BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Saturday April 23rd marked an end of an era at Moravian College. On a gorgeous spring day, field hockey alumni and the current team gathered to play one last game on Betty Prince Field.
Betty Prince Field had been the home for the Moravian College field hockey team since 1968. In the fall of 1988, the field was officially named for Elizabeth Danforth Prince, the beloved coach and athletic administrator from 1970-1987, who passed away in August 1987. Coach Prince was instrumental in promoting the wellness movement on Moravian's campus in the 1970's and each year a member of the field hockey team is awarded the "Betty Prince Award" to the student who best exemplifies her positive attitude and coaching philosophy. Several Betty Prince Award winners were in attendance including, Jamie Szulborski Mitchell '98, Brooke Dancho '01, Bev Beaver '08, Chelsea Grotyohann '14, and Emily Marley '15.
Erin Ryan Pettit '87, who played for Betty Prince for four years, shared her thoughts about her former coach and mentor, "What can I say about Betty Prince, a fabulous leader, an invincible spirit, a good heart, and one of a kind." When asked what it meant for her to come back for this event, Erin said, "It meant the world to me. To have played for her for four years and the lessons learned from her, from wellness to accountability. I wouldn't have missed it; it was a good way to say goodbye."
The other alumni in attendance who were not fortunate enough to have played for or known Betty Prince the person, certainly had fond memories of Betty Prince the field. Brooke Dancho '01 mentioned, "I am here 15 years after graduation and it still feels the same." Vita Ranella '11, said "I am really going to miss this field because this is where we grew up in college." Maureen Helfers '11 commented, "I am going to miss this field because it was the most beautiful place on campus in the fall and it was where I made all my best friends." Julie Bisci '10 remarked, "I am so sad. Spent four years of my life here." Beverly Beaver '08 stated, "This was the best four years of my life, right here on this swamp." Additional memories included beating rival Muhlenberg in 2007 and 2013, the flood of 2004, the bugs, the acorns in the fall, and the groundhogs!
While Betty Prince field has been good home to us over the last 47 years, it is time to embrace progress and look forward with excitement to our new home field: the John Makuvek synthetic turf field to be built this summer on the quad in the center of campus. This new field will bring the field hockey program up to par with the other Landmark Conference members. It will be a state of the art facility with competition lights, press box, and synthetic turf. "I am excited for our turf field to be completed in time for the 2016 fall season," commented Head Coach Amy Endler '93. "It has been a long time coming, and I will miss Betty Prince Field, but this will greatly enhance our recruiting efforts and give the team a marquee venue on campus to play." Betty Prince Field will remain a green space for intramurals, practices for varsity and club teams, and a place for students to relax.
Alumni in attendance on Saturday were: Angela DiFelice '85, Erin Ryan Pettit '87, Sharon Hudson '92, Holly Phillips '92, Val Ala Donnelly '93, Amy Endler '93, Jamie Szulborski Mitchell '98, Brooke Dancho '01, Stacee Cupples Hogan '05, Amanda Gaun Miller '07, Beverly Beaver '08, Laura Boyd Braxmeier '09, Julie Bisci '10, Maureen Helfers '11, Vita Ranella '11, Becky Renaldo '11, Stephanie Pezzello '13, Chelsea Grotyohann '14, Erin Gilbert '14, Catherine Duffin '15, Emily Marley '15, Valerie Male '15, and Cayley Wise '15. All in attendance received a commemorative magnet with photos of Betty Prince Field, as Betty used to say, "It was a great day for hockey!"
Click here for a photo gallery.
