Athlete of the Week: Liz Dawson

Dawson, a psychobiology major from Ann Arbor, Mich., has been in love with sports since elementary school. She was already playing soccer when her father took her to a field hockey practice and the game caught her attention. "I remember asking my father, `What is field hockey? Why are you taking me here?'" Dawson said. "I remember that first day. Something clicked with me, even if I was too young to know what."

Dawson began playing for a recreational department team, and then her middle school team welcomed her with open arms. In high school, she captained the squad her senior year and was a four-time letter-winner.

Julia Tiernan/YH

As in high school, Dawson was elected captain for this year's Bulldog team after starting all 19 games last season and racking up 11 points. She is constantly striving for more, and knows how to look at herself with an objective eye. "I try to hold the team's composure together while sustaining our mental relentlessness when we're out on the field," Dawson remarked. "We need to have the same level of emotional intensity in all our games, regardless of who the other team is."

Like any athlete, Dawson is concerned with results, in this case winning the Ivy title. But she also reflects on what she has learned from field hockey. "I've learned so much that is applicable off the field," she said. "All the different mental and physical aspects have given me a sense of myself and my limits and goals. I've learned how to communicate better with people, and I'm more confident when I approach a problem.... I know that playing field hockey has been instrumental in allowing me to grow and learn about myself."

Dawson is currently applying to medical schools and knows from athletic experiences that she is interested in a team-oriented environment. Her skills in leadership and determination will be both evident and useful in her future pursuits. "All the lessons I've learned and goals I've achieved in field hockey will be helpful in working with people," Dawson said. She is also keeping her mind on the task at hand. Her main concern is not what choices she will make for her medical career, but how the team will fare against Princeton on Sat., Oct. 4.

--Peter Smith

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