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10/31/2023 12:07 PMAlyssa Kendrick came into learning the sport of field hockey under the umbrella of one of the state’s most prestigious programs in the sport at North Branford High School, and with the tutelage of arguably one of the game’s greatest mentors, which she has utilized quite well in the next phase of her life.
The T-Birds’ alum and current Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) sophomore grew up in a family quite enthusiastic about athletics. After also trying soccer, basketball, and hockey in her youth, Alyssa embarked on field hockey around the age of 4, and the rest was history. After graduating and flying from the Thunderbirds’ nest, she has emerged as a strong sweeper on defense for the Warriors at ECSU.
“I love the camaraderie of the sport, and it is truly a team sport. You have to be connected with your teammates to win. I also love the different plays and strategy of it,” says Alyssa. “My parents have been a big help for me in the sport. I did HTC Travel League field hockey, which made it possible for me to play collegiate field hockey. [North Branford field hockey Head Coach Babby Nuhn] has taught me so much about life and field hockey. She is such a great coach, and I owe a lot to her.”
The pace of play has certainly progressed on the elevated stage of the sport, according to Alyssa, which was a given in her mind once she stepped onto campus. Yet once she saw the open arms extended by her fellow Warriors while balancing the books, she got up to speed on the turf.
“The college game is a lot faster. I have played travel tournaments, but you never truly understand the college game until you play it,” Alyssa says. “Coming on as a freshman, I was a little shy and did not know my role yet. Balancing education and sports can be difficult as well. But once you are welcomed to the team and know that role, you adjust well.”
An added adjustment to ECSU was the fact that Alyssa was assuming a new side of the ball on the defensive end. Still, after realizing the heart-stopping moments that can be achieved on that entity that can change the complexion of a contest, she learned to love her new field assignment through all the bumps and bruises.
“I had never played defense before college,” says Alyssa. “I love it. The feeling of taking the ball away from someone or making a goal-line save is such an adrenaline rush to me. It can be a challenge to know how to play defense against multiple people coming down the field, and you tend to get hit a lot while playing defense, but I like playing it.”
Alyssa adds that her swiftness and cardio is at her peak right now in chasing down the ball ever so diligently. She keeps her legs and mind sharp through maintaining her grades as a student-athlete, further bolstering her swagger to stave off any challenges in her way.
“I have never been in better shape than now. Field hockey is a running game, and I can run now more than ever,” says Alyssa. “It can all be a challenge mentally, especially with the stress of school and the sport. My mental health has been built up, and I have more confidence through my experiences of handling my academics and sports.”
Warriors women’s field hockey Head Coach Christine Hutchinson praises Alyssa for her wide array of skill sets on the defensive front, including having the knowledgeable knack for when to be pensive around the ball and when to pounce.
“Alyssa does excellent on defense; she reads the field extremely well, knows when to intercept versus playing patient defense, and she works well with everyone on the field,” says Hutchinson. “She has great timing for her block tackles to stop the fast attackers, and can also move the ball up the field with big hits or individual skills before making an accurate pass.”
As Alyssa will look to tread new waters in more ways than one upon graduating ECSU, her passion for the game will never cascade and she will look to take part in it in any capacity she can. Yet no matter which path her life takes, she will always have the best intangibles assigned to her, thanks to her tenure as a Thunderbird.
“I am majoring in Environmental Science. I would like a job in hydrology and to look at coast lines, lakes, and study oceanography. As far as sports, I would love to play some pick-up field hockey after college,” says Alyssa. “Babby is one of the best coaches I have had in my life. She helped me so much as an athlete, and I have used things taught by her to help me in college. She also taught us a lot of life lessons about the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. But she always taught me to have a positive mindset and so many great life lessons.”