Standing out as a field hockey player at Lakeland High School is a bit difficult, to say the least. The Hornets, winners of five consecutive state championships, have the best program in New York State.
But stand out is exactly what Dana Bozek has done. Two years ago, she became just the second eighth-grader to ever make Lakeland’s varsity field hockey team, and the sophomore has been adding to her reputation ever since.
“I got pulled up midway through the season [in eighth grade],” says Bozek, a midfielder. “It was so amazing, especially because I got to play with my older sister, too. I felt honored.”
Bozek is carrying on the tradition established her by older sisters, Emma and Megan, both of whom starred for Lakeland. Bozek won her third-straight state title in the fall after scoring 23 goals and tallying 19 assists for the Hornets, according to MaxPreps.
“It’s just awesome,” Bozek says about playing for Lakeland and its legendary coach, Sharon Sarsen. “She makes everybody that much better, and being on a team that works so hard and wants to be so good, it just makes me a better player.”
Bozek, who has also played varsity lacrosse for Coach Sarsen since her freshman year, plays field hockey year-round, a show of dedication that will help her at the next level. She has her choice of major Division 1 colleges, and she has already been in contact with the University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts, and University of New Hampshire.
