University of Massachusets Athletics
Rivals Turned Friends On UMass Field Hockey Team
October 13, 2005 | Field Hockey
Oct. 13, 2005
Bird and Magic. Ali and Frazier. McEnroe and Connors.
Letourneau and Mervine?
Western Massachusetts' version of a giant-sized rivalry has a different vibe these days, as former Greenfield High School standout Becky Letourneau and former Frontier Regional School star Racheal Mervine now call each other teammates and friends, as the pair of sophomores are playing together on the UMass field hockey team.
"Last year (as a freshman), it was definitely really weird playing on a team with Becky," said Mervine. "We had our troubles because of the huge (Greenfield-Frontier) rivalry, but we're really good friends now."
Tension between the two reached an all-time high during the pair's junior year of high school, when Greenfield and Frontier met head-to-head in the Western Mass. Division II final. Frontier came away with the win, and the pair was quick to point out the insanity that surrounded the showdown.
"Our fans would yell at each other and almost get to the point of fighting," said Letourneau. "There was just a lot of school pride going on, and if it was a Frontier-Greenfield field hockey game, everyone was there."
Mervine remembers that the fans didn't just come out for the big games either.
"During field hockey camp at Deerfield Academy, parents would come to our games," she said. "And even though they meant absolutely nothing, the parents would lineup along the field and yell and scream at everybody - even the officials."
UMass field hockey coach Patty Shea knows that the rich tradition of Greenfield and Frontier only helped prepare the duo for her team.
"They both come from schools with powerful winning traditions," Shea said. "They help bring parts of those traditions to UMass, and they have the will to win and the competitive fire needed for (NCAA) Division I athletics."
Shea knows that while she does recruit at the national level, there is still a large talent pool right in her own backyard.
"We always go to the local games," she said. "We ask ourselves `Are these girls the right type of people to play in our program?' There's a lot more involved in recruiting local athletes. They have to have the right personality and the right characteristics."
As a goalie, Letourneau saw time in eight games last season, before taking the starting job this year. Being the last line of defense is an important responsibility, and the task gets even tougher going from high school to college.
"High school showed me that you have to have a lot of commitment and you have to work hard no matter where you are at all times," she said. "You have to be mentally prepared. There was pressure coming in because you know you have to perform well, but I know I just have to keep going and keep the intensity up to support the team and do my job."
Meanwhile, Mervine played in all 22 games as a freshman last year, and scored a goal against Syracuse for her first collegiate point.
"Racheal has good speed and it's important because we ask a lot of our frontline players," said Shea. "Both girls' potential is endless; that's the fun part about it."
And while the rivalry between Greenfield and Frontier does not appear to be cooling off anytime soon, Mervine and Letourneau still have their allegiances to their respective schools, despite being friends and teammates.
"Becky still loves Greenfield and Racheal still loves Frontier," said Shea. "They still go to the games and cheer for their teams. But now they both love UMass and they both love putting a UMass jersey on every day."