When Becca Main joined the field hockey team, she came on as a non-scholarship walk on who had plenty of potential, but little experience.
Since that time Main has earned her way to being one of the top defenders in the nation. She attributes her success to her teammates and her Coach Char Morett for having faith in her.
“I played field hockey through high school, and I enjoyed it, but I didn’t have the coaching that I needed,” Main said. “I played, but I wasn’t a player. Coach Morett’s coaching skills and her influence made me a player.”
This season Main has become more than a player, she has become a leader.
Last week in the Lady Lion’s scoreless tie with Maryland, Main played one of her strongest defensive games ever. Although Penn State’s offense was silent, the defense was immaculate. Her stick play was topps and her defense was impassable.
“I’m always communicating with the other defenders wile we’re on the field,” Main said. “They understand that I’m not being pushy, and I’m just trying to let everybody know what is going on, so we can do our jobs. That is very important to me, I am a very competitive player.”
Main will exemplify her competitiveness along with her No. 3 ranked teammates as they take on former Atlantic Ten foe Temple at 4 today on the turf next to Holuba Hall.
“Temple has always been a big game for us,” Main said. “They always push us to be our best.”
Main has always put her best foot forward. Before she had any of the training necessary to make her the defender she is today, she still managed to do well with what she had.
“She has a lot of heart,” said teammate Meredith Mandracchia. “And she is one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen!”
Even in high school her talent was apparent.
In high school, Main was selected as Pennsbury High School’s best female athlete. She held her school’s record for the 200 meter dash in 26.4 seconds. She was a key defender on her high school’s field hockey team. And she was also chosen for the All-Suburban I choice.
Upon her graduation she was torn as to choose which school she would lend her talent and which sport it would be in. She had offers from numerous schools for either track or field hockey and she paid visits to many of them trying to decide which school to attend.
During Main’s senior year, Pennsbury High decided that their field hockey coach was not bringing out the potential in the team, and hired a new coach, who happened to be a personal friend of Morett. Main’s new coach recommended Main to Morett.
Morett then invited Main to Penn State to check out the campus and the sports programs. She liked the campus and decided that Penn State was the school for her. However, she still had to choose between track and field hockey.
Three years later, it seems that Main made the wise decision of sticking with field hockey despite her deficencies in the sport. She said that she has an affection for team sports, and that affection was one of the major influences in her decision to play field hockey.
“I love being part of a team,” Main said. “It is much more gratifying to me to be a part (of it).”
As a freshman, Main walked on and opted to redshirt that year taking into account her five year major and lack of collegiate experience.
“I was overwhelmed by the big university,” Main said. “I knew that I would be here an extra year anyway because my major was excercise science. It was a very concious decision on my part, and I feel that it was to my benefit.”
Main also possesses a unique sense of humor and she tries to find the lighter side of every situation. Unfortunately for a player that redshirts, there are not many lighter sides. Main, though, made the most of it.
“I was the person who carried the equipment, didn’t have a uniform, and had to practice every day knowing that I wouldn’t get into the game,” she said. “But I feel that I gained the skill that I needed.”
Morett said that she admires Main’s dedication to the team, not just as a player, but as a supporter.
“Even when she wasn’t playing, she would be the first person off of the bench to congratulate somebody,” Morett said.
Main’s friend Mandracchia agreed that Main is a role model both on and off of the field.
“She is always cheery, and supportive of everyone, especially me, and she is always happy to see somebody else succeed,” Mandracchia said.
Mandracchia and Main joke about the lack of recognition that defenders get, and rather than complain, Main has been known to call certain under-recognized players and perform a mock media interview, and bring light to it at practice that night.
“It’s hard to be on a team with all that talent, but Becca makes the difference to what could’ve been a difficult time.” Mandracchia said.
“I know how left out I felt when I didn’t play, and so I try to ease that tension by adding humor to the situation,” Main said.
Morett sees Main trying to ease the tension whenever Morett’s riding another player, but when the criticism falls toward Main, Main tends to take it personally.
“I know she can do better,” Morett said, “I am just pushing her to be the best that she can be. I do believe that she is an excellent player, and I want her to realize what she is capable of doing.”
Main has harnessed some of this talent, and has become a key defender for the Lady Lions.
“I go out every game telling myself that I am going to keep everyone in front of me,” Main said. “No one is going to get by me, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure of it.”
Main said that she feels that the Lady Lions’ new style spotlights her style of play.
“The 3-3-3-1-1 spreads the field out width wise, and it allows me to use my speed to my benefit,” Main said. “I really hope to crush them (Temple).”