Amy Hoeffner’s overtime winning goal against Skidmore on February 25 did more than secure the first win for the women’s lacrosse team. It also gave Head Coach Kelsey Van Alstyne her 100th career win.
The game went into an overtime nail biter. Amy Hoeffner forcing a turnover, then shooting with Coach Van Alstyne on the sidelines not watching, hands towards the sky, being wrapped in a hug and letting out a sigh of relief.
“I closed my eyes, had my hands in air and had the feeling of thank God we won,” said Coach Van Alstyne.
Immediately following the goal, one of Coach Van Alstyne’s players threw their around her, wrapping her up in a hug. Posters were brought out and family and friends congratulated her. The stress of the game was over.
Coach Van Alstyne didn’t go into the game putting any thought into this could be her 100th career win. Her assistants had brought it up to her last season, but the season came to an unfavorable ending for the Red Dragons, she had not thought about it since.
“It would have fallen on the SUNYAC Championship game, lost that game and the first NCAA round and I haven’t thought about since,” said Van Alstyne.
The feeling of a milestone win is often indescribable. There are hundreds of emotions and moving parts to it making also making it hard to explain.
The 100th win for Coach Van Alstyne took place in a heartfelt region. The game was against Skidmore, located in Saratoga Springs, NY. If you take a 14.5-mile trip on NY-50 you will find where she grew up, Burnt Hills, NY. Since the game was close to home she was surrounded by family and friends which made this one of favorite games.
“Being on home turf, winning and surrounded by those I love was special,” said Van Alstyne.
Once the feeling sunk in and Coach Van Alstyne was able to time take a step back a reflect on her coaching and realize what she loves about it. She has been a coach for 13 years at coaching at the college level is her favorite.
“To win at college level I love it and it is the stuff I love,” said Van Alstyne. “To be apart of it is really cool.”
Graphic Credit: Erin Locascio/EDL Photography
In the years since she has been at Cortland Coach Van Alstyne has shaped the program to be strong and dependable. The team fully immerses themselves into the coaching style and embraces how they are being coached.
“It has been so amazing taking over,” said Coach Van Alstyne. The girls are open minded, and it has been a enjoyable three years.”
Coach Van Alstyne’s coaching foundation is based on two aspects: culture and success. Each season she will lay down her expectations and standards she has and what she plans to accomplish as a team. Being able to do this in Cortland is something she is proud of and wants to continue to do.
“Culture is my one thing, my girls know my expectations and standards,” said Van Alstyne. “Success is another thing I implement into my coaching… I love it here and I am fortunate to be here.”
Van Alstyne loves being coach and everything that goes into that. The competitiveness, connections she builds with her athletes as well as the support she is able to give to her athletes in everyday life.
“I am a competitor; I love to compete and love to win,” said Van Alstyne. “It has been an amazing experience and to do for it a job is great.”
“I spend time on relation building, “said Van Alstyne. “Helping them become more comfortable with the uncomfortable. I always want to be able to help them, if its career wise and writing them a letter of recommendation and getting them to the next level.”
The Red Dragons have spent a considerable amount of time discussing what they want their goals and mind set to be for this season. Coach Van Alstyne and her captain along with the rest of the team have adopted and implemented a championship mindset. They know it will be an up hill battle and will take blood, sweat, and tears to accomplish their goals.
“Going out and playing each game with a championship mindset,” said Coach Van Alstyne. “You don’t get to pick the days you have and days you don’t, you have to come out and play each and every game they same.” Putting in the time and effort.”
Growing up she knew she wanted to be a coach. Her father was a coach and she wanted to influence athletes just as he did. She wants to leave her impact in the world and especially in the sports world. She spent many summers in college running high level sport camps and clinics.
“My dad was a coach for 27 years at the high school.” said Coach Van Alstyne “I try to model my coaching technique and style after him. I now get to be an ambassador for sports and the world of sports.”
As a coach Van Alstyne loves to watch her athletes play to together and work towards an desired outcome.
“As a coach there is a lot of prep work,” said Coach Van Alstyne. “to come them come together and help them accomplish what they work hard towards is special.”
Coach Van Alstyne has won 32 of 100 games at Cortland, making 32% of her wins at Cortland.