Samantha Nelson: Q&A

Samantha Nelson has logged over 1,000 minutes in goal this year for 13th-ranked Duke, posting 67 saves and two shutouts. The junior from Rockville, Md. recently took some time to answer questions about goalie pads, stopping penalty strokes and being coached by a former teammate. Duke travels this weekend to face No. 3 Virginia on Halloween.

GoDuke: How did you start playing field hockey, and more specifically, goalie?
Samantha Nelson: Well my situation is unique; I went to a small elementary school. P.E. time was centered on field hockey, which included boys and girls. The P.E. coach at the time was also the assistant goalkeeper coach at Virginia. He had been on the national team and was a goalkeeper. I started playing in first grade and I became a goalie in fifth grade. I didn't know any different!

GD: What's the most difficult aspect of being a field hockey goalie?
SN: The most difficult and the best aspect is it being a team sport. I don't think I could ever play an individual sport. I love the camaraderie and my teammates make it worthwhile. But, it is extremely difficult to get everybody on the same page. When you are in a game, when somebody is not doing their job, it can defeat the overall purpose and that is when breakdowns happen.

GD: Does the equipment become an issue? When it's August and the turf can get real hot, do you want to just ditch some of the pads?
SN: I think of it like this: I have more padding on, but I don't have to run around as much. That doesn't mean I don't have to train and do fitness and it definitely gets tough during preseason.

GD: It must be tough trying to stop a penalty stroke or corner.
SN: One of the highlights of my career so far was the first game of the season [against Louisville]. We were winning, 3-0, and it was a big game because we lost to Louisville in our first game last season. Everyone was fired up and it was really important to me that we have a shutout. They got a penalty stroke and I don't know why I was so confident, but I just knew it wasn't going in. It was one of the best feelings, because really, it's unexpected.

GD: What is it like to play with such a great defender in Lauren Miller?
SN: Lauren Miller is just our rock in the backfield. I have known her quite a long time; we used to both play U.S. Field Hockey in high school. It was definitely interesting to see her transition into college hockey and become such an incredible leader on our team. I would definitely say I have grown up a lot under Miller and she has definitely taught me a lot about the kind of leader I want to be.

GD: You are one of the veterans on a very young team. Do you feel like you have to be a vocal leader because you are one of the more experienced players?
SN: It's been difficult for me because I tend to see myself leading more by example. I'm definitely not the first person to say something at a meeting or at halftime. It was weird to come in this year and there was this built-in authority. It took awhile to get used to it, but I have to say that...Miller and the coaches have done a great job of trying to foster leadership in every part of the team. We really don't want to rely on one person.

GD: You work with Caitlin Williams a lot. What has it been like to be coached by a former teammate?
SN: Well, freshman year, I didn't play at all. Caitlin was a really solid senior starter. She was already such a role model and a leader. It wasn't hard to see her transition into being a coach. This year especially, I'm very proud to play under Caitlin because I feel like she's molded me a lot. I think it's an interesting relationship; I'm really the first keeper that she has coached. This is definitely a turning point in my career that I feel she is a big part of.

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