Oct. 6, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The "on-field artist" of the reigning national champion Maryland field hockey squad, senior Rachel Hiskins (Victoria, Australia) once again finds herself atop the season scoring charts. The starting defensive midfielder leads the 9-1 Terps with a team-high tying 14 goals, a team-leading eight assists and a .520 shot percentage, but if you ask Hiskins, stats are not important. What is important to the All-American is that her easy-going demeanor lends itself to her own self-expression on and off the field, while at the same time enabling her teammates to succeed around her.

"Rachel is exceedingly patient and understands the game of field hockey," states Maryland head coach Missy Meharg. "She has grown as a hockey player here physically and mentally, and she's one of most artistic players I've ever seen. Her skills are unmatched."

Recently, Hiskins sat down with The Official Athletic Website of Maryland Athletics, www.umterps.com, to talk about growing up playing hockey in Australia, coming to America and self-expression.

umterps.com: When did you start playing field hockey?
Rachel Hiskins: I think I was six years old when I started playing. We were living in Germany because my dad was coaching tennis there at a club. We moved there when I was two years old, and then back to Australia when I was seven. My sister (27) and brother (25) both played.
umterps.com: Is field hockey a popular sport for kids to play in Australia?
RH: It's pretty popular, but not like Australian rules football.
umterps.com: Did you play any other sports growing up?
RH: I played tennis but I liked the team aspect of hockey better. My father encouraged us to play whatever sports we liked. I also played netball, which is like basketball, and danced as well. I took ballet and jazz lessons.

umterps.com: How did you "come up the ranks" in Australia?
RH: Well, I played hockey for my club team, called Doncaster, in the junior league from when I was 10 to 14 years old. When I was 15 I started playing with the boys team, which was fun because I was the only girl. It was really cool to grow up playing with the boys. When I was 14 I made the Under-18 state team, and then I played on the Under-21 state team - the Vipers - at the same time as when I was on the Doncaster seniors. On U-21s I played with and against Australian national team members [and Olympians] Alyson Annan and Claire Mitchell-Taverner.
umterps.com: And that's when you heard about Maryland?
RH: Yeah, I was playing with a girl on the Australian team and she and the coach knew Missy from international play.

umterps.com: What are the special things that you bring to the team?
RH: I think maybe my love of art and also my calmness. Everyone brings their personalities and I guess that's mine. I'm a laid back person, and art is my forte.
umterps.com: What kind of artist are you?
RH: I like painting portraits and drawing people, but I'm kind of creating my own style at the moment. I'm trying to implement realistic situations into abstract impressionism. I think we need realism but also expression and feeling. When I'm painting it's more like expressing feelings.
umterps.com: Do you find art is a good way for you to express yourself?
RH: I definitely use art to express feelings. Recently someone saw one of my pieces and totally knew what I was feeling when I made it. I usually like people to find their own meanings, but this person really got it.
umterps.com: Have you always felt this way about art?
RH: I was very shy when I was young. I never liked to be the center of attention. But I found that through art I can earn people's respect and people's notice without being boisterous.

umterps.com: What influenced your choice to come to Maryland? What did you expect?
RH: I wanted to come to a new country, but I had no idea what to expect. It's like a movie. I knew I'd like Washington, D.C., though, because of all the art and things around the area. And all the good bands.
umterps.com: What bands do you like?
RH: I like bands like Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine and Ben Harper. I got to see Pearl Jam in D.C. at the Meriweather Post Pavilion, and I actually got to meet Zack de la Rocha from Rage at LAX airport on the way home once.
umterps.com: Did you talk to him?
RH: I worked up my courage and introduced myself. I told him I painted a picture of him. He shook hands and said hello. He was so nice, even though he was busy and had places to go.
umterps.com: What is it about him that you admire?
RH: I admire him, and pretty much anyone that's intelligent, smart and creative. I really look up to my brother because he's a really smart player and makes other players play well. I really get inspired by singers and bands.
umterps.com: What about athletes?
RH: I don't really look to athletes for inspiration. I do admire some athletes, but music will always be with me. For me, it's just more powerful. Music has more of an effect than just one individual athlete.
umterps.com: Are you happy that you came to America?
RH: I am, and I've gotten used to what it's like. I had huge culture shock for first two years I was here, and it took some time to get used to. I'm normally so laid back and it is weird to come to a country that's always going, always on the move.

umterps.com: What are your favorite things to do when not playing hockey?
RH: I like to go see bands, both famous and underground. It's kind of hard to do that during the season. I like to appreciate others' artistic talent.
umterps.com: What else?
RH: I like watching movies and videos. Oh, and going to the beach.

umterps.com: What is your favorite thing about playing hockey?
RH: I like to be creative when I play hockey, and just have a lot of fun. It's another creative outlet for me.
umterps.com: Is hockey different here from how it is in Australia?
RH: It is different. It's much more physical over here, and some players get a little dirty that way. I used to really dislike that and wish people would just play their own game. It still makes me angry but I realize that's how some people have been taught how to play. I look at that as just another challenge now, and I try to work around that.

umterps.com: Can you tell us something about field hockey that people might not know?
RH: O.K., here's one. You have to move the ball where you can have vision of the entire field at the same time.
umterps.com: Is that challenging?
RH: Sometimes.
umterps.com: You seem to do it well, and enjoy it also. You seem to be the "point guard" of the team, always looking to make a play or set your teammates up rather than score yourself.
RH: I think I get a better feeling of helping someone else make a good play. When you've done a good job helping others to score, it's better than when you score yourself. Making a great pass just gives me a better feeling.

You can catch Hiskins and the No. 1 Terrapins in action vs. Stanford on Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. and also against ACC-rival Duke to open the Terrapin Doubleheader on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. Following that contest, Stanford will take on American University.

Contact: Mark Fratto
301-314-7064 (Phone)
301-314-9094 (FAX)
301-314-TERP (Fan Phone)
fratto@wam.umd.edu