Olivia Goncalves, a middle schooler from Garden City, discovered her passion for field hockey in third grade, quickly recognizing her own talent for the game.
“I always wanted to play at an elite level,” said the now 13-year-old eighth grader in a recent interview with The Post.
To the surprise of her family, they found that the suburban Long Island area, known for producing athletes in popular sports like soccer and lacrosse, was lacking in opportunities for field hockey player development.
“When I first started, there just weren’t many clubs in the area,” she explained.
It took traveling out of state for Olivia to discover a team that pushed her abilities. A few years back, she joined the competitive AGH club in Greenwich, Connecticut, while still participating in local leagues.
Aiming High
Goncalves balances her time between AGH and the Garden City middle school team, making the commute to Connecticut several nights a week and sometimes practicing with both teams in one day.
She embraces the tight schedule, noting that the extra practice only enhances her skills.
“Initially, the long drives were tough… those first two weeks were challenging,” Goncalves mentioned, sharing that the intensity of the AGH program was also a bit overwhelming at first.
“But I got accustomed to it; everyone motivated me to improve. Now, I really enjoy it, and I’ve seen significant growth in my game,” she added.
With dreams of playing at the collegiate level, possibly for an ACC school like Duke or Wake Forest, Goncalves skillfully manages her studies alongside her athletic commitments.
“I’ve learned to complete homework during car rides or find little moments to study,” the honor roll student shared about her nearly daily 60-mile round-trip commute.
Focused on the Future
While her parents may hesitate to check the E-ZPass bill accumulated from their unwavering support, Olivia recognizes the importance of their commitment.
She is deeply dedicated to growing the sport locally for future generations.
“I want to help girls get introduced to field hockey at a younger age here,” Goncalves expressed.
Last May, as part of her Girl Scout Silver Star project, she organized various clinics to bolster field hockey’s presence on Long Island.
During these events, she had the chance to share her skills with elementary school girls, introducing them to the sport.
Her teammates eagerly joined her initiative, volunteering to coach at the clinics to support her cause and nurture the upcoming talent.
“Additionally, I created a training video for a local elementary school and have been donating sticks to ensure they can start building their skills as they grow older,” said Goncalves.
She noticed, based on her own experiences, the scarcity of resources for field hockey on Long Island, which motivated her to develop a website that lists local clubs and colleges offering youth camps.
Even though it’s currently the busy season, Goncalves is in the process of organizing a spring clinic for her Gold Star award with the scouts.
“I want to include even more girls this time. I would love to see those who participated in my first clinic come back,” she remarked.
“It would make me incredibly happy to know that they’ve purchased sticks or are actively improving their skills or taking the sport seriously.”
