COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY: NEWARK VALLEY’S SLAVIK HEADING TO MORRISVILLE (June 6, 2022)

By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
NEWARK VALLEY — Amber Slavik has decided to continue her field hockey career at the collegiate level, signing a National Letter of Intent Monday to attend SUNY Morrisville.

The Morrisville program is familiar with area athletes. Owego’s Morgan Dueber has been the goalie since 2018 and the Indians’ Megan Holloway was on the team for two seasons prior to COVID-19.

The Mustangs’ 2021 roster also included players from Whitney Point, Greene, Walton and Newfield, the latter of which doesn’t even have a program.

Slavik found just what she was looking for in the school located about 1 hour, 40 minutes from home, and east of Syracuse.

“I chose SUNY Morrisville because I immediately felt welcome and connected to several people on campus,” she said. “I was able to find the major, sport and diversity I wanted in a college campus in one place, not too far from home.

Slavik will major in Equine Studies, which has a Bachelor's program that is ranked No. 11 on College Factual's best schools for equine studies list. The school also ranks No. 3 in popularity out of all colleges and universities that offer this degree.

Slavik played in 40 out of 45 games in her three seasons on the varsity team, including all 26 in 2021 (the 2020 season was postponed until the following spring due to COVID-19.

She scored eight career goals, five during her senior campaign. One of the highlights of her senior season was a hat trick against rival Tioga.

Field hockey coach Jessica Doehring was unable to attend the ceremony, but did leave the following comments to be read at the signing.

“Amber has been a dedicated field hockey player and teammate, and a staple of our field hockey program for years,” she said. “It has been a pleasure to watch her skill and love for the game grow, and develop over the years. I look forward to following her career and continue to watch her grow on and off the field hockey field.”

Slavik believes her positive outlook will be a plus for the Morrisville program.

“I feel I can communicate with people on and off the field,” she said. “I feel I can always be reassuring whether that be in game play, in classes, or just on a personal level. I feel I can also bring a new speed and field vision to the team to build off the great team already there.”

She also sees a couple areas where she can focus on improving — “not getting over-frustrated, and taking better care of my body, health- and nutrition-wise,” she said.

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.