Get to know several standout athletes

Eileen Brandes | Michigan | Sr. | D

• Favorite pre-game meal: Oatmeal mixed with yogurt, one egg and coffee. Then a banana an hour before the game.
• Secret talent that no one knows about you: I used to sing more than I played sports.
• Favorite class: French
• Strangest nickname you have: Eyeballzz
• Place most like to travel: Greece and Peru
• Most surprising/embarrassing song on your iPod:
The Beep Test
• Three words to describe you: Honest, determined, ambitious

What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

To stay for my fifth year.  It’s daunting to imagine another offseason, another year of intense physical training when your body is telling you it’s time to stop, but I couldn’t imagine not being in Ann Arbor playing field hockey right now.  This extra time allowed me to pursue research in a biology lab, learn Spanish, meet some of my closest friends, and most importantly, one last chance to compete and win as a team for Michigan, a school that has given me everything over the past 4.5 years.

Kathryn Kirk | Old Dominion | Sr. | FW

• Favorite topping on a pizza: Mushroom
• Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate chip cookie dough
• Place most like to travel: Greece
• Lucky number: 2
• Facebook or Twitter? Facebook  
• Road trip or flight? Road trip
• Winter or Summer Olympics? Winter
• Mountains or beach? Beach

What is your all-time favorite sporting moment?

My favorite moment was winning the Colonial Athletic Association field hockey title last year. We hadn’t won the title since 2005, and our team worked incredibly hard to get there. It was awesome to bring that championship back to ODU!

What do you want to do when you graduate?

I plan to go to grad school and get my masters. Then I want to get a job as a speech pathologist in an elementary school working with kids.

Erika Wachter | Syracuse | Jr. | FW

• Favorite pro sports team: Philadelphia Eagles
• Place most like to travel: Bora Bora
• Favorite TV show: Desperate Housewives/ Sportscenter
• Celebrity crush: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
• Favorite sport besides the one you play: Basketball
• Favorite food: Salsa and chips
• Mountains or beach? Beach
• Three words to describe you: Smart, ambitious, motivational

What do you want to do when you graduate? When I graduate I would love to be reporting in a good-sized market. Ideally, I would like to be involved in sports reporting, but if news reporting or anchor positions come my way, I would definitely do it…journalism is something I love! Ultimately, my dream is to become a sideline reporter for ESPN. Along with hard work, I think believing and always having faith in yourself is key to achieving your dreams. I truly believe that mine will come true.

Kim Krzyk | Connecticut | Sr. | MF

• Favorite pre-game meal? Oatmeal
• Cat or dog? Dog
• Latest read? The Hunger Games
• Favorite T.V. show? The Vampire Diaries
• Movies or T.V.? Movies
• Summer or Winter Olympics? Summer
• Favorite sport besides the one you play? Basketball
• Mountains or Beach? Beach

Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals?

A lot! Here are a few of the many: My hair has to be the same way, I have to pass with the same person, I have a game loop with all the same clothes that I have to wear, and I listen to the same songs on my ipod sometimes before the game.

Abby Auld | UMass-Lowell | Sr. | MF

• College or pro sports? College
• Favorite Athlete? Michael Jordan
• Favorite Coach? John Wooden – very inspirational
• Favorite pre-game meal? Turkey sandwich with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and Reese’s for dessert!
• Reality T.V. or sitcom? Both
• Country or city? City
• Cat or dog? Dog
• Last song you heard on your iPod? Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean

What is one game you’ll never forget and why? 

The national championship game in 2010. When we walked out onto the snowy turf surface in Kentucky that morning, the butterflies in my stomach were unlike any other. That one game was going to define an amazing end to an even more amazing season. I have never felt closer to a team than I did then. Right from the start of those 60 minutes of play, it felt right. We were all on the same page and I don’t know if there has ever been any other time that everybody on my team had come in with the same goal in their minds – to win. The ending result of that very game left an emotional impact that will last a lifetime.

Marry Swarthout | Catholic | Sr. | FW

• Country or city? Country
• Cat or dog? Dog
• Movies or T.V.? Movies
• Facebook or Twitter? Facebook
• Road trip or flight? Flight
• Winter or Summer Olympics? Summer
• Favorite food: Pickles
• Mountains or beach? Beach

What is your all-time favorite sporting moment?

My favorite sporting moment is when my CUA field hockey team won in overtime against William-Patterson in the ECAC playoffs. The overtime had gone on for so long and we were all so fatigued, but we had a fast break opportunity and I ended up scoring the winning goal.  My team ran onto the field and surrounded me and picked me up. We were jumping up and down and going crazy. It was the kind of moment every athlete dreams of. I was only a freshman.

Erin McNally | Hamilton | Sr. | MF

• Reality T.V. or sitcom? Even though I do not watch much television anymore, I would rather watch a sitcom than reality. My favorite show would have to be How I Met Your Mother.
• Cat or dog? I am definitely a dog person. Currently I have a boxer named Rocky.
• Last song you heard on your iPod? The Last song I heard on my iPod was The ’59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem.
• Favorite ice cream flavor? My favorite ice cream flavor would have to be black raspberry.
• Favorite Class? My favorite class was Parasitology.
• Winter or Summer Olympics? I enjoy both Olympics but if I had the opportunity to attend one it would be the Summer Olympics.
• Favorite food: Mexican
• Mountains or beach? Mountains

What is your best team memory?

My best team memory is when we beat William Smith last year in overtime on their turf right after our keeper made an amazing 1v1 save at the top of the circle.  We were behind for most of the game and tied up the score to win it in overtime.  It was one of the best games our team has played and I will always remember the pure joy we all felt after scoring the final goal.