With seven goals and four assists so far, Brandywine Heights grad Kaitlyn Pietrusewicz is having her best season for the Albright College women’s field hockey team. The Albright senior is third on the team in scoring with 18 points.
For Pietrusewicz, the season has capped a successful four years for the Lady Lions in which she has just continued to improve as a player all four years.
‘Throughout my field hockey career I’ve grown as a person in confidence, experience and as a leader,’ said Pietrusewics who is one of the team captains this year. ‘It was an honor to be named a team captain this season. It means a lot to have the support of my team.
‘This season our field hockey program is the best it has been since I started at Albright, and I’m so proud to say that I have been a part of it. Everyone on the team is very talented and determined and it has fueled our success this season.’
Pietrusewicz wasn’t quite so sure of herself when she joined the Albright team in 2009. She played in 19 games and scored one goal and had one assist in limited action. It was a rough first year for Kaitlyn on many fronts.
‘The transition from high school to college field hockey was a huge adjustment,’ said Pietrusewicz. ‘College classes, professors and the college lifestyle were all brand new, and playing a sport in additon to course demands had been a challenge. I embraced the challenge, enjoyed it, and I have grown as a person as a result.
‘I was fortunate enough to find a family in field hockey players at Albright College which made my transition into college hockey so much easier. As the only biochemistry major on the team, I was able to connect with all of the girls and it has been awesome to have a solid group of friends throughout my college years.’
By her sophomore year the midfielder started to feel more comfortable, scoring one goal with four assists, and really making her presence known on the field. She started in all 18 of the team’s games that year.
By her junior season, she led the team in goals with four, and shots on goal with 17. Her contributions came in other parts of her game that not everyone will notice. This season it didn’t take long for first-year head coach Sarah Brant to notice what she does for the team.
‘Kaitlyn serves as one of our team captains and she is overall a very fundamentally sound player,’ said Coach Brant. ‘She leads by example and execution of skills. She is a versatile player that can both attack and defend. She will be missed next year.’
She still has a few games to go this year and she doesn’t want to take for granted any of the time she has left on the field.
‘I love the challenge of the sport and working with the team to be successful,’ said Pietrusewicz. ‘I’m very excited to finish my senior year with such an amazing group off girls and have a great season. I’m very happy to be a part of the Albright College field hockey team.’
