Terrapins Celebrate Alumni Day Saturday
5/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland field hockey team held an event for alumni Saturday and welcomed back all members of the Terrapin family to the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
“Cheers to a beautiful spring day in the great state of Maryland with talented Turtle alumnae, families and friends,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “One of the greatest things about Maryland is that once you're a Terp, you're a Terp for life and we have a great tradition of our alums coming back to stay a part of the program.”
They played two mini-games with family, friends and former Terps, while the current team members helped host the event. Dedicated athletic trainer Sandy Worth worked the grill and former Terrapin parents helped with the event as well.
“It's just really fun to see Terrapins of different years bringing their families back to spend time together,” Worth said. “We always look forward to this event. This speaks to the culture that's been created here.”
Former Terp forward Kirstie Dennig and goalkeeper Melissa Vassalotti switched roles. Vassalotti scored the first two goals of her career.
“It is so great to come back to Maryland and see all of my fellow Terps at the alumni game,” Alexis Pappas Nielson, class of 2009, said. “I love catching up with friends I haven't seen in a while and reminiscing about old times. We talk about how we would give anything to go back and relive those memories that made us who we are. They taught us the appreciation for hard work, dedication and most importantly, to cherish these friendships that last a lifetime. There is nothing like the four years I spent at Maryland with my best friends.”
“The alumni game gives us a chance to step back in time and reminisce about those memories. I love meeting the new team and feeling envious that they are just beginning their adventure. All of the Terps at the alumni game are like you because they went through the tough preseason, the long season, the struggles, the best of times, the worst times, the blood, sweat and tears that made it all worth it. Whether we played together or not we are all Maryland field hockey players and that makes us family.”
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