Senior forward Gracen Brant scored the first two goals of her collegiate career in the Mountain Hawks’ 2-0 victory over Long Island University on Aug. 28 at Ulrich Field. This victory gave first-year head coach Corey Mayer her first Lehigh win.
After appearing in nine games last season, Brant has taken on a larger role this season. She said the biggest difference entering her senior year has been her confidence.
Brant said without much playing time as a junior, it can be easy to get into her head mentally and fall back physically.
She said several returning players feel the same way this season, as Lehigh lost many starters from last year’s team. With these new playing opportunities, the group’s pushing one another to prepare and not dwell on their past roles.
“I think that makes all of us really proud that we have never fallen back when we could have,” Brant said. “It would have been really easy to, and I think that we have pushed each other to stay in it, and it’s really paid off this season.”
Brant’s preparation paid off in Lehigh’s season opener against the Long Island University Sharks.
After a scoreless first quarter, Brant changed the momentum by scoring, and working the ball toward the cage with first-year forward Lauren Koomans. She said Koomans set her up with a good pass, and Brant was able to capitalize.
When Brant scored, she said her teammates celebrated and screamed, making the moment even more special
“I felt so loved,” Brant said. “I had so many personal connections with people just coming up one by one, even if it was a really quick minute in the game, just saying that they were proud of me.”
Lehigh carried its 1-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Even with the lead, Brant said the team still focused on creating more scoring opportunities.
Brant secured a second goal in the fourth quarter to extend Lehigh’s lead to 2-0. She said the second goal made the team feel like they were dominating the game.
Junior goalkeeper Norah Kempson said she noticed Brant’s ability to find scoring opportunities throughout practice.
Standing at 5-foot-10-inches, Kempson said Brant’s height and reach allow her to create space when she has possession of the ball.
“Once she gets ahead of you and controls the ball, there’s just no stopping her,” Kempson said.
She also said Brant takes every opportunity to attack the ball and bring it all the way to the goal.
Along with Brant taking on a larger role, the Mountain Hawks are adjusting to Mayer’s first season as head coach. Brant said beginning her final season under a new coaching staff gave her a new perspective.
“It kind of felt almost like your first (year) again because you don’t know this coach,” Brant said. “You don’t really know what to expect, which is also an exciting feeling. I feel like it pushes you a little bit more to not revert to being comfortable.”
Mayer said Brant has responded well to the coaching staff changes.
“She’s one that just totally bought into having a new head coach and a new game plan, new set of tactics,” Mayer said. “She’s had a great attitude, but she’s also been putting the work in on the field to be rewarded with that starting position.”
Mayer said Brant’s development has come from both her willingness to learn and the work she’s put in since the coaching staff arrived. She said Brant has improved quickly during preseason, and has been receptive to the tactical changes introduced this season.
The change extends beyond Brant. Mayer said one of her priorities at Lehigh was learning what returning players felt worked within the program before introducing her own expectations.
She established four values for the team: an attitude of gratitude, a commitment to being one’s most competitive self, growth through accountability and resiliency through adversity. Mayer then worked with players and the coaching staff to determine how those values would translate into the team’s daily expectations.
Brant said the new coaching staff has helped create a more competitive environment, while also giving players confidence in their roles. She said Mayer has pushed the team throughout preseason while emphasizing that players should continue learning and enjoying the game.
For Brant, the increased playing time has made the start of her senior season feel different from her first three years at Lehigh.
“I feel like this season we have a new love for field hockey,” Brant said. “I think that we do our best when we’re just having fun and setting each other up.”
She said she hopes to carry that confidence into the rest of her final season as the Mountain Hawks continue adjusting to Mayer’s system.
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