Q&A with Lauren Crandall of USA Field Hockey
Former Deacon discusses upcoming Olympic Games, life after WFU Hockey

July 28, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - In the brief calm between the USA Field Hockey's European training tour in mid-July and the start of play in the Olympics on August 10, former Wake Forest field hockey stand-out Lauren Crandall had a chance to talk about some of her experiences in international play as well as her time at Wake Forest.

Crandall lettered with the Demon Deacons from 2003-06, becoming a three-time All-ACC selection and National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American along the way. Crandall has played for the national team for three years and joins fellow Demon Deacon alumna Kelly Doton on this year's U.S. Olympic team.

What was it like playing the top-ranked Netherlands a few weeks ago?
Playing Holland was definitely a big opportunity for us, to be able to play against the No. 1 team in the world is incredible. We try to train by competing with the best so we can be among them. Playing the squad was great for our training, it pinpointed things we need to work on as well some of our own strengths. It was great to be able to play the best in the world.

When you learned you'd be part of the Olympic team this year, how did you feel?
It's such an honor to be able to represent our country. I've been on the national team for three years and there's so much pride in that, but to be on such a worldly stage is just amazing. To be with all those athletes that work so hard to represent our country, it's pretty over whelming. Just thinking about the words "Team USA" on our jersey is an incredible feeling.

Are there any experiences from your time on the WF field hockey squad that you've been able to apply to your professional career?
Wake Forest really set the character that I have. Jen [Averill, WFU Head Coach] set a lot my work ethic, developing my skills not only as a person but as a player. Going through the learning curve from high school to college is a lot like the learning curve from college to international play so I was a little better prepared. Jen gave me a lot of the mental skills that I needed to handle the training with everything that was thrown at me.

Crandall in her final season with the Deacs

Since you've been playing in the international ranks is there a match that really stands out to you?
The very first time that I knew that I would be furthering my international career really stands out. It was my first cap (international game) which was in New Zealand. I was scared out of my mind. When I was warming up for the second game against NZ, I probably had the biggest adrenaline rush I've ever gotten. I just felt so good, I was so amped during the warm-ups. Later on, I was defending and got beat by a New Zealand player, and it hit me that there was something about this level of competition that was so powerful and I knew I was addicted. I knew was in it for the long haul. The athleticism that was on the field was so incredible, it was crazy.

What are some of the main differences between college and professional play?
When you're talking about the rules, in international play the overtime is two seven and a half minute periods with 11 aside. In college, it's two 15 minute sudden-death periods, with seven aside. College overtimes are a lot worse. I dreaded having to play in college overtime.

Funding-wise, we can get a lot more technology. We're the 11th ranked team in the world and there are really only tiny differences between us and everyone else ranked. The slight turn of a wrist, a half-second off on your timing, all small things that you could easily miss in the game, but by watching the game and breaking everything down with technology you can catch it. It's great to have a team of people that can film a game and take care of that for you. Also, the overall commitment of every athlete is more intense. We've basically put our lives on hold for the team. In college you have a strong commitment from every player, but academics are also huge. There's a constant struggle to juggle everything. On the national team everyone's on the same page and we only have field hockey to focus on.

Is there a moment you particularly remember from your time with the WFU team?
What really stands out to me is my senior year at the ACC championships in Chapel Hill. Two days prior to the start of tournament we lost our former player Maria Whitehead, who passed away from melanoma. It was a very trying time and extremely emotional. We went to the ACC tournament with Maria's parents there. When we won it and the whistle blew I ran over the coach and just gave her a huge hug. All I wanted to do was grab the trophy and take to Maria's parents in stands, because we really did it for them. We all pulled together for her and it was a great outcome.

USA Field Hockey TV Info (From USFieldHockey.com): The USA Field Hockey Women's Olympic Team opens competition in Beijing against 2007 Pan American Games champion Argentina on Sunday, August 10. The match will be broadcast live on MSNBC, paired with a simulcast on Universal HD.

The four remaining pool matches are scheduled for the USA network and USA HD. The U.S. will face Japan, Germany, New Zealand and Great Britain in pool play.

The bronze medal game for women's field hockey on Friday, August 22 will be broadcast by MSNBC and Universal HD. The gold medal match will follow at 6:00 pm on Oxygen.

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