Oct. 4, 2007

by Ben Rohde of the Atlantic 10

PHILADELPHIA - Few have managed to balance academics and athletics as well as Rebecca Cunfer. The senior goalkeeper from Manheim, Pa., has anchored the Saint Joseph's field hockey team for the last four seasons while finding success both on the field and in the classroom.

Cunfer joined the Hawks in 2004 and made an instant impact, garnering Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors. Three years later, she's guiding an Saint Joseph's squad that has won four of its last five contests and vying for a Conference championship.

"Becky is a phenomenal person," says Saint Joseph's head coach Michelle Finegan. "She's a true leader and has been ever since she's been on campus. She takes a lot of initiative and does a lot of impressive things athletically as well as academically."

While Cunfer's athletic talent has made her a standout athlete, it has been her ambition to pursue and excel in other areas of her life that set's her apart as truly unique. She was named Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year in 2006 and has since collected several other academic honors. She is also active in a number of on-campus organizations and clubs.

"I came to Saint Joseph's as a field hockey player but I've made sure that wasn't the only thing that defined me," says Cunfer. "I think I've grown enough to really handle the duties of a student-athlete. I now have a lot passions in my life that go beyond field hockey and I need that for myself. I have had a lot of opportunities to accomplish that at Saint Joseph's. It's been a great blessing from the school to allow their athletes to grow off the field."

What the Hawks have done this season has also been quite impressive. After a tough 1-4 start in which they fell by a single goal in each of their losses, the team could have spiraled into despair. It wasn't until after a 1-0 loss to Drexel on Sept. 12 that the season seemed to turn around and the Hawks were on the winning end of those close contests.

"That game was a reality check," says Cunfer about the loss to Drexel. "After that we had to stand up and come up with a plan. In the games since, everyone has really focused and pulled it together. We really haven't played a bad game this season and now we're looking forward to getting into the A-10 with that experience."

The string of wins that has since followed includes a pair of upset victories against nationally ranked opponents. After bringing down No. 14 and previously undefeated Delaware, 2-1, on Sept. 18, the Hawks turned around and pulled off another dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over ninth-ranked American on Sept. 23.

"I think our team thrives on being an underdog," adds Cunfer. "But we expect it of ourselves to push our program to no longer be thought of like that. We'll take that role this year. Right now we're just trying to get people to believe in us."

Cunfer, who is minoring in Spanish, recently returned from Spain where she spent a semester studying at the University of Barcelona. It was there that the international relations major carried a full-time academic schedule and competed on a field hockey club team comprised of individuals from nine different countries.

"To see field hockey as an international sport really inspired me to push myself to where I am today," says Cunfer. "Experiencing sports in a different way, with their different approach, it really allowed me to grow as a player. It was a great multicultural experience."

Upon returning to the United States, Cunfer resumed one of her many off-the-field activities as an off-season youth field hockey coach, which she believes has enhanced her leadership skills as the Saint Joseph's goalkeeper.

"I've always tried to lead by example on and off the field," admits Cunfer. "All I can do is put myself out there every game and give one hundred and ten percent. Academically, I try and push myself to show that we can be quality students in addition to quality athletes."

So far this season, her example has resulted in a 1.15 goals against average which ranks second in the Conference. Cunfer is also approaching the program record for all-time shutouts and needs just four more to tie the mark of 18, set in 1984.

"I think it's an attribution to the seniors that I've been playing defense with for four years," says Cunfer. "I've worked hard to get to this point, but it's a team thing. I think it is the strongest defense we've had in my four years."

The winningest coach in SJU history, Finegan hopes to guide the team to its fourth straight season of 10 or more wins. She credits much of the Hawks' success this season to the team's defensive strength, led by Cunfer.

"Becky is strategic in her decision making and obviously she's very athletic," says Finegan. "I think it's a good combination. She makes good decisions in the cage and her work ethic, determination, and commitment translate into wins."

The Hawks begin their Conference schedule with an Oct. 5 match at Saint Louis, followed by three consecutive home contests.

"We have had a tough schedule going into league play and we want to take what we've learned to the A-10 and show them what we can do," says Cunfer. "In the pre-season, we weren't ranked to finish in the top three and we want to prove them wrong. We want to defy expectations, take every game seriously, and take no team for granted."

While Cunfer is aware of her own accomplishments and success, she seems more intent on cementing Saint Joseph's field hockey as a premier program.

"We are trying to start a field hockey legacy here," says Cunfer. "We are going to a great academic school with a great academic reputation, but right now we have the talent and we're also recruiting the talent to make Saint Joseph's one of the best programs. I think it would be great if this was the starting off point."

If Cunfer and her teammates can keep up their winning ways, this very well could the start of big things on Hawk Hill.