Upcoming Event: Field Hockey versus Richmond on March 21, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
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9:30 a.m.
Field Hockey
vs Richmond
Photo by: Mark Palczewski
Signee Spotlight: Macy Szukics
1/25/2022 1:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
DURHAM – Duke field hockey head coach Pam Bustin is excited to announce the 2022 Blue Devil freshman class this spring. Over the coming weeks, we will profile each of the incoming Blue Devils, starting with Macy Szukics.
"I am thrilled to introduce Macy Szukics as a Duke Blue Devil!" said Bustin. "We are excited to welcome her elite level skill, game sense, and competitive nature to our program. Macy's extended experience with international competition comes from both the indoor game as well as outdoor where she has represented her club WC Eagles and USA. During her successful high school career at Episcopal Academy, Macy had the honor of being coached by the legendary Gina Buggy and our own Stef Fee (Duke '12). I am so excited and look forward to the opportunity to work with Macy!"
A 2021 NFHCA All-America second team selection, Szukics brings to Durham a wealth of field hockey experience with USA Field Hockey and her club WC Eagles. Szukics has been a member of USA Field Hockey since the U14 age group and was invited to take part in the 2021 USA Field Hockey Rise Selection Camp and the USAFH Women's Indoor National Team training squad as well as junior national team training camps in 2019.
A four-year starter at The Episcopal Academy, the native of Bethlehem, Pa., recently led Episcopal to the 2021 Inter-AC title en route to earning NFHCA All-Region first team and PHSFCA All-State first team honors. Szukics finished her scholastic career with 63 goals and 58 assists, amassing a career-best 27 goals and 19 helpers her senior year. She also guided Episcopal to the PAISSA State Championship in 2018 and 2019 and to an undefeated 2020 season shortened due to COVID-19. She scored 16 goals and nine assists as a sophomore in 2019.
Szukics is a three-time All-Main Line and All-Inter-AC pick, garnering All-Main Line and All-Inter-AC second team honors her rookie season. Playing club hockey for WC Eagles, the talented midfielder was instrumental in helping the club to the 2021 National Club Championship U19 title. The Eagles also captured top honors in their pool at the U19 National Indoor Tournament.
The daughter of Jennifer and Joseph Szukics, Macy also ran track at Episcopal, competing in the sprints and sprint relays.
Get to know Macy
How did you start playing field hockey?
There's a funny story behind this. When I was younger, I would always ask my mom to tell me stories before I'd go to bed. One night, when I was about 6 years old, she told me about a sport she played. For my young mind, a sport where you used a stick to hit a ball around on the ground seemed a little confusing. But, me being the curious kid I was, wanted to try. I hit around with my mom's old wooden 5 stick, and then my parents and I spent the entire day traveling to three-plus sports stores in the area to find me my own wooden stick that would fit my height. I was small, so this wasn't easy. I fell in love with the game of field hockey in the backyard of my childhood home. My mom started a recreational league in the area that took off, and I never looked back.
Favorite subject in school
My favorite subject in school is between 2D design and English. I've been in my school's art program for four years now, and I love painting and drawing. Although, I had an amazing English teacher my junior year who truly had an impact on my school life and my personality. To be honest, I don't think I would have recognized my writing potential, creativity, voice, or passion without him as my teacher.
Best field hockey memory
My best field hockey memory is hard to pick, but it has to be between two specific times in my life. The first happened when I was only 10 years old. There was a tournament for my club and even though I was suffering a fever bouncing between 101° and 104°, I still played. It was at the time when indoor was played with four field players and a goalie, and my small but mighty U12 team made finals. We tied our game and went into strokes. I distinctly remember stepping up to take my stroke in the sudden death round and looking down at a "believe" sticker I had on my TK indoor stick. I took a deep breath, made it, and was bombarded with hugs by my teammates and cheers of victory. The other was my freshman year of high school at the Episcopal Academy. It was our state finals (PAISAA league). We were playing against Sammy Popper, who's amazing and quite intimidating. I ended up scoring a goal to put us ahead, and a goal to tie the game, sending us into eventual double overtime and then shootouts. Being a freshman on the varsity overtime team gave me huge shoes to fill, but with effort and determination, and the work of all my teammates, we won states. It was my first tangible and exhilarating moment of high school field hockey.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I'd say I am quite the painter. I love art and all things surrounding 2D design. Another thing people may not guess about me is that I thoroughly enjoy alternative rock music and writing poems. I'm also a tad guilty of being an avid Criminal Minds and horror movie watcher. In addition, I rarely have to study for stuff in school because I take really good notes and have a bit of a photographic memory.
