Rachel Koerner knows what it takes to be more than just a good field hockey player. She’s not only leading her fellow teammates on the field, but she’s also dominating the stat sheets.
Koerner is a senior forward from New Tripoli, Pennsylvania. As of September 26th, Knight of the Week Koerner had scored an incredible 9 out of 18 goals the Knights had scored at that point in the season. She credits her success this season to her team and their diligent work throughout the preseason and weeks of non-conference play.
“My team counts on me to make the plays necessary to put the ball into the back of the cage,” she says. “These girls are not only my teammates, but my family. They support me and push me to do better... The girls on the team look up to me. You don’t need a label to be considered a leader, and these girls expect me to make the plays I do and be in the spots needed to put a point on the scoreboard. If it wasn’t for their constant support and my own personal drive to make an impact on this team, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am.”
Eric Enters, head field hockey coach, agrees. “Rachel has been very committed to not only improving her hockey skills but also understanding the game at a higher level. She has learned the importance of reflecting on her performance on the pitch and how it relates not only to her personal performance but also how it relates to the improvement of our team. Rachel is able to take those lessons and put them into practice on the field effectively. My only wish as a coach is that I had been able to coach Rachel for four years instead of just her last years.”
Koerner has been playing field hockey since the second grade. “From 2nd grade to 6th grade I played in a rec-league called NYAA till I joined the middle school team in 7th grade. In middle school, they had an “A” and “B”, like a varsity and junior varsity team. When I was on the B team, all my friends who were of the same age were playing for both teams; so, come winter I joined a club team. I wanted to work harder for when my 8th-grade season rolled around I was worthy of being on the A team.”
She also played field hockey all through high school while continuing to play on a club team throughout the off-season. “As a freshman you are nervous you are going to get cut,” she recalls. “My best friend and I opened our letters together and it told us we made the junior varsity team. We were absolutely thrilled. I didn’t expect to play in a single varsity game, but less than halfway through the season my coach started pulling me out of the JV games ... She told me I was now double rostered, and I will not be playing in the JV games as much anymore.”
During Koerner’s sophomore to senior seasons, she only played varsity. “Never once did I get to wear the captain band, but I did not care. You do not need a fancy name to make a difference on the team, so I didn’t let it bother me. I continued to play my game, scoring the game-winning goal to get us to the District Championship for the first time in 14 years.”
Throughout Koerner’s four years on Neumann’s field hockey team, she has been coached by three different coaches, all with unique styles of play.
“Each coach brought something new to the table... but each has developed me into the player I am today. From learning to just go forward with the ball to looking for the transfer passes... Every teammate and coach who has been a part of my college journey are reflected in the decisions I make on the field during a game. My field hockey experience was a bit of a rollercoaster considering I had three coaches in four years, but I wouldn’t change it for the world”.
When Koerner isn’t leading her team towards success, she is studying Health Science Pre-Occupational Therapy, while also double minoring in Strength and Conditioning, as well as Psychology. It is important for Koerner to balance her academics with her athletics.
“It is easy to say I have a very packed schedule; this has always been true. I easily take anywhere between 16-18 credits a semester... It is easy for field hockey to get in the way of my academics, but with a routine, I always have time set aside for classwork. I tend to pack my schedule in the morning, so my classes are done by noon and then I spend time doing homework up until practice at 4:00. That way I will have time to spend with my friends and family after practice at 6:00. Being a student-athlete can be super stressful but with a routine, it has helped me navigate through college successfully”.
After graduation, Koerner plans on pursuing two more years of schooling to receive a master's degree in Occupational Therapy, with hopes of working as a pediatrics occupational therapist. Her goal is to work with children and make a difference in the world by helping people with health issues that affect their everyday lives.
When she is not playing field hockey, or studying, Koerner loves to travel, “I’ve been to Canada and Mexico, but I want to leave the continent and visit areas I’ve never been like Germany and Italy. Working as an OT is going to be very time-consuming, but when I have the chance, I want to visit these places and many others.”
Koerner leaves other athletes with a piece of advice, “Never doubt yourself and, if there are people who are making you second guess yourself, then go out there and prove them wrong. Believe in yourself because it will get you so much further than the people who told you that you couldn’t.”