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Colleen Callaghan
Colleen Callaghan
This is the first installment in a series of interviews with Hamilton College student-athletes. Colleen Callaghan '11 ranks in the top five on the field hockey team's all-time lists for goals, assists and points. In 2009, she leads the team again in all three categories. Callaghan has been all-league twice and was an all-region selection in 2008. The team is nationally ranked (No. 20) for what is believed to be the first time in program history.

Q: Tell us a little bit about where you grew up.
A: I grew up in Glens Falls, a small town in the Adirondacks of upstate New York not unlike Clinton.

Q: Did you play any other sports before you came to Hamilton?
A: I played softball in high school. I also played basketball and ice hockey when I was younger. 
 
Q: What was it like playing field hockey at Glens Falls HS?
A: It was a lot of fun. Glens Falls is historically very good at field hockey. In my senior year my team went to the state finals. 
  
Q: What attracted you to Hamilton's field hockey program? I'm sure you were aware the team had struggled in recent years.
A: I was more attracted to the College than I was the field hockey program. Although I did like the fact that I would get the opportunity to play all four years.
 
Q: What do you remember about 2007, your first season here?
A: In 2007 we definitely struggled a lot more than we do now. We did win some key games that year including St. Lawrence. The intensity of this year's team is a lot higher than in 2007.
 
Q: Was there a moment, whether it was a play during a game, a practice, exchange with a coach or teammate, that made you realize that last year was going to be different from 2007?
A: I think our win at St. Lawrence last year (3-1 on Oct. 4) was the turning point in our season. 
 
Q: You scored six goals in the first two games. Were you expecting those kinds of numbers early this season?
A: I didn't know what to expect this year. I spent the summer recovering from a surgery I had in May and definitely struggled while in Argentina with the team in August. I was just hoping for a good recovery.
 
Q: What has been your favorite Hamilton field hockey highlight from your first two-plus seasons?
A: Our win against William Smith this year on Sept. 25. We were down 3-0 at halftime and came back to win 4-3 in overtime. Hamilton has never been in a position as good as this (2-0 record) in the Liberty League this early. 
 
Q: Any field hockey predictions for this season?
A: I think this year will be the strongest season Hamilton field hockey has had in a long time. We are in a very good position right now, but we play in a very strong league so we have to keep working hard. 
 
Q: How did you get interested in field hockey?
A: All of my friends decided to play that instead of soccer in seventh grade. My favorite teacher was also the coach.
 
Q: What will Colleen Callaghan be doing five years from now?
A: Hopefully I will be in law school.

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