The Hofstra Pride field hockey team secured its first victory of the season on Wednesday, Sept. 11, notching their first win under new head coach Courtney Veinotte. It was also the first win for freshman goalie, Merlijn van der Vegt. The win would not have been possible without van der Vegt’s strong performance in goal for the Pride.

“It was great,” van der Vegt said. “I felt it coming because we played good against Vermont even though we lost 1-0. I knew if we kept this up, [we] were going to get a win.”

“When the first goal [went] in after six minutes from Currie, I’m like this is it; now it’s going to be good,” van der Vegt added. “In my head I’m thinking – if nothing goes in now, we win. If I just don’t let any balls go in, we’re winning. It was great – a real good team vibe and I hope we get another one again Monday.”

It’s no surprise that a win feels this good for van der Vegt and the Pride, as she has had five or more saves in every game dating back to her first start. As a freshman, it is impressive to see her dominate in the goal for Hofstra thus far.

“It feels great, but it’s not all me,” van der Vegt said. “My communication with my defense is really good, so they help me to get in the right spots. [Cecelia DeSimone] is helping me with things like if I don’t know a certain word for stuff, so that is good because my teammates are helping me with everything. I’m just glad I can do my part, that’s why I’m here.”

Communication in any sport is always important, and even more so in van der Vegt’s case. Being from the Netherlands, it is one of the many adjustments she needed to make while living here in America.

“I think one big difference between my home in the Netherlands and here in America, is that in America we have roommates and get to live on campus,” van der Vegt said, “while in the Netherlands you live in a house with other students as well but you don’t live on campus where everything else is. Also, we have clubs in the Netherlands where you play sports, [but] those aren’t with the universities. Here it is combined and I really think that is the greatest thing ever, and probably the biggest difference.”

There are many things that factored into van der Vegt’s decision to come to Hofstra and play for the Pride. She understands the importance of having a good environment to play in as well as how beneficial the connection is between her as a first-year player and Coach Veinotte, who is also in her first year as head coach for the Pride.

“First off, I always thought I didn’t want to go to New York,” van der Vegt said. “But I eventually ended up here because I really liked the coaches here, and I really thought the program was getting good people in. [It was] creating an opportunity to go to the next level next year. I really like that there is a new head coach this year, so I can help her in molding the team, and have a little bit more influence than I would if there was a coach who’s been there for like 10 years. In the end, I really enjoyed the campus too, and even though I didn’t want to be in New York, Hofstra was so great that I knew it was worth it … for Hofstra.”

As for her American experience here at Hofstra, on a personal level, it has definitely been an enjoyable one.

“I love hanging out with my team, they are all really great. The seniors and upperclassmen have all taken really good care of us freshmen, and we really got accepted into the squad so I think hanging out with the team and going to other [sporting] events with them is really fun.”

Aside from her love for field hockey, van der Vegt loves to root for some of the other Hofstra Pride sports teams when she can.

“Women’s soccer is really fun to watch, and I love to see volleyball. I am also really excited to go to a wrestling match because we did not have that in the Netherlands.”

As with any college freshman, transitioning to a different style of life can be hard. This is true especially for van der Vegt who is 3,646 miles away from home.

“One thing that I laugh about with my teammates is the cheese here in America,” van der Vegt said. “Every time I get cheese here, I say it tastes like melted plastic, so that’s one of the things I miss – the good Dutch cheese,” she said.

“But of course, I really miss my friends and family. That’s kind of tough, but overall the homesickness is less than I expected. Everyone is so welcoming here and you are so involved with your team, whether its going to classes, or training and stuff, you don’t really have time to get homesick, so that’s good.”

Off the field, van der Vegt is a psychology major and admitted that balancing school and field hockey is not easy.

“The tough part is sometimes we do have to miss classes, and that’s hard because then you’re not off to a good start with your teachers,” van der Vegt said. “But all of the teachers here are really nice and understanding. The workload is rough because after practice we have to be in the library – sometimes really late – but it’s part of it. It’s just a balance, I think.

“It really keeps me on my toes and mentally helps me to keep things separate, between school and sport. Every time I’m on the field, I don’t think about classes or deadlines I am just locked in and ready to help my team win. When I’m on the field, it’s only the field.”

Van der Vegt’s on-the-field mentality is something she learned from various coaches and mentors during her time in the Netherlands. She is now bringing those values with her to Hofstra and it has definitely been something that has helped her to continue the early success.

“I need to always keep my head in the game, when I am at my best, I just don’t think,” van der Vegt said. “If I go [in] thinking about balls and things that need to be done, I won’t be successful, so I know I need to trust my instincts, coach my defense and it’s going to be great.”

“One thing that I always remember is that one of my old coaches said to me, ‘Don’t think, trust your instincts,’ and every time I do that, I know I can do my best to help the team win,” she said.

The Hofstra field hockey team is excited to watch van der Vegt grow and continue to help the Pride be successful both in the short term and the long term.

“Some of my goals for this season are getting better with the team and learning from [DeSimone],” van der Vegt said. “I think [we] can learn a lot from each other since we have a different playing styles … and I need to keep coaching my defense because it’s getting there, but it can be better. [There are] just some technical things that we can all learn from
each other to become better, as a team.”

Merlijn’s love for the game and teammates drives her to push herself to want to be better every single day, to keep earning respect and contributing to the team’s success. If she keeps the pace she is at right now, van der Vegt will not have a problem achieving the goals she sets out for herself and the team.

“Long term, I would love to get as many shutouts as possible,” van der Vegt said. “I want to get us through the Colonial Athletic Association championships, and then final 16 – as high as we can get. I want to be starting goalie and I know that if I don’t do well, I’m off. That’s it. So, that keeps us all working hard and I just want to continue to be successful and do well for my team.”

Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics