No longer does Suzi Sutton dread being dragged to field hockey games like she was when a small child. Now, she's a star on the rise and a major contributor to the offense of the Northwestern Wildcats.

Growing up in York, Pennsylvania, Sutton recalls her mom, a field hockey coach, literally dragging her to games and forcing her to watch. Yet, she just didn't get it, until she got the opportunity to participate in a game as a fifth-grader. "I used to hate it, [field hockey] but then fell in love with it after I was forced to play one time!" says Sutton.

Sutton played throughout her junior high and senior high years in central Pennsylvania, winning team MVP twice and becoming the first freshman to letter in field hockey at Dallastown High School. For the 20-year-old, the transition from a successful high school program to a rebuilding collegiate one has been challenging yet encouraging.

"College play requires much more strategy and is faster than high school play," she says. But she remains resolved despite her team's 2-12 record. "Our record rarely shows the progress we are making. We are competing well, especially against other Big Ten schools."

The team's future goal is to consistently be a top four contender in the Big Ten Conference. Sutton continues to focus on her leadership, intensity and stick control to help the team attain this goal. Personally, she relishes her involvement with sports. It has helped her with time management. "Sports helps in establishing time management skills and forces me to stay on top of things," says Sutton. "I don't have time to goof off!" But most importantly, her goal is to grab onto everything she can while in college. "You only do this once [experience the college life]. I want to obtain as much happiness out of this as possible."