Reilly Bawcom – Athlete of the Week – October 6th

The life of a goalie is not always glamorous. Often blamed, occasionally forgotten, and rarely credited, goalkeepers are the unsung heroes in athletics. This week’s Athlete of the Week, senior goalkeeper Reilly Bawcom, has anchored a talented Dolphin defense with a selfless and determined demeanor.

“Last week we played our two toughest opponents so far this season, Norfolk Academy, ranked fourth in the nation, and Hickory, ranked fourth in South Hampton Roads.” Head Coach Kristen Wheeler continued, “With Reilly anchoring our defensive unit, we held NA to only two goals and shut-out Hickory, a team that prior to playing CHC had outscored their opponents 59 to 4.”

In the 2-0 loss to Norfolk Academy, Reilly recorded an outstanding 15 saves. Reilly continued her success into the match with Hickory by recording five crucial saves. “She focused on doing ‘her job’. Reilly’s aggressive and confident play contributed to the success of the defensive unit against NA, whose stick skills are some the top in the country.” Assistant Coach Kim Dooren continued, “Her goalkeeper skills also helped to shut out Hickory, who was 7-0 coming into the game.”

Coach Kristen Wheeler noted, “In addition to actually stopping the ball, though, it was HOW she played the game. Vocally, she directed the field players and kept our defensive unit collectively on task.”

Reilly, through 10 games played, boasts a total of 38 saves compared to eight goals against. Reilly, impressively, has given up less than one goal a game in addition to her remarkable four shut-outs. However, the unrecorded stats tell the true story of Reilly Bawcom.

Reilly selflessly takes responsibility for the tasks or chores that other people will turn a blind eye to or walk away from. She sticks around to make sure the practice balls are cleaned up and often carries the water cooler off of the field, all while also dragging her goalie bag behind her. Coach Wheeler added of Reilly, “She cares about doing what is right.”

She is an absolute team-first player and her selfless demeanor holds a significant contribution to the team atmosphere. She truly cares about her teammates, her coaches, and about the program as a whole. Reilly and the rest of the Dolphins look to continue the success throughout the 2017-2018 Field Hockey season.