Going out on top

STAFFORD — Amanda Babineau says the sport of field hockey was a great way to experience new and fun things. She didn't know those experiences would allow her to play field hockey for college.

The Mountain View High School senior will be graduating with the rest of her class this month and then moving onto Longwood University in the fall. There she will play field hockey for the Lancers on a half scholarship.

While the 18-year-old is excited, she knows it will be tough.

"The incoming freshmen will be expected to compete for starting roles as soon as they arrive," said Lain Byers, a first-year field hockey coach at Longwood. "It is always exciting to watch the competition for places develop during the pre-season period. With their athleticism and skill, I expect them to be challenging the current team for their starting spots."

Babineau is a four-year letter award winner, though she attended her freshman year of high school at Colonial Forge.

In her time in the prep leagues, she has earned such distinctions as All-Area First-Team, All-District, All-Region and All-State First-Team honors during her senior season.

Babineau was also invited to play in Germany last year as a youth member of the U.S. Field Hockey Team.

She said she never saw much of Germany while she was there because she was too busy playing the game.

"They have fish for breakfast, a big lunch and a small dinner of cheese and crackers," said Babineau, commenting on some of the differences between the United States and Germany. "When I got thirsty, I had to get used to the water because all they had was seltzer water from a big bottle."

Her team won every game while she was in Germany. She even played some male opponents who had a hard time accepting the fact they had been beaten by the girls' team.

Her mother, Carol Babineau, said Amanda and her similar-aged brother, Eddie, are not the first children to leave home. She and her husband have two older children who are now well into their adult lives.

Carol Babineau said she admits that when Amanda goes off to college there will be a sense of empty-nest syndrome around the house.

"I think that Amanda found the right fit with Longwood. She has always been a good student, and this just makes sense for her," said Carol Babineau.

Amanda looked at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, her mother added, but it only offered a division-three program.

Amanda Babineau began playing softball during her seventh-grade year in at Rodney Thompson Middle School. It was a change from her days before moving
with her family to Virginia, playing soccer.

While she adjusts to college life, the standout said she would like to try out for the national field hockey team in Virginia Beach.

"If you like field hockey then it is something that you would definitely be into," she said.

If she stays on her current path, there is a good chance she will make it to those tryouts — on time. Babineau said that playing the sport keeps her focused and organized, and makes her plan for things ahead of schedule.

"I definitely don't like to sit idle," she said.