One of the few bright spots for the Boston University field hockey team this year was the stellar play of junior forward Dalinda Banuelos. Her 10 goals and 24 points were good enough for second on the team and also earned her the accolades of being named to the All-America East first team and to the Regional All-American second team.
National recognition is nothing new for Banuelos, who was a two-time high school All-American, including a place on the first team after her senior year at San Pasqual High School in California, where she also excelled in soccer, lacrosse and track.
Also on the San Pasqual field hockey team during Banuelos’ senior year were her younger sisters Erika and Rosalinda. Rosalinda is a member of Old Dominion University’s field hockey team and Erika currently plays field hockey for the University of Michigan, where she was a part of the national championship team of a year ago.
As the oldest of the three, Dalinda was looked up to by her sisters and used that to motivate them whenever they played on the same team.
‘I was especially hard on my sisters because I knew them a little better, how to push them,’ Banuelos said, ‘and last year I was so happy for Erika.’
Despite the fact that the three sisters play at rival field hockey powerhouses, they are constantly rooting for each other, although there is always the occasional joke by whoever has the current bragging rights.
‘We are really competitive,’ said Banuelos, ‘[but] we are always happy for each other whenever we each accomplish our own successes.’
Her ‘sisters’ on the field in Boston are part of the reason Banuelos decided to transfer to BU after beginning her collegiate career at Stanford University. Introduced to BU by Terrier Assistant Coach Tracey Paul, who coached Banuelos in high school, Banuelos made her decision to become a Terrier after paying a visit to Boston and meeting with the girls on the team.
‘I came and visited and I really liked it,’ Banuelos said. ‘I liked the girls on the team. I got to know them on my visit.’
It was only after her decision to leave the West Coast that Banuelos even considered coming to New England. After doing very well during her freshman year at Stanford, Banuelos felt she needed a break and decided to take a year off from school.
‘I did very well there. Then I took a year off,’ Banuelos said. ‘I [was] basically burnt out. I matured as a person with the year that I took off, I’m more balanced, I know more what I want to do.
‘I didn’t know really what I wanted to do at that time, but it was a great experience and I really wanted to go back afterwards, but financially it was better for me to look at other places,’ Banuelos added. ‘So I decided [to come to the] East Coast and that’s where most of the hockey is played anyways.’
Nobody was happier to hear of Banuelos’ decision to become a Terrier than BU Coach Sally Starr, who points out that Banuelos is special not only for her prowess on the field, but for her off-the-field leadership.
‘Dalinda is probably what you would hope to have in a student-athlete,’ Starr said. ‘She’s very dedicated to being the best teammate she can be, after that she’s very committed to being the best athlete and hockey player she can be.’
Banuelos’ dedication to her teammates is simply one example illustrating how much she likes helping people in any way she can. She coached youth field hockey teams in her spare time during high school and the international relations major is contemplating joining the Peace Corps after graduation where she would like to offer aid to communities in Latin America.
The idea of joining the Peace Corps became appealing to Banuelos while she traveled around the world for field hockey. She has always loved to travel, but would like to do so and be able to help people along the way.
‘All the traveling I’ve done prior to this summer has been for field hockey,’ Banuelos said. ‘It’s just been for field hockey and not for other purposes.’
Banuelos spent some time in Latin America during her year off, and is concentrating on that area as part of her international relations major.
‘I love the culture, love the people,’ Banuelos explains.
One part of the Latin culture Banuelos especially loves is dancing. During the spring semesters Banuelos actively participates in a Latin dance group called Danzon, whose members enjoy practicing salsa, meringue, and many other dancing styles. Dancing provides a welcome diversion for Banuelos after the grueling field hockey season is over.
‘I have fun, it’s awesome,’ Banuelos said.
Banuelos is ready for the next field hockey season to start, however, where she feels the Terriers will be able to build on this past season’s accomplishments and bring BU back into the national spotlight. As one of the leaders of a talented BU class of 2004, Banuelos will be counted on to lead the team by continuing to exhibit her strong work ethic and outstanding performance on the field and in practice.
After a down year for BU, Starr is hopeful that the rest of the Terriers put forth the same effort that Banuelos gives every day. This, according to Starr, could lead to more consistent play for the Terriers, something that was not present with this year’s squad.
‘Dalinda is definitely a player who practices hard every day and brings her best to every game,’ Starr said. ‘I’m relying on Dalinda and her entire senior class.’
Banuelos expects the team to bounce back next year and improve on it 11-10 record of this past season, a season that concluded with a Terrier loss in the semi-finals of the ECAC Championship. With only one senior on this year’s team, next year holds great promise for BU, and Banuelos has her sights set on one thing: winning.
‘Next year [we hope to] improve on what we did this season, make America East Tournament, and then the NCAA [Tournament],’ Banuelos said.
Good things lie ahead for Banuelos and Terrier field hockey. Banuelos will likely need to make some more room in her trophy case after next season, even though personal awards are of little concern to the California native. More importantly, after next season, BU should return to its familiar position of competing for a national title, and with that, bragging rights for the Terriers over the rest of the schools in the nation.
And bragging rights for Dalinda Banuelos over her two little sisters.