In Play(er) of the Week, we seek to highlight Wesleyan athletes or parts of games that deserve extra attention. Sarah Hammond ’22 MA ’23 is a captain and goalkeeper for the Wesleyan women’s soccer team. She was recently awarded NESCAC Player of the Week for her spectacular performance in the team’s matchup against Bowdoin in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, where she boasted five saves and lowered her goals against average to just 0.57. The Argus sat down with Hammond to reflect on the season so far, as well as her experiences on the team over the last five years. 

The Argus: Can you introduce yourself?

Sarah Hammond: My name’s Sarah. I’m a graduate student. I’m a goalkeeper on the soccer team and I’m getting my master’s in psychology.

A:  How would you describe your experience playing soccer at Wesleyan?

SH: It was a great experience for me. It’s been such an amazing experience seeing the program grow since I was a freshman to where we are now. It’s just been so incredible and to be a part of that growth is something really special. 

A: How would you describe your experience being a team captain?

SH: It’s been a great experience in trying to learn how to manage different dynamics and, of course, coming off of the COVID years, there were a lot of changes. We basically had two freshmen classes and half the team had never experienced a season, so there was a lot of adaptation in figuring out how to manage those situations. Also going into this year, [we had to manage] coming off a great season and then figure out how we can help the team to replicate that success without putting too much pressure on people to be perfect. 

A: What do you think specifically makes Wes such a special place to play soccer?

SH: The year before I came in—so their 2017 season—Wesleyan won one conference game. [Then] we came in and our group of players wanted to turn the program around. There was this whole mentality of “we’re gonna be a good program,” and over the last couple of years, we’ve been working towards that and getting progressively better each year. I think it’s a special feeling being a part of that growth and knowing you had an integral part in the success of where the team is today. 

A: Since you’re a goalkeeper, what would you say your favorite part and your least favorite of that position are?

SH: Being the hero sometimes is so fun. Flying through the air, making saves, and hitting the ground knowing you kept the ball out of the net…. I love the pressure. The hardest part of being a goalkeeper is [that] it’s a double-edged sword. Knowing that you are the last line of defense of the field can be tricky sometimes. There is an element of “you can’t make a mistake, because if you make a mistake, then [the ball]’s going in the back of the net.” So there’s a little bit of pressure to almost be perfect, but I love managing that pressure and being that back line at the same time. So it’s hard, but in a great way at the same time.

A: Is there anything you do to not get too in your head?

SH: I definitely think that it comes with years of experience. I’ve played goalkeeper since I was ten years old. Initially, it probably was a little more stressful, but I think it’s more about just not thinking about it. A phrase for us on the team is “control the controllables,” and I think that is a crucial part of being a goalkeeper, too. 

A: You won NESCAC Player of the Week this past week. How did it feel to win that?

SH: It was honestly so exciting. I feel like I have played really well recently. It was an exciting recognition of that because over the last five years I’ve really grown as a player, and it’s nice to see that be recognized. 

A: What would you say your favorite memories from Wes overall in these past five years are, on and off the field?

SH: On the field, I definitely think anybody who was a part of last year’s team would say the game against MIT when we won in overtime and then scored within the first 35 seconds and that sent us to the Final Four. That rush of emotions was so exciting. We rushed the field and we had so many fans at the game that were all celebrating with us. That was such a magical experience. I remember my family was at that game and they told me before the game “don’t go into overtime because we have a flight to catch to go home.” And, of course, we go into overtime, but it only lasted 35 seconds so they were able to stay for a little bit, and I remember climbing the fence at the end of the game so they could congratulate me before they had to leave. Little moments like that were so exciting.

The whole experience last year was so incredible. Being at the Final Four, I remember standing on our practice field before the game and just admiring this and taking it all in, and thinking about that makes me so happy.

Outside of soccer, one of the best parts of Wesleyan has been the people. You meet such a diverse group of people here from diverse backgrounds with diverse interests, and I think that has made my experience even better because you form so many friendships that’ll last a lot longer than the four or five years you’re at college.

A: What would you say the highlight of this season has been for you?

SH: We were able to take down Bowdoin in penalty kicks and Molly [Brumbach ‘26], the freshman goalkeeper, went in for those penalty kicks and she did an amazing job making a save in a crucial moment. I was standing in line waiting to take the penalty kick and we were standing there holding hands, and Isabelle Martin takes the last shot and we see it go into the back of the net, and then we were able to celebrate as a team. It was also a big moment because we were the sixth seed in the NESCAC, so we were the underdog in that game and not supposed to win. So being able to go back to Bowdoin for the second weekend in a row and take them down in PKs where all their fans were out there cheering for them, it was just so exciting. Especially coming off the tie against Conn College, which sent us into sixth [seed]. So I think there was a lot of emotion going into that game and we were able to take that emotion and channel that into the win against Bowdoin in the NESCAC Tournament, and almost like redemption. 

A: How does it feel reflecting on the past five years now that you’re almost done? 

SH: It’s honestly kind of sad. I’m trying not to think about it too much because it is a difficult realization to be like, ‘Okay, my soccer career could be over in the next week, it could be over the next month.’ Hopefully, it’s over in the next month because that would mean we’re playing in the NCAA Tournament. It’s a tricky thing because I’ve enjoyed my experience so much at Wes and playing these past five years has been so enjoyable and I’ve grown a lot as a person and a player. Looking back, I’m so happy with the course of my playing career here but also I don’t want it to end, which I think is an experience that many athletes will probably experience at some point. Hopefully, it lasts a little bit longer but at this point in the postseason, you never know when your last game is gonna be. Essentially, it’s win or go home, so we just have to go out and win our games.

A: What do you hope the future of this team/the legacy you and your class [are leaving] looks like when you guys are gone?

SH: I think a competitive edge is part of the legacy of our class. We were willing to do whatever it takes and I think that’s something that we’ve integrated into the culture of the team and hopefully, that legacy lasts moving forward. There’s a lot of talent coming [from] our underclassmen. We have so much depth on the team. I have high hopes for the program in the future. Combining the talent with the mentality that our class has left an impression on is a recipe for success and I think that we will see more success in the future. 

A: Anything else you want to add?

SH: As a goalkeeper, your back line is so important, and I want to give my back line so much credit because, without them, I would not be where I am. They put their bodies on the line and do whatever it takes to make sure the shots don’t get taken in the first place. I give them so much credit in my personal success because without them a lot more shots would be taken [which means] a lot more chances for other teams to score, and they shut it down. And I commend them for that and I want to make sure they get credit because they really help our success quite a lot and make my job a hell of a lot easier.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

If you would like to nominate a Play(er) of the Week, please reach out to cbonnevie@wesleyan.edu, ebyerly@wesleyan.edu, or eseaver@wesleyan.edu with either the athlete’s name and one sentence about why they deserve to be nominated, or the team, date of the game, and players involved, and the segment that you would like to highlight. 

Erin Byerly can be reached at ebyerly@wesleyan.edu.