Miami University’s field hockey team had one of the best goaltenders for the past three years. Graduate student Isabelle Perese led the RedHawks to the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship, then brought the team to the NCAA field hockey tournament.
With an open goalie position following Perese’s departure from the program, rising junior Nicky Sjouken had large shoes to fill in this 2024 season.
Sjouken was born in the Netherlands and moved to Ohio with her family. Growing up, she was always heavily involved in field hockey.
“I started playing when I was six, because [in the Netherlands] field hockey is super big,” Sjouken said. “We would drive past the fields, and I said to my mom, ‘I’m going to play field hockey.’”
Sjouken has played the sport for the past 14 years, most recently for the Doetinchemse Hockey Club and Rietveld High School. However, she initially came to Miami not to play field hockey, but to stay close to home.
Since her family moved to Ohio in 2022, Sjouken said Miami was the perfect choice. She had good academics, remained close to her family and found a university with a successful field hockey program. But, according to Sjouken, she came to campus her first year as a “regular student."
As a first year, Sjouken played for the club field hockey team and soon tried out for the Division I Miami team. Her sophomore year, she earned a position as a goalkeeper, joining just in time to watch Perese before she graduated.
“Watching her was amazing,” Sjouken said. “She’s such a good leader. She was such a good person to talk to and to ask questions [to]. If you needed help with anything, she would be the first person to ask.”
Sjouken didn’t know she would be taking over as the starting goalkeeper for the 2024 season. Having multiple other goalies on the team vying for the role, there was no room for assumptions.
After fighting for the spot all preseason, Sjouken received the news she was the first goaltending option.
Dealing with the shift in roles was as hard as Sjouken expected. She struggled comparing herself to Perese.
“I mean, she was so good,” Sjouken said. “Am I going to be playing up to her standards?”
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Once she got into the groove of practicing with the other girls on the team, Sjouken said everything got easier for her.
“I think the trust is getting bigger, and the confidence I am giving the team is getting better every practice, every game,” Sjouken said.
Even though she and her teammates have a close bond, Sjouken tries to constantly communicate with them, ensuring she’s there for them and their needs.
Going through the start of the season, Sjouken has expressed her appreciation for her team and said that her relationship with the team helps relieve pressure during games.
The RedHawks are currently 7-6 and soon to be headed toward the MAC tournament. Sjouken has had an astonishing transition into her first season as the starting goalie and will only continue to do better things.
Read More
Recap: Men’s basketball jumps to 6-0 after handling Falcons at home
By Kethan Babu | 3 hours agoMiami men's basketball continued its winning streak with a second-half comeback against Bowling Green at home. The RedHawks are 6-0 in conference play.
Preview: Men’s basketball welcomes Bowling Green to Millett Hall tonight
By Kethan Babu | 23 hours agoMiami men's basketball returns to Millett Hall tonight at 7 p.m. for a matchup against Bowling Green. The RedHawks are undefeated in conference play and are currently on a seven-game winning streak
Recap: Men’s basketball jumps to seven-straight wins with victory over Kent State
By Kethan Babu | 3 days agoMiami men's basketball earned its seventh-straight win over Kent State. The RedHawks move to 5-0 in Mid-American Conference play