Snedden Stars In Two Countries
9/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 18, 2001
The Canadian Summer Games are much like the Olympics, attracting thousands of fans in support of the provinces and territories competing against one another for the gold.
This past summer Miami field hockey player, Angie Snedden, was a part of this experience.
Snedden, a native of Sarnia, Ontario, played left wing for her home province, and made a valuable contribution to her team winning the silver medal.
The team holds tryouts three months prior to the national tournament. Approximately 200 players try out, with the field eventually cut down to 16.
Snedden has made the tournament team six years in a row.
"This year's experience was by far the greatest," she said. "It was like the Olympics."
With this year's games held in Ontario, Snedden and her teammates had a kind of home-field advantage. Many fans and family members attended the games, which further added to their excitement.
"The social atmosphere was amazing," said Snedden.
Ontario made it to the gold medal game, where it suffered a 2-0 loss to its biggest rival, British Columbia.
According to Snedden, there were some questionable calls made in the final game, including one that negated a goal she scored.
"Things would have been different if (the referees) had made key game calls," Snedden said.
Despite the loss, Ontario received the silver medal.
"It was upsetting," Snedden said. "You're there to win the gold."
Though she was disappointed she did not bring home the gold, Snedden felt honored to represent her province in the games. Her team's contribution helped Ontario win the overall medal count.
Snedden began playing field hockey in eighth grade, but she has been into sports her whole life.
"I've always been a jock, a true tomboy," she said.
She knew Miami was the place for her when she came here on a recruiting visit.
"From the moment I met the girls on the team, I loved it," she said.
Head coach Lil Fesperman is glad Snedden chose to be a RedHawk.
"She is a very talented player with a very quick release and small-space stick work," she said.
Neither Snedden nor the team has performed up to its capabilities this season. She has contributed just one goal in the team's first seven games, and the RedHawks are just 2-5 in those contests. Though Fesperman feels Snedden may be a little burnt out from the Canadian Summer Games, she believes it was beneficial for her to compete at them.
"It was good for her to deal with different coaching and refereeing," Fesperman said. "She's like a baseball player in a slump. She will come out of it."
In addition to representing Ontario, Snedden also has played for the Canadian Junior National Team and was one of 50 players chosen to travel across the country on the Canadian National team. Through these experiences, she has learned that playing field hockey in college is completely different than playing for a national team. Snedden's Canadian clubs would train intensely for months for a single tournament. With so many games on Miami's schedule, the pressure here is not as great.
That does not mean Snedden has not been challenged.
"I've never played so many games before with good competition," Snedden said.
After performing on a national stage, Snedden has become a role model for her teammates.
"Playing at that level was a huge accomplishment for an individual player, and is an asset to Miami's team," senior goalkeeper Lisa Rodelo said. "She brings her international experience to this program."
Fesperman knows that as long as Snedden keeps plugging away, good things will happen.
She said, "I have great expectations for her when she comes on at the end of the season."
Story by Katie Lupsor
