By: Benjamin E. Lykens (Whetstone  contributor)

 

Devin Price and the Wesley field hockey team have gotten off to a good start this year.

Price was named ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) player of the week as announced by the league on Sept. 18.

Price said that she was honored to receive the award.

“I was having a good week,” Price said. “I scored four goals that week; sometimes you just get lucky.”

This year, the Wolverines have played a lot of close games. Six out of their 10 games have been decided by one goal.

Price said their team goals are to communicate, back each other up and stay positive.

“As far as playing as a team, we are stepping it up this year,” she said.

Tracey Short, who is entering her eighteenth season as head coach, said that Price deserved to win the award.

“She has a great touch around the goal,” she said. “She has been a great overall player all season.”

Short said that she is aware of all the overtime games but thinks that her team has responded well under the pressure.

“I think the overtime is unfortunately either something where we gave up a couple of goals to allow the opponent back in the game or we scored to tie it up,” she said.

During regular time in a game, it’s 11 vs. 11, but during overtime, it turns into 7 vs. 7.

Short said that her team’s goal is to be prepared for all phases of the game.

“We practice 7 vs. 7 all the time because during overtime that’s what it is.”

Short said that her team will remain focused as they prepare for conference play.

“We are moving in the right direction,” Short said. “The team is coming together nicely and we are putting ourselves in a position to win games. As we get into conference play that is going to be very important.”