As the Boston University field hockey team enters the midseason stretch of its 2014 campaign, it will surely look to its seasoned veterans to guide it through the Patriot League and into the NCAA Tournament. One of these leaders in particular has already provided a major spark for the Terriers (2-2).
Junior midfielder/forward Sofi Laurito leads the team in points with five and is tied for the team-lead in goals with two. The BU vice-captain led her team back from the jaws of defeat on the road at Ohio University on Aug. 31 with two late goals that tied, and eventually won, a 4-3 affair for the Terriers.
However, the Buenos Aires, Argentina, native adds much more to the BU dynamic than stat-packing its box scores.
1. How has the first week of classes been?
“It’s going pretty well. It’s just a little difficult with field hockey and the practices and games. The transition between playing games and coming back and doing class can be weird.”
2. What’s your major?
“Advertising, but I just recently left CGS.”
3. Do you have a really interesting or fun class this semester?
“I have a lot of creative stuff for this advertising class that I’m taking, which is cool after being in CGS. And I’m taking a drawing class just for fun, because why not?”
4. What was the biggest transition for you when you came to the United States?
“Speaking in English, on the field and in class, was definitely a challenge. Taking notes in class in English was also really new for me. As a whole, it’s just another lifestyle here in the U.S. I’m used to field hockey being the main part of my life, but here, it’s kind of an outside thing, and I focus more on my studies. Everything that happened when I came here was pretty much a shock though.”
5. What do you miss most from home?
“Food! I’m just not used to American food. I’ve never had eggs with my breakfast before. Usually back home, we have them with our lunches and dinners.”
6. What do you think of the food here in Boston? How does it compare to the food back home?
“I think some of it is great, but I don’t know if it qualifies as American. I like Italian pasta a lot. But I just really miss the truly Argentinean dishes: empanadas and everything else. There are a couple Argentinean restaurants here, but I haven’t really tried them.”
7. What’s your go-to pregame meal?
“It depends, but if we go to the dining hall, I usually eat pretty light, usually just pasta. But, sometimes we go to T. Anthony’s and get some chicken and rice. It’s pretty much become the team meal.”
8. What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment since coming to BU?
“One of my biggest challenges coming to BU was speaking English all the time. So for me, being able to overcome that fear and succeed at classes, it was a moment of pride.”
9. What are your personal goals for this season?
“Being made vice-captain made me realize that I have teammates that believe in me and rely on me. It showed me how much I want to help out this program and this team. I know we had a tough loss last year to American University in the [Patriot League] championship, but I want to make us the best that we can be. Becoming vice-captain made me realize all the behind-the-scenes things that are necessary to make a difference for the team.”
10. How long did it take you to perfect that backhanded shot from just inside the half circle?
“I was a pretty aggressive kid, I’m not going to lie. And I’m pretty competitive, so at home when I was given a challenge, I wanted to take it. My backhand shot was actually the first shot I learned because I wanted to be ahead of everyone else. My coach told me it was a hard shot for the goalie to pick up, so I decided to try it out. I never even learned a normal shot for a long time.”
11. What did you focus on in the offseason to prepare and get better for this year?
“I stayed here the entire summer with some of my teammates who did Summer I and II [terms]. We made our fitness a big point of emphasis. We knew we were going to be a smaller team [roster-wise] from last year. So we still obviously tried to do more personal and technical stuff, but we definitely made fitness one of our goals. After I got injured in the preseason last year, I had a really tough time getting back to my normal pace.
“I also really wanted to make sure that as a team, we were looking to a singular goal. We can do all of what we want if we do it together. It went beyond field hockey. As a personal thing, I wanted to make sure that my team was working together.”
12. What’s the biggest difference between last year’s team and this year’s team?
“I think that being a smaller team, everyone’s really focused on everything that we’re doing. If there are 30 people on a team, then some people know they’re not going to play, and maybe don’t participate as much. But as a team of 19, everyone needs to know what’s going on at all times. There have been a lot of position changes. I personally think it’s pretty cool. We’re able to try people out at different positions, which can be really fun.”
13. Most memorable game you’ve played in?
“The one that pops into my mind was my freshman year. We played against Northeastern [University] at Harvard [University], and we won from behind. The game went into overtime, and I had no idea that there was overtime and that it was seven-on-seven. I stayed on the field for the whole overtime period, and as soon as we scored, my legs just gave up. It was one of the toughest games of my life, and by far the most rewarding.”
14. You guys have taken a lot of road trips across the country. Which one has been the most fun to date? Why?
“The only time that I remember going around a city was in Williamsburg, [Virginia]. We went around, and these people were all dressed up in 1800’s American gear. It was so weird, but definitely one of my favorite trips.”
15. If you had one day in Boston, what would you do?
“This summer, I went to the Boston Common for the first time in my life, which I know is bad. But we bought a bunch of bread, and then we fed the squirrels in the park. They come right up to you and take it from your hand. It was so cool!”
16. Do you have a goal song for this year? What is it/What would it be?
“We don’t have one yet! We’ve been trying to decide for weeks. I need a pump up song for me. Last year it was ‘I Can’t Stop.’…Then some random song came on, and we had no clue what was going on.”
17. Favorite television show?
“I’m actually a show freak. So I’m watching 15 at the same time right now. It’s so hard to choose. One of my favorites is ‘The Big Bang Theory’ for sure, and I just finished ‘Friday Night Lights’ too. I still can’t believe it’s over.”
18. Funniest teammate?
“Probably [sophomore forward] Taylor [Blood]. We have this question among us all the time. Between me, her and [sophomore forward] Amanda [Cassera], I can’t tell if we’re actually funny or if it’s just an inside joke kind of thing.”
19. What sport would you play if you didn’t play field hockey?
“I don’t know, but if I were born in the U.S., I would definitely try ice hockey. I used to be a sprinter, but I need a team and an open field. Table tennis is something I’d do for sure too. But if you put some skates in front of me, I’d hop on the ice.”
20. Standing order at T. Anthony’s?
“Well if I’m feeling healthy, I’m doing chicken and rice. But if I’m just like, ‘Whatever,’ I’ll do chicken fingers and fries.”
Justin is a former Sports Editor for the Daily Free Press. In the past, he has covered the BU field hockey, men's basketball, women's hockey and women's lacrosse teams. Justin has interned at WEEI.com and serves as Editor-In-Chief of the Cleveland sports blog, Straight Down Euclid. Follow him on Twitter: @just_a_pal
