Katie Reynolds had a breakout year during her junior season for the Oswego State field hockey team. After a team-leading 24-point season, Reynolds is confident that this season will be even better for her and  the team.

The goal is the same for every player on the field from the Lakers: get conference wins and make the SUNYAC playoffs. In Reynolds’ eyes, every player is pushing each other to get to the desired destination.

“We have 12 freshmen, and every single one of them is incredibly talented,” Reynolds said. “I think with those 12 freshmen, they’ll push us [older girls] to be better because they’re competition now.”

Even with Reynolds’ breakout season, head coach Heather Moore said she does not compare stats year to year, but rather looks at the offseason improvements.

“What I see is that she’s faster, more fit, is able to get around players she couldn’t last year,” Moore said. “Her ability to get consistency on goals is kind of the expectation and to continue to pour that on for the rest of the season.”

But before Reynolds stepped foot on Laker Turf stadium, she attended NCAA Div. II St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill. The Spartans were starting a field hockey program for the first time. She had one goal during the season, and the Spartans went 1-14 in their inaugural season.

“I started my first year [at St. Thomas Aquinas], and it took us awhile to get our skill up and play with each other,” Reynolds said. “I think it’s helped me come here because the level was a little more intense of playing, so it set me up for something a little bit more.”

Reynolds said she initially looked at Oswego State during her senior year at Pawling High School, but St. Thomas Aquinas was more appealing due to the fact that the Div. II school could give money for athletics.

“I came [to Oswego State] and met the team and fit in with the team perfectly,” Reynolds said. “When I went to other schools, I didn’t feel that connection.”

She added that a major influence to coming to Oswego State was the well-known communications program, to which Reynolds switched her major during the transfer to Oswego State.

Reynolds’ first season as a Laker was with former head coach Brandi Lusk. Reynolds said she struggled during her sophomore year, tallying 11 points. But that all changed when Moore was hired as the head coach for the 2017 season.

“I definitely think I’ve improved from junior and senior year mostly because of Heather. I didn’t feel like there was a connection with [the first two coaches],” Reynolds said. “It was kind of more think in the opportunity, which is like ‘OK, you messed up, sit down,’ where Heather will take time to work with me, get it right and see me improve.”

Moore said she is not completely sure what led to such an outbreak during Reynolds’ junior year since she was not with the Lakers prior. But after coaching her for over a season, Moore has some idea of what led to the breakout after seeing the senior’s ability.

“I think she was just really focused to leave her mark on the program,” Moore said. “From a coaching perspective, she’s always been really coachable. I say one little thing, and she’ll do it.”

However, Reynolds is sure Moore was the biggest contributor to her new-found success with all the confidence she had in her forward. Reynolds said that with Moore’s coaching style, she was able to branch out and experiment with her play.

“For me, the thing is, being at Oswego is the first time I have confidence playing,” Reynolds said. “I’ll do certain things, like test myself, because I know that’s what [Moore] wants. Where I would be too afraid to do anything with my other coaches, because I know if I mess up, I sit [on] the bench.”

Reynolds is off to a strong start with eight points, which good for second on the team, and she has three goals in three games. Her strong play sparks enthusiasm into the team, Moore said, and that it really pushes the team.

“She’s a gamer. She’s going to put the ball in the cage however she can,” Moore said. “If the ball’s laying there, she’s going to put it in the net.”

For Reynolds, her excitement is large, heading into the bulk of the regular season with conference games just around the corner. However, this team seems to have the natural connection, Reynolds said, making the ability for SUNYACs and potentially a winning season.

“Our play on the field is way better; our passing is good,” Reynolds said. “We just connect as a team.”

Out of the 22 players on the 2018 roster, Reynolds fits perfectly into the team’s equation, Moore said. She puts her leadership ability to the test on both the offensive side of the field as a forward, but also on the defense’s press, she added.

“She inserts on our offensive corners. She has a really consistent hit, whether that’s on the insert or when she’s taking shots at the top of the circle,” Moore said. “I think she just fits in as a forward and drives everything offensively.”

Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian