Oct. 16, 2003
Senior Tina Walker, a native of nearby Suffolk, VA, enters her final year with the Old Dominion field hockey team this season. For three seasons, Walker played behind Marybeth Freeman and last year she earned her first career start against the nationally ranked Maryland Terrapins up in College Park. This season, taking over the starting nod, Walker has helped the Lady Monarchs to four CAA shutouts and a No. 7 ranking in the STX/NFHCA Poll over the last four weeks.
Is it true that goalkeepers are very superstitious?:
Marybeth Freeman, our former goalkeeper, and Kathy Fosina, our assistant coach, have both taught me that superstitions are o.k. Both Marybeth and Kathy have them, so I guess us goalkeepers each have our quirks. Kathy's superstition was to wear the same t-shirt every game under her jersey. MB (Marybeth) also had the same superstition, but I can't even go into all the ones she had, it would take all day. I'm trying to keep the tradition alive you could say and wear the same t-shirt as well for every game. It's our team shirt which says our team theme for this season "Step Up." Our coach Sue (Myers) is always asking us why we are so superstitious. I keep telling her its routine. I guess that's why .Marybeth and I always used to put our stuff in the same places at practice as well.
Do you still keep in touch with any of your former teammates?:
Over the summer break I flew down to Argentina and visited with Marina DiGiacomo (2000 Honda Award Winner) for about two weeks. Marina plays for the Argentine National Team and I got to go see her and her teammates practice. They are really good!!! The level that they play at is a lot higher than what we have here in the United States. Other than watching Marina practice, I got to go sightseeing around Buenos Aires. I needed Marina by my side since I didn't know any Spanish.
What is a typical day like for you?:
My typical day....classes, practices, and homework
What can you be found doing on your day off?:
On a day off I'm usually catching up on my homework. I'll also watch some video of our game from over the weekend and look at things the coaching staff tells me I need look for and improve on.
What is your goal for this season?:
Like every season...Win a national championship
Why did you choose to come to ODU?:
It was the best.
How did you start playing field hockey?:
I played basketball when I was little and tried out for the jv basketball team, but unfortunately got cut. I still wanted to play a sport so picked up field hockey to take up some time and I found it fun. I became a goalkeeper my freshman year of high school because the team needed someone in goal so I was thrown in and I have been there ever since.
What is one thing that the coaching staff has taught you while you have been at Old Dominion?:
Our coaching staff has taught us so many thing. What comes to mind immediately is discipline, hard work, and loyalty.
What are your plans for after graduation?:
Well actually I graduated this past May with a degree in psychology. I'm currently taking business classes. Most of them are prerequisites in order to get my masters in business. I'm hoping to go to Lipscomb University, my mom's alma mater in Tennessee, to earn my MBA.
Most is your most memorable moment at ODU?:
My most memorable has to be the 2000 Championship. I remember how cold it was because after we won, I went to cut down one of the NCAA Championship signs and I ended cutting my finger, but since it was so cold I never felt it. I still have the sign though. It's still hanging my in house here at school.
The Lady Monarch field hockey regular season is winding down. Old Dominion still has three home games left this season, all against ranked non-conference opponents. The Lady Monarchs return to Foreman Field on Friday, October 24th against Michigan.