Tori Sutera becomes the next great field hockey player

A breakout season for second-year striker and midfielder Tori Sutera is officially underway.

As a freshman, Sutera only scored three goals, which is impressive considering she spent the year, like most freshmen, fighting for a role and learning what it’s like. field hockey at the college level.

In 10 games in 2022, the young forward already has four goals and two assists and helped propel the Red Hawks into their six-game winning streak.

For Sutera, the biggest difference between this year and last has been his confidence.

“Last year I was a bit unsure of myself and putting myself down a lot, but this year I’ve realized that small mistakes don’t matter and if I push past them I can make big things. things,” Sutera said. “So that and then also, my teammates lifting me, my coaches lifting me was a big help as well.”

The second-year striker has already surpassed some of his stats from last year with much of the 2022 season to play.
Trevor Geisberg | The Montclairon

The growth has been exponential, which is a credit to Sutera’s strong work ethic, and field hockey team head coach Eileen O’Reilly agrees.

“When I think of [Sutera], it’s her work ethic and honestly, how much she’s grown from her role last year where she played it, she wasn’t starting but she turned, where she is now, “said said O’Reilly. “And I think back to her growth and her confidence last spring and how much more she believed in herself. Honestly, I don’t even think we’ve reached his potential, which is really exciting.

What Sutera brings to the team is rare. Her ability to attack from the outside while using her speed to cut the ball up while being a one-on-one defender makes her very valuable.

O’Reilly believes his style of play sets a great example for the rest of the team and helps create scoring opportunities.

“I think she really led by example with, even though she’s a striker, she plays really well in one-on-one defense and when you think about field hockey, the more we can win the ball from the circle where we are. try to score, the easier it will be to score,” O’Reilly said. “So when you have strikers like [Sutera] who are very good one-on-one defenders, it creates a lot of good scoring opportunities.

Sutera has a very versatile style of play, ranging from quick to cut the ball to a solid defender against one.
Trevor Geisberg | The Montclairon

It’s safe to say that Sutera has found her role with the team and her home at Montclair State University. She knew at first glance during a visit in 2021 on a cold February Sunday.

“Of all the tours I did, when I came to Montclair [State] it was the best solution for me,” Sutera said. “[It had] the most family feeling and I had the best connection with the players I have met and the coaches. Yeah so when I came to Montclair [State]I think that’s when I knew, and then when I looked at the education programs, they matched my interests.

Because Sutera was such a highly rated rookie, she had her fair choice of schools. When news broke that Sutera was coming to Montclair State, many coaches let O’Reilly know how they felt.

“When girls sign up, they put it on Instagram or these recruiting services put it on Instagram,” O’Reilly said. “And when the word was said that [Sutera] committed to Montclair State, several coaches reached out to me like ‘You have [Sutera] to go to Montclair State, we really wanted her. “

Head coach Eileen O’Reilly asked other coaches to tell her how lucky she was to have Sutera on the Red Hawks. Trevor Geisberg | The Montclairon

It shows how talented a player Sutera came out of high school and the Red Hawks are lucky to have her.

“I was excited to have him on campus because I wasn’t sure,” O’Reilly said. “You know she’s from south Jersey, sometimes it’s hard to get these girls here, but it worked out and I’m delighted, we’re really lucky to have her.”

Right now things are flying high for Sutera and there is still plenty of time and room for growth.

A big motivation for Sutera is hearing O’Reilly talk about former Red Hawks and she wants to be one of the known players on future teams one day.

« hearing trainer [O’Reilly] talk about the players in the team before my time pushes me a lot because I want to be one of those players that she talks about when I leave,” Sutera said. “There’s actually another Tori who was in the team before me that the coach talks about and how much she’s improved in her four years here and I’d love to be the next Tori she talks about .”