Today’s Varsity page includes a Q&A with Loch Raven field hockey goalie Kirsten Kyne, who played hockey in Europe this summer on a Sport EuroTour to England, Belgium and Holland. In each country, she and her teammates conducted a camp and played matches.

Here is more of my interview with Kyne, a 17-year-old senior who also plays for the Hymax club team, talking about her field hockey career.

On the EuroTour:

What’s different about their style of play in the countries you visited?

It was a lot faster and they stayed really spread out (on the field) and they also lift the ball a lot more than any team I’ve ever played. They [played] to have fun. They didn’t get very intense about it. They had fun with it. They were relaxed.

What did you bring back from that experience that you can apply to your game?

I learned some new diving techniques and I also learned to speak to my field players more than I had in the past and that’s actually already helped improve my game a lot.

On her path to goalie:

How did you get started in field hockey?

In gym class in 6th grade. I liked it more than soccer and my friends and I decided to switch. I played soccer for nine years before.

What did you like about field hockey?

I think I was just getting tired of soccer and I wanted something new.

How did you end up in the goal?

We didn’t have a goalie during my 8th grade year and I volunteered and I ended up being good, so I played all season. Then I tried out for a club team that winter and I made that and I was hooked from then on.

On playing the position:

What do you think is the biggest challenge in being a goalie?

Not knowing where the ball is going to go sometimes and trying to get your defense to listen to you and mark up. But my defense has gotten a lot better at that and it’s really helpful having a good D.

Talk about the mental challenge of the position?

I’ve learned to block out all other noises except for the whistle and the stick hitting the ball, so I’ve also been able to zone it out so I only see the field and I don’t see anything else. I’ve learned to relax and not get too hyped up about it and that helps a lot.

You can do a little bit more as goalie this season with stopping the ball, can’t you? Some rules have changed?

Yes. You’re not allowed to bat at the ball with your hand or stick but you’re allowed to guide it in different places instead of just letting it drop right at your feet. It gives you more control because when you let it just drop, then you’re all frantic trying to kick the ball too. But if you guide it, you can get it out to the side easier.

More questions:

Do you want to play in college?

Yes. I’m starting to narrow down schools and so that’s really helpful. I’m down to four or fivish, right now. I’m looking small Division III.

What’s your most prized possession and why?

My new goalie stick. I had been looking for three years for a new stick and I could not find one that I like. Over in Amsterdam, I found my new stick and I fell in love with it. It’s my new baby. Also, the necklace my mom got me for Christmas two years ago. It says "GK60" and it’s my lucky necklace. (It stands for Goal Keeper No. 60.)

-- Katherine Dunn