Boston College Athletics
Women's Soccer Midfield Talks About Eagles Success
September 23, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 23, 2008
Chestnut Hill, MA - Senior midfielder Caitlin Hiler has started 32 consecutive games since her sophomore season. A native of Indiana, Hiler has been a steady player for the Eagles over the last four years. She currently has three assists as the team is now 6-1-1 and headed into ACC action this week. The Eagles will play at Duke on Thursday, Sept. 25 (7 p.m.) and at Wake Forest on Sunday, Sept. 28 (1 p.m.).
Talk about your nickname?
It's spelled, S-a-n-d-s. It's actually my middle name and it's my mom's maiden name. It was in preseason my freshman year and everyone went around and said their names and nicknames. So I said, "My name is Caitlin Hiler and I have never had a nickname.'' Someone asked me what my middle name was and I said, `Sands." So everyone on campus knows me a Sands or Sandsie.
How did you choose BC considering you are from Notre Dame Country?
I wanted to come east. I liked it here and took a lot of visits up and down the East Coast. When I came on my official visit, I fell in love with it. I grew up going to Notre Dame. We had tickets and tailgated but I'm just so happy I came here.
Talk about your role on this team. You are two years into starting at the midfield position and really worked your way into that spot.
I think coming in I don't know how much was expected of me because I came in as a walk-on. I don't know if they thought I was going to have that much of an impact. Last year, I started every game and it's a great feeling to know that I earned it and I'm glad I still have it. This year is so competitive and I know I could lose it at anytime. For me, I just think I worked my way into the starting position it's just something I can be proud of.
You are one of five seniors on this team. Talk about the bond you all have formed and what goals you have set as a group.
We set goals as a team we want to get to the Final 4 and need to get past the Sweet 16. We know we are good enough to break that Sweet 16 level. We definitely have enough talent to compete. Right now it's nice to see three (seniors) starting and have all of us sticking it out. We have really become close and are sticking together for the final two months.
The team is 6-1-1, what do you think has been the key to the early success?
We really have done well as a team. I think we lost a little focus on Friday against Harvard. Coach gave us the weekend off and we (the players) met on Sunday to talk about what we will need to focus on for the ACC. We talked about not having the fire in us until we needed the goal. We need to have that fire in us all the time.
What is the difference from last year? Last year the team scored only 23 goals all season, this season the team has already scored 19 goals.
It's different because last year we went into ACC play only giving up one goal. I think we have done a better job attacking and have scored a lot more goals than we did last year. It's different because we have let in more goals. Mike LaVigne (Director of Soccer Operations) always says, ``Defense wins Championships.'' And that starts with the forwards and we did actually work on defensive shape when the coaches though we needed to.
A number of freshmen have really made an impact on the team early. What do you tell them now about the ACC and what they will need to do to prepare?
We know this is a whole new level. These teams we play are 10 times better than some of the teams we have played. We told them you have to be on your "A" game. It's crazy how competitive it is and we know we need some key games. These two games (Duke on Thursday, Sept. 25 and Wake Forest on Sunday, Sept. 28) are key games.
The trip west was a getaway after preseason. We were able to do some sight-seeing. We went to Alcatraz. But when we are on the road here (for ACC games) you eat, sleep, work and play soccer. There is not much else. You really have to stay focused because we are playing two games in five days and it's a totally different experience. Hopefully, it will be a really good one for them.
Are you surprised by the impact the freshmen have made thus far this season?
I knew we had some really good freshmen coming in. I just didn't know how good they would be. All the freshmen have made an impact. It's not just one showing up. Right now you just hope they are loosening up and being more comfortable around the team.
What are your plans for after you graduate from BC?
I'm an economics major in arts and sciences. This past summer I did an internship at a brokerage firm in New York. My goal is to go back to New York and work in finance, but I would like to travel overseas.
