A tradition of excellence surrounds the field hockey program. That tradition includes hard-working student-athletes putting their energy into making a commitment to their teammates. It also includes seven straight trips to the NCAA Tournament (200-06) under current head coach Alix Rorke, who enters her ninth season at Williams in 2008 with a 106-38 mark (.736 winning percentage).
It also includes six Little Three titles in that span and three NESCAC Championships as the Ephs have become a regional powerhouse. Twice the Ephs have reached the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament, and they have won 11 games or more all but once since 1999.
Over the past 25 years, Rorke and former head coach Chris Mason, the current field hockey assistant and head coach of women’s lacrosse at Williams, have developed 27 All-Americans.
Off the field, the members of the program have approached their studies with the same determination, hard work and enthusiasm. In 2005, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) recognized Williams with a NFHCA Team Academic award. The NFHCA National Academic Team Award recognizes those institutions that achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 during the first semester of the 2005-06 academic year.
In 2006, Williams compiled a 13-4 record and sophomore Meighan McGowan was honored as the NESCAC Player of the Year while earning All-American status along with teammate Jess Overlander.
Despite being upset in the first round of the conference tournament — the first time since its inception the Ephs had not reached the championship final — Williams earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament and scored a 6-0 first-round win over New England College before closing the 2006 season with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to third-ranked Messiah College.
The Ephs’ schedule each year includes many of the region's top team (Skidmore, Springfield, Keene State) includes many top NESCAC teams and begins in mid-September.
Philosophy
Williams head coach Alix Rorke looks for two main characteristics from incoming student-athletes: Hard workers and people who love to be part of a team. “I look for people who are going to support each other and are all about the team and the team’s goals. At the same time, they have to be able to recognize what they do as individuals affects the team.”
Field hockey pre-season training emphasizes endurance, explosiveness, quickness and agility as well as individual stick skills. During the season continued work on these skills is blended with the development of a strong passing game, explosive attack and solid defense.
This is achieved through work on skills and strategies as well as awareness, anticipation, timing and extra effort. Strong basic skills are key as the many little things that make up the basic skills add up to make for a successful season.
NESCAC rules do not permit out of season practice thus many field hockey players also participate in other varsity sports in the winter and/or spring. Those players not involved in another sport continue to work out on their own.
Williams is fortunate to have good player turnout and the support from the administration to field a junior varsity team each fall. The junior varsity team allows players to play their way up to varsity level competition.
From the junior varsity player to the All-American honoree, the team works hard, with the primary goal being enjoyment of the team and the game of field hockey.
