Gerzabek, Putsch Back Together Again
9/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Freshman Moira Putsch and senior captain Katie Gerzabek started playing together six years ago in the club system and in high school. Three years later, they're reunited as part of the Maryland field hockey team.
Gerzabek and Putsch met when Putsch was in seventh grade and Gerzabek was in 10th and they played for the WC Eagles club team. Two years later, they found themselves together again on the Academy of Notre Dame's varsity squad with Putsch as a rookie and Gerzabek as a senior.
Gerzabek had been a leader offensively for the Irish in her first three seasons. When Putsch came in as a freshman, Gerzabek moved to the Irish's backline.
"Katie came off her junior year as our top goal scorer when Moira joined the team her freshman year," Notre Dame head coach Adele Williams said. "Being the player that she is, Katie happily anchored our defense in her senior year leaving Moira to dictate the forward line. These two complemented each other so well. Katie's ability to read the game and distribute the ball partnered with Moira's speed, explosiveness and ability to finish made them a force to be reckoned with."
Putsch finished the season with 24 goals and 13 assists, while Gerzabek finished with 18 goals and 15 assists. The duo dominated the InterAC, leading the team to an undefeated league title.
Gerzabek departed for College Park later that year. In her freshman season with the Terrapins, she finished second on the team in scoring with 17 goals and notched 14 assists. In the 2011 National Championship game and the Terps down 2-0 to North Carolina, Gerzabek scored Maryland's first goal with under four minutes to play. The Terrapins went on to win their eighth national title in overtime.
Over the next three years, the duo stayed in touch, but Gerzabek was careful to not push Putsch into coming to Maryland.
"I wanted her to come, but at the same time, I wanted to give her advice as to where she could see herself if field hockey was out of the equation," Gerzabek said. "I said it's a great place and we're just a big family here. It's like Notre Dame. We like to have fun. We'll laugh on the field."
"She knew me and she knew that I was stressed with the decision, so she wasn't pounding me all the time about it," Putsch said. "She knew how to portray Maryland to me."
Putsch ended up joining Gerzabek in College Park and now head coach Missy Meharg has quite the duo in her lineup.
“What an honor to have two such amazing field hockey players out of Philadelphia," Meharg said. "Adele Williams is someone who understands hockey so well and I have a ton of respect for her and how they're coached. Katie's leadership style for Moira in high school set a standard for her to aspire to play at the international level for her country, as well as for the University of Maryland.
On the field, Putsch is learning to use her speed and skills to her advantage with Gerzabek passing along advice along the way.
"I tell her to live it up and it goes really, really fast," Gerzabek said. "Don't take any moments you get here for granted."
-Terps-
