禁漫天堂

Dedicated. Discerning. Driven. Junior captain Abby Ezickson 鈥�26 embodies these qualities as she leads Skidmore College鈥檚 team.  

A psychology major from Washington, D.C., Abby sets her sights high on 鈥� and off 鈥� the field.  

鈥淏eing Liberty League Champion is not just a goal but an expectation,鈥� says the three-time member of the Thoroughbred Society, which recognizes Skidmore student-athletes who achieve a GPA of 3.67 or higher in a semester. 

After battling through a challenging regular season, remained undaunted as the team prepared for the Liberty League Championships. Her confidence stems from her belief in her team鈥檚 legacy of excellence 鈥� nine Liberty League championships, 15 NCAA tournament appearances, and three Final Fours since 2001.

She鈥檚 determined to push herself and her teammates to play at their very best. 

The road to Skidmore  

Abby鈥檚 path to Skidmore 鈥� located in the idyllic college town of Saratoga Springs, New York 鈥� reflects the same drive and resilience.  

Born in Boston and raised partly in London, Abby didn鈥檛 pick up field hockey until eighth grade, choosing it over soccer after a kneecap injury. By ninth grade, she was a varsity starter in field hockey and lacrosse at Sidwell Friends School. In addition, she danced with Kennedy Center-based Elements Dance Company and, of course, balanced academics alongside it all.   

By 11th grade, Abby had stepped away from dance and was participating in field hockey showcases along the East Coast. When it came to college, she decided to focus on field hockey and, of course, academics. First dance, now lacrosse. Addition by subtraction. A willingness to make hard choices. 

At the advice of her Sidwell coach, Abby attended a Skidmore field hockey prospect clinic the summer before her senior year. After spending a day on campus, playing with the team, and experiencing the College鈥檚 supportive environment, she knew it was the place for her. 

Abby, whose calling card is aggression, speed, and scoring, is grateful that endorsed her as a great candidate for Skidmore and the team.  

鈥淏ut what really made me want to come to Skidmore was the team. They were so warm and welcoming, and I could tell they all really loved each other.鈥� 

Sold on the excellent academics, size of the student body, and the City of Saratoga Springs, she applied Early Decision and was accepted. 

The student in student-athlete

In addition to conducting social psychology research with Assistant Professor of Psychology Harrison Schmitt, Abby is also a Chinese minor. Her fall 2024 classes included Intermediate Chinese, Positive Psychology, Cognition, and Environmental Justice (her Bridge Experience course). 

As part of the Bridge course, she submitted a letter to the editor to the Albany Times Union calling on the New York State governor to sign the Climate Change Super Fund Act and noting that increasingly severe weather disproportionately impacts low-income communities. 

I really enjoy being in the classroom and being challenged intellectually and then switching gears to field hockey where, again, I am challenged but more so physically and emotionally. 

Over the summer, Abby interned at the D.C.-based Washington Lab School, which caters to students with language-based learning differences like dyslexia. She worked with a small group of students who needed individual attention. 

In the spring semester, Abby is studying abroad in Sydney, Australia, where she looks forward to training for a half marathon, traveling, and learning more about the country鈥檚 culture. 

After Skidmore, Abby plans to pursue a master鈥檚 in clinical psychology, with the possible intention of going into private practice.  

鈥淚 want to go into a field where I can help others. Currently, there are so many people who aren鈥檛 happy; something that inspires me is trying to help those people. This is also a reason why I love field hockey because I see the joy that it brings to my team, to me, and to those around it.鈥� 

A natural leader

Abby carries a magnetic energy. Our first season together, I recognized in her the same qualities of hard work and leadership that I felt I had in myself, and we bonded immediately. There's a contagious spark she has for the game and for life that cannot be taught; it's just who she is.鈥� 

Kayla Hassett 鈥�25

Senior captain 

Abby captained both her high school field hockey and lacrosse teams. They weren鈥檛 roles she sought out; they happened organically and felt natural to her.  

The spring after her sophomore season at Skidmore, Coach Hallenbeck saw leadership qualities in her as well and named Abby the team鈥檚 fourth captain, along with Kayla Hassett 鈥�25, Brooke Tunnicliffe 鈥�25, and Gillian Maher 鈥�25. 

The longtime Skidmore coach is pleased with the payoff and Abby鈥檚 growth as a captain.  

鈥淪he takes her role very seriously, connects well with her teammates, and wants everyone to contribute to the success of the team,鈥� Coach Hallenbeck said. 鈥淚t helps that she is both strong and kind and holds herself to a high standard in all she does.鈥� 

Abby鈥檚 leadership could be seen in the team鈥檚 3-0 win over Vermont鈥檚 Castleton University, in which she notched an assist for sophomore Colby Paul鈥檚 first-ever college goal. 

鈥淚t was a great game for us. I had a mindset that I needed to be a leader on the field to help create a reset for the team. Our confidence had taken a hit after the SUNY New Paltz game, and we needed someone to lift us up and hold everyone accountable to be at their best. I believe I brought that energy. We connected with each other, and we all had more than just a want to win; it was a need.鈥� 

 

Reflecting on the season and the playoffs  

A month after the Castleton victory, the Thoroughbreds hosted No. 21-ranked Liberty League foe University of Rochester. They nearly matched the Yellow Jackets in shots, shots on goal, and corners, but they came up short, 3-2.  

Abby was characteristically bullish about Skidmore鈥檚 performance. 鈥淭he Rochester game was so competitive; it was a turning point for us. We sustained a high level throughout and showcased our deep bench.鈥� 

With their strong performances against nationally ranked Rochester and Cortland deposited in their collective emotional bank account, the Thoroughbreds were ready for their Liberty League quarterfinal showdown on Nov. 5 at William Smith College. 

Skidmore struck late in the third period and held on for a 1-0 victory, winning the program's first conference playoff game since 2017. It was a complete team performance as they outshot the Herons 9 to 6 and conceded just one shot in the second half. 

In the Liberty League semifinal, they put up a valiant defensive stand, containing No. 22 Ithaca College well into the third quarter before eventually falling 2-0. The 15-5 Bombers would go onto to win the Liberty League championship and advance to the NCAA tournament. Skidmore finished with an overall record of 9-12. 

Postscript   

Days after the Ithaca defeat, Abby was proud of the Thoroughbred鈥檚 gritty performance, just as her teammates and coaches were. 

But there was still some disappointment. 鈥淭he season was so invigorating. My friends are saying, 鈥極h, you鈥檒l get over it.鈥� And I鈥檓 like, 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 understand.鈥� Working toward a common goal is so amazing. It鈥檚 so nice to have a place to go every day and be part of something bigger than yourself.鈥� 

鈥淗appily, it was a huge growth season. From the beginning, we were all bought in from top to bottom,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e could flow through games with most of our bench players getting significant minutes. It was special.鈥� 

So, what鈥檚 her expectation for the 2025 team? Winning the Liberty League championship, of course.  

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More about Abby 

Favorite book: 鈥淭he Golden Couple鈥� by Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks 

Favorite movie: 鈥淚nterstellar鈥� 

Favorite thing about Saratoga Springs: All the amazing restaurants and food!  

Something that might surprise people: I can speak Chinese. My Chinese class is fun and allows me to learn a ton because the class is usually only about six to eight people. I really like that in my three years at Skidmore I have been with some of the same students because each semester we go to the next level together. I have made some really close friends.