Everyone knows about the continued success of the varsity field hockey team in recent years, but not everyone knows about the individuals that have brought that success.  

  One senior who has taken a leadership role on the team is Jessica Maute, whose talent on the field and personality off the field has been an asset to all of her teammates and coaches.

 According to Maute, this relationship goes both ways: “[Coaches and teammates] taught me good work ethic and always pushed me to give my best. Coach Heilig had a big impact on teaching us to be respectful even out of field hockey season during school.  Also, I never want to let my teammates or coaches down.”  

 Field hockey hasn’t just been important to Maute during her high school years; it’s been a major part of her life since she was a girl.  “My older cousins played and I wanted to follow in their footsteps,” said Maute, “And it was always a dream of mine to play for Eastern Field Hockey.”  She doesn’t anticipate this to change in the near future as she has receiver a scholarship from Saint Joseph’s University to play field hockey.  

 In addition to the scholarship, Maute has accomplished some memorable feats at Eastern.  “My greatest accomplishment is being apart of the varsity team since my freshman year and continuing the tradition by winning state championships each year i’ve been apart of the team and continuing to be a part of the Eastern Field Hockey legacy.”  However, this hasn’t been easy for Maute and her teammates.  As she said, “Knowing the pressure to keep winning to keep the tradition sometimes might be tiring, but I know I have to keep working for my team.  Nothing is a given, so I know the expectation is to always work hard in everything I do.”

 Maute feels that her experiences playing field hockey have made her a better person as a whole.  “I wouldn’t be who I am today if I didn’t play field hockey.  It has shaped me into an all around better person on and off of the field and I have also made many close friends throughout the years.”

 Although field hockey is a priority in Maute’s life, something most people don’t know is that she has a calling to help the elderly.  Once she is finished at Saint Joseph’s, she hopes to pursue a career in nursing or physical therapy to answer that calling.

 As she plays through her final season here at Eastern, Jessica Maute undoubtedly would like to build on the legacy she has helped create by adding another state title to the Eastern Field Hockey trophy case.  Although she will be missed by her teammates as her Eastern career ends, the memories and legacy will live forever as she ventures out to make her mark on the world, through field hockey, helping others, or something else.