In the 2008 NCAA D-III National Field Hockey Championship Game, Katie Herter '12, then a first year, found herself on the field battling Tufts for the title. In the second overtime, with the game deadlocked 2-2, Herter fired a shot on net. The rebound deflected to Lindsay McNamara '09, who buried a shot for the win and the championship. A game-winning assist in the national championship game? Not bad for a first year.
Two years later, Herter continues to be a force on the field. Herter's considerable talents were on full display this week at Howard F. Ryan Field.
In the season opener against an Amherst squad ranked No. 14 in the country, the junior from Topsfield, Mass. scored twice in a 4-3 Bowdoin victory.
Herter's first strike came early in the game off of a rocket from the top of the shooting circle. She added a second tally on a tip-in to put Bowdoin ahead 2-1.
Against Wellesley College on Tuesday, Herter chipped in another two goals as the Polar Bears coasted to a 6-0 win. Herter's four goals helped to propel Bowdoin, an annual NESCAC juggernaut, to a fast start.
Herter's athletic prowess is undeniable. As a senior at the Brooks School in North Andover, Mass., she was a three-sport captain. At Bowdoin, Herter continues to excel in field hockey, hockey and lacrosse.
After her inaugural three-sport campaign in Brunswick, Herter was named Outstanding First Year Female Athlete.
In field hockey, Herter was second on the team with seven goals her sophomore year, and speed and tenacity are her most potent offensive weapons. A one-on-one ace, Herter uses pure quickness to blow by any defender in her way.
Herter's impressive three-year career elicits praise from her coach and her peers.
Head coach Nicky Pearson said, "Katie's exceptional work ethic and dedication are greatly admired by the team."
Teammates gush about Herter's combination of athletic ability and personality. According to senior co-captain Ingrid Oelschlager, Katie uses a combination of determination and relentlessness to blow by defenders.
Simply put, Oelschlager called Herter, "Intense and focused and flat-out athletic."
Captain Shannon Malloy '11 and fellow senior Jessie Small admire Herter's courage and versatility on the field.
The two seniors revealed that Herter has thrived this season despite a position switch and a knee injury. All three appreciate Herter's vibrant personality and sense of humor.
"Katie is incredibly funny and she brings a lot of character to the team," said Malloy. "She is always laughing and making other people laugh."
Oelschlager paints an interesting picture of her teammate Herter on the field: shoelaces dragging on the turf, socks "two sizes too small", ill-fitting shin guards, and a particularly unorthodox running style. Herter's goofy gait detracts little from her performance, however, as she is a force to be reckoned with on the field.
This story was edited for correctness after its original publish date.