Field hockey in 'Land Down Under'

A recent Lehighton graduate traveled to Australia this summer with the USA Athletes International field hockey team.

Kaycie Andrew, 20, spent 10 days in Australia with the invitational team. She has played field hockey for 10 years as a forward.

"I love field hockey. I like being on a team, and having that team atmosphere," she said. "I am very competitive."

Andrew was invited to join the USAAI team last year in Barbados at the recommendation of her college coach, but could not attend. She was invited again to join this year's team after being recommended by a friend and teammate.

"This time I took the opportunity and went," she said. She was one of 15 Americans on her team.

The trip included two days of practice and team-building, and a total of six games. Her team played for an additional day as one of the top four teams, and finished third in their bracket. The program featured approximately 20 teams, including a bracket with students, and other brackets with adults and "master" level players.

This was Andrew's first experience with international competition. She was impressed with the speed of Australian players and enjoyed working with them.

"Their pace, the way that they play and practice, is faster. We have the same skills but the way that they play just amazed me," she said.

It was also a chance for Andrew to meld her skills with new teammates, many of whom were working together and meeting for the first time.

"It was different. None of us knew each other, and to get third place I thought was amazing. We worked together," she said. "We obviously all wanted to win, but third place is great."

After six days of playing hockey in Melbourne, the American team spent the rest of their trip sightseeing and learning more about Australian culture. They also traded jerseys and sports memorabilia with the Australian players.

"Obviously I loved playing hockey against Australia, but I've always wanted to go there as well," she said. "We learned how to serve (in tennis) and held koalas. We spent time on their beaches. It was so pure, sandy with clear water at the beaches. It was awesome."

While sightseeing, their group spent time on Great Ocean Road. They also visited Brisbane, Apollo Bay and Langhorne, and saw an Australian football game.

"If I go back, I want to go to Sydney," she added.

Andrew has already accepted a spot on next year's USAAI team. Teams will have a choice to travel to South Africa or Italy and Austria. Andrew will join the team in Italy and Austria.

"I like being athletic. When I'm with a team it motivates me," she said. "It's also a positive influence, especially for girls. At college, the team is your main group of friends. You know that you have those girls that are automatically going to be your friends."

She noted that her goals for field hockey at the college level include being named to All Conference or All American.

"I want to get to those goals, so I constantly push myself. When think of my teammates, they make me want to better myself."

Andrew spent nearly a year fundraising to pay for this year's trip and is grateful for the friends and family who have supported her goals.

"It took a lot of effort, but we got there," she said. "It was a great opportunity."

Andrew was a member of Lehighton Area High School's state championship and state finals teams in her sophomore and junior year.

She begins training for the field hockey season at Newberry College in South Carolina this month.

When she arrives on campus, she'll spot at least one familiar face: her USAAI coach, Catherine Somits, who is also a coach at Newberry.