2008 Woodie Awards
Hawk Headliner: Rebecca Cunfer
Michael Morris '08
Issue date: 12/8/06 Section: Sports
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Her freshmen year set the tone for what has now developed into a career of excellence.
Junior Rebecca Cunfer performance as the starting field hockey goalie these past three years began with a fight for the starting spot during summer training leading into her freshman year.
While most of her fellow 2008 classmates were still laying on the beach, and packing up for the first of our many trips to Saint Joseph's University, Cunfer was well on her way through the late august practices awaiting her first collegiate hockey season.
Named the starting goalie after the first game of the season, it was unknown how she would react to the pressure of division one college field hockey.
Forgetting that she was a freshman, and playing like a veteran Rebecca finished out the season with six shutouts, the most ever by a freshman since 1985. Apparently her play in goal attracted not only attention from the Atlantic 10, securing the leagues Rookie of the Year Award, but she was also recognized and named to the National All-Rookie Field Hockey team, following the 2004 season.
Her junior year, aided by an all-around stellar defensive performance by fellow teammates, she recorded seven shut-outs.
Using these stats, and the stats from subsequent seasons, one can gain a sense that this young lady demands nothing but the best from herself and those around her.
If these stats were used alone to assess Cunfer and her overall impact at Saint Joseph's University, I believe we would all be satisfied. However, once in a while we see a great athlete contribute more in the classroom than in competition.
For Cunfer this challenge drove her to demand more of herself as a student. Enrolled in the Honors Program, she seems to have no problem challenging herself academically. But once again this was not enough.
The freshman who was not satisfied just because she had won the starting position on the field would not be satisfied unless she gave it her all in the classroom.
Junior Rebecca Cunfer performance as the starting field hockey goalie these past three years began with a fight for the starting spot during summer training leading into her freshman year.
While most of her fellow 2008 classmates were still laying on the beach, and packing up for the first of our many trips to Saint Joseph's University, Cunfer was well on her way through the late august practices awaiting her first collegiate hockey season.
Named the starting goalie after the first game of the season, it was unknown how she would react to the pressure of division one college field hockey.
Forgetting that she was a freshman, and playing like a veteran Rebecca finished out the season with six shutouts, the most ever by a freshman since 1985. Apparently her play in goal attracted not only attention from the Atlantic 10, securing the leagues Rookie of the Year Award, but she was also recognized and named to the National All-Rookie Field Hockey team, following the 2004 season.
Her junior year, aided by an all-around stellar defensive performance by fellow teammates, she recorded seven shut-outs.
Using these stats, and the stats from subsequent seasons, one can gain a sense that this young lady demands nothing but the best from herself and those around her.
If these stats were used alone to assess Cunfer and her overall impact at Saint Joseph's University, I believe we would all be satisfied. However, once in a while we see a great athlete contribute more in the classroom than in competition.
For Cunfer this challenge drove her to demand more of herself as a student. Enrolled in the Honors Program, she seems to have no problem challenging herself academically. But once again this was not enough.
The freshman who was not satisfied just because she had won the starting position on the field would not be satisfied unless she gave it her all in the classroom.
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