By Josh Wagner//
Hood College field hockey goalie Grace Guy has been named Middle Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Guy reflected on what winning the award means to her. “It means a lot because it happened so early in the season,” Guy said. “It gave me the confidence and hope for what’s ahead. It also came right before I was sidelined with a concussion, so it gave me something positive to hold onto and look forward to.”
Guy was recognized for her standout performance in goal against McDaniel College, recording 16 saves. Her effort marked the program’s most saves in a game since 2022.
Guy attributed her honor to her ability to rise to the occasion in crucial situations. “I think my saves really stood out,” Guy said. “I was able to come up big in key moments, which was both exciting for me and a big part of why I got recognized.”
Coach Carley Kessler said Guy’s recognition came as no surprise after her dominant showing.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Kessler said. “She had 16 saves in that game.”
Guy played in only one of Hood’s two games that week due to a concussion. She missed Saturday’s matchup against Randolph-Macon but still earned MAC honors for her performance against McDaniel.
Kessler emphasized how impressive the honor was, given Guy’s limited action. “For her to get defensive player of the week and play in only one of the two games was a pretty big accomplishment for her,” Kessler said.
Guy’s award was not only a personal achievement but also positive recognition for the program.
Kessler said receiving these kinds of honors early in the season can help set the tone for conference play. “I think it’s important to win these awards early in the season,” Kessler said. “It sets the tone for everyone in conference that we’re here and we’re winning these player of the week awards, whether it’s defensive or offensive. It sets the tone for the season.”
As of press time, Guy is still recovering from her injury with no timetable for her return, but her early-season performances have already made a significant impact on the program.
Guy stated her personal goal is to return to health as soon as possible and contribute to her senior season. “Personally, my biggest goal is to get healthy so I can return to the field and contribute to my team,” Guy said.
Guy has continued to grow as Hood’s starting goalkeeper. Before college, her primary sport in high school was lacrosse, Kessler said. Guy has steadily adapted to field hockey, showing improvement each season.
She previously played lacrosse as a goalie but has developed into a strong field hockey goalkeeper throughout her four-year tenure at Hood.
Kessler noted how far Guy has come since her first year with the program.
“She’s a senior this year, so I’ve seen her grow a lot,” Kessler said. “Lacrosse was her primary sport in high school since she played goalie there as well, but she didn’t have field hockey goalie training before coming to college. She has really grown a lot in the past four years. I’ve seen her step up not only in her technical skills but also in her decision-making. She’s much faster now, and she’s making good decisions in goal.”
Looking ahead, Hood College’s field hockey team has set high expectations for the rest of the season.
“As a team, our goal is to make it to the playoffs and really make a statement in the MAC,” Guy said. “My team motivates me the most. Seeing how hard they work every day makes me eager to get back out there.”
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