Previous greats in the Lakeland High School field hockey program helped inspire center midfielder Stasha Waterfield to become part of it, and now as a senior team captain, she bears the responsibility of continuing the Lady Cavaliers’ storied legacy.

So far, so good.

Waterfield has helped Lakeland get off to a 5-1 start, and her offensive contributions on Aug. 31 and Sept. 3 led to her current status as the Duke Automotive-Suffolk News-Herald Player of the Week.

She supplied a goal in the Lady Cavs’ 6-0 home win over Deep Creek High School on Aug. 31 and then was remarkably clutch during a shootout victory against host Great Bridge High School on Sept. 3.

“She played really well,” Lakeland coach Cortney Parker said. “She worked hard and showed leadership on the field.”

Last year, the Lady Cavaliers had a rare losing season that got started with a 4-1 home loss to the Lady Wildcats. It was the first time Lakeland had lost to a Southeastern District opponent since 2002.

Waterfield helped her team avenge that loss by converting its lead-off shot this year in the shootout. Then, when the Lady Wildcats goalie committed a foul two shots later, Parker chose Waterfield to take the penalty stroke, which she also put in the cage.

“I was proud of myself, and I was really proud of the team because Great Bridge especially was a really big game for us and kind of a deciding factor on how our season was going to go,” Waterfield said. “It showed everyone that we’re not the same team that we were last year, that we’re here to fight and win these games.”

Waterfield likes inspirational quotes, and one she finds particularly motivational talks about how the next play and the next game is never promised.

So, she said she approaches each game asking herself if this was her last one, “How would I want people to remember me?”

She has established a good reputation for herself among those closely watching her play.

“I think that she’s a very unselfish player, and I think that she tries to include everybody,” said her father, David Waterfield. “Like every parent, we all think that our kids are really special, but I keep it in perspective, and I think that she does a pretty good job.”

Parker praised Stasha Waterfield’s strong work ethic, in season and out.

“Anytime she has the opportunity to do something, she’s doing it when it comes to hockey,” the coach said.

Waterfield has played in USA Field Hockey’s Futures Program, Tara Worley’s indoor league and Scotty Tyson’s Saints Field Hockey Club.

She said she got her start in the sport when she was 11, responding to her dad’s suggestion to play in the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association’s winter league.

“They let me borrow a stick,” she said, and she enjoyed playing, returning year after year.

She plans to play on the collegiate level but has not yet announced her school.