of her redshirt-freshman season.
“My favorite ESU field hockey memory is winning the PSAC and NCAA championships,” exclaimed Mack.
She played an instrumental role in ESU’s PSAC championship and National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) championship in 2015.
“I hope to help the team return to both the PSAC and NCAA championships and win again, otherwise just enjoy playing and make the most of my time left on the team,” said Mack about her goals for the season.
Mack has started every game of her career to date and has a final career total of 22 goals and 10 assists.
Mack came to ESU in hopes to find the right balance between her athletics and academics.
“Division II was the best fit, and ESU was the best for my major and is close to home,” said Mack.
She is studying sport management and plans to graduate in December 2016.
The lady Warriors 2017 fall schedule can be found on www.esuwarriors.com.
Email Halle at:
hfrisco@live.esu.edu