You win a chance to host a small concert with 5-10 of your closest friends, what musical artist do you ask to perform?
This is a tough question. I love too many musical artists. But if I had to pick someone it would most likely be Luke Combs. I'm a huge country fan and he is my favorite country artist by far.
#GoDuke
"I am thrilled to introduce Macy Szukics as a Duke Blue Devil!" said Bustin. "We are excited to welcome her elite level skill, game sense, and competitive nature to our program. Macy's extended experience with international competition comes from both the indoor game as well as outdoor where she has represented her club WC Eagles and USA. During her successful high school career at Episcopal Academy, Macy had the honor of being coached by the legendary Gina Buggy and our own Stef Fee (Duke '12). I am so excited and look forward to the opportunity to work with Macy!"
A 2021 NFHCA All-America second team selection, Szukics brings to Durham a wealth of field hockey experience with USA Field Hockey and her club WC Eagles. Szukics has been a member of USA Field Hockey since the U14 age group and was invited to take part in the 2021 USA Field Hockey Rise Selection Camp and the USAFH Women's Indoor National Team training squad as well as junior national team training camps in 2019.
A four-year starter at The Episcopal Academy, the native of Bethlehem, Pa., recently led Episcopal to the 2021 Inter-AC title en route to earning NFHCA All-Region first team and PHSFCA All-State first team honors. Szukics finished her scholastic career with 63 goals and 58 assists, amassing a career-best 27 goals and 19 helpers her senior year. She also guided Episcopal to the PAISSA State Championship in 2018 and 2019 and to an undefeated 2020 season shortened due to COVID-19. She scored 16 goals and nine assists as a sophomore in 2019.
Szukics is a three-time All-Main Line and All-Inter-AC pick, garnering All-Main Line and All-Inter-AC second team honors her rookie season. Playing club hockey for WC Eagles, the talented midfielder was instrumental in helping the club to the 2021 National Club Championship U19 title. The Eagles also captured top honors in their pool at the U19 National Indoor Tournament.
The daughter of Jennifer and Joseph Szukics, Macy also ran track at Episcopal, competing in the sprints and sprint relays.
Get to know Macy
How did you start playing field hockey?
There's a funny story behind this. When I was younger, I would always ask my mom to tell me stories before I'd go to bed. One night, when I was about 6 years old, she told me about a sport she played. For my young mind, a sport where you used a stick to hit a ball around on the ground seemed a little confusing. But, me being the curious kid I was, wanted to try. I hit around with my mom's old wooden 5 stick, and then my parents and I spent the entire day traveling to three-plus sports stores in the area to find me my own wooden stick that would fit my height. I was small, so this wasn't easy. I fell in love with the game of field hockey in the backyard of my childhood home. My mom started a recreational league in the area that took off, and I never looked back.
Favorite subject in school
My favorite subject in school is between 2D design and English. I've been in my school's art program for four years now, and I love painting and drawing. Although, I had an amazing English teacher my junior year who truly had an impact on my school life and my personality. To be honest, I don't think I would have recognized my writing potential, creativity, voice, or passion without him as my teacher.
Best field hockey memory
My best field hockey memory is hard to pick, but it has to be between two specific times in my life. The first happened when I was only 10 years old. There was a tournament for my club and even though I was suffering a fever bouncing between 101° and 104°, I still played. It was at the time when indoor was played with four field players and a goalie, and my small but mighty U12 team made finals. We tied our game and went into strokes. I distinctly remember stepping up to take my stroke in the sudden death round and looking down at a "believe" sticker I had on my TK indoor stick. I took a deep breath, made it, and was bombarded with hugs by my teammates and cheers of victory. The other was my freshman year of high school at the Episcopal Academy. It was our state finals (PAISAA league). We were playing against Sammy Popper, who's amazing and quite intimidating. I ended up scoring a goal to put us ahead, and a goal to tie the game, sending us into eventual double overtime and then shootouts. Being a freshman on the varsity overtime team gave me huge shoes to fill, but with effort and determination, and the work of all my teammates, we won states. It was my first tangible and exhilarating moment of high school field hockey.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I'd say I am quite the painter. I love art and all things surrounding 2D design. Another thing people may not guess about me is that I thoroughly enjoy alternative rock music and writing poems. I'm also a tad guilty of being an avid Criminal Minds and horror movie watcher. In addition, I rarely have to study for stuff in school because I take really good notes and have a bit of a photographic memory.
You win a chance to host a small concert with 5-10 of your closest friends, what musical artist do you ask to perform?
This is a tough question. I love too many musical artists. But if I had to pick someone it would most likely be Luke Combs. I'm a huge country fan and he is my favorite country artist by far.
#GoDuke
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