INTRODUCTION: Amanda Strenk '22 has a love for chemistry, math, and problem solving. On the field hockey pitch, the Chemical Engineering major forces opponents to problem-solve. She's been among Rochester's top scorers in her first two seasons.
When did you begin playing field hockey?
I started playing field hockey in fourth grade after my mom signed me up for a summer camp at my high school. I had played lacrosse for years, but field hockey immediately became my favorite sport and priority after that camp.
What attracted you to it?
I grew up in a household that revolved around hockey. My brother played ice hockey growing up, so I was going to his practices and games a couple times a week. My dad coached ice hockey and I was always playing street hockey with my brother, so it was only a matter of time before my parents got me to try field hockey. I have always appreciated the creativity you can have when playing field hockey. It's a huge reason why I still have such a great passion for the sport.
In addition to field hockey, you ran track at Baldwinsville HS. Which events did you compete in track?
My sophomore year of high school I ran the 400m and my junior year I did pole vault.
As a forward, speed is a big asset. Did your track experience help with that?
It definitely helped me work on my speed because it was my only focus. During field hockey season, my main focus was improving my stick skills. Track season gave me the luxury of solely focusing on my fitness and getting faster for field hockey.
Was there a noticeable difference between playing in high school and then playing in college?
Everything happens a lot faster on the field for college. That was the biggest adjustment for me because everything from decision making to the ball speed for passes was a lot faster. The skill level is also a lot more advanced, so I found myself working on improving some skills that I had taken for granted in high school.
As a first-year, you had the game winning shootout goal against Skidmore in the regular season (on UR's last attempt) and then scored the game winning goal against Skidmore in the Liberty League semifinals. Do you think about any of those goals – or any others?
These are still very memorable goals for me because they were critical wins for our program and they helped me gain confidence in my role on the team as a first-year. Although I was the one that scored, they were the result of my teammates' hard work and I couldn't have done it by myself. These were both very close wins, so I have rewatched the game film multiple times. I am looking forward to hopefully playing in the Liberty League again this coming fall!
If a friend came to watch you play (and they never saw field hockey before), how can they tell you are playing well?
For anyone watching field hockey, I think seeing if the ball is switching between the teams a lot or if there are a lot of fouls called by the referee are pretty good indicators of how well we are playing. A lot of practice time is spent trying to lessen the amount of turnovers we have by working on our individual stick skills, passing sequences, and limiting the amount of fouls.
For that fact, how do you evaluate yourself on whether you are playing well or not?
As a forward it is difficult not to evaluate yourself on statistics. It is something I have to remind myself of every season. I have learned to evaluate myself on how many turnovers I have and if I am effectively helping my teammates get to where they need to be on the field. I put a lot of effort into making sure my passes are easily receivable and that I am cutting to get open for my teammates.
As you maneuver down the field with the ball on your stick, how are you reading the defense and what are you looking for?
Since I play center forward I am not usually constricted by a sideline, so I am usually looking for what side the defender is trying to force me to. I am also looking for their footing because if they have their feet planted it is easier for me to change speed quickly and get past them. Having this vision gives me time to try to get on their weak side, so it is harder for them to defend. If I am in their defensive circle I am looking at their stance because if they are exposing their feet it is easy for me to foul them and receive a penalty corner.
When you are home, do you work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, working behind the scenes, etc.? What do you like about doing that?
During high school I helped coach our youth camp and met with some girls individually to work on their shooting skills. I have taught two girls how to play field hockey before they started modified which is a really fulfilling experience. I get to share my love of the game with people that don't know how to play yet which is very exciting. On my breaks from college I have been working, so I haven't had the opportunity to coach or work with any teams. I hope to get involved with coaching or reffing after I get out of college to stay connected with the field hockey community!
What led you to the University of Rochester?
I knew that I wanted to major in Chemical Engineering, go to a school with rigorous academics, play field hockey, and stay somewhat close to home. I visited the University of Rochester my freshman year of high school to meet Coach
Wendy Andreatta and after that I was set on coming here. She is an amazing coach and is a major reason why I ultimately decided to come to Rochester.
Why did you choose Chemical Engineering as your major?
Chemistry and math were my favorite subjects in high school by far. My dad also majored in Chemical Engineering as an undergraduate, so he was able to give me some insight into what I could do with the degree. I have always wanted my career to involve pharmaceuticals. I discovered, through learning about my dad's experiences, that I would be able to apply my love for chemistry, math, and problem solving to the background development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Are you involved in any campus groups tied to your studies?
I have done undergraduate research my past two semesters in Professor Yates' lab, which has been a really great experience. I will be a co-author on the project's publication that is currently in the process of being written. The University of Rochester being a top tier research university was another factor in my decision to come here. Besides field hockey and doing research, I have been a teaching assistant for a couple chemical engineering classes. I hope to join more groups in the future!
