Makayla Snyder was voted Suffolk News-Herald Player of the Week after scoring five goals in two games for the Lakeland High School field hockey team.

Lakeland’s field hockey team has been having a solid year with their new coach. Last week they played two games in which they outscored their opponents 15-0. In that span, Snyder scored five goals to lead the team.

“During those games, I played very confidently,” she said. “I knew that the only thing that could stop me from playing at my best was myself.”

Snyder believes that confidence is the key to being a successful field hockey player. Before every game, she prepares to give it her all. Sometimes when players have the hot hand, you could call it being in the zone, and Snyder felt that last week. She gave all the credit to her teammates and her coaches for helping her be at her best.

“Once you believe in yourself the whole game is yours,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to do that without my coaches and teammates. We all help each other to keep our heads up when we are low and to celebrate when we play really well.”

Only a junior, Snyder feels like she is been having her best season yet. She has been more focused on going for things and not worrying about the risk. One of her main focuses was to execute better inside the offensive circle. Also, she wanted to continue being an offensive and defensive option.

She will be the only senior on the team next year, so she has also been using this year as an opportunity to be a leader for the younger girls who will be returning. She scored eight goals all of last season and this season she already has seven. With a few more regular season games left she is hopeful she can surpass that.

Motivations come in many ways. For Snyder, it comes through the form of her current coach and former coach and her sister. Snyder has known her current coach Jamee Albright for ten years. She grew up watching her play, and it really inspired her. Albright coached her in recreation field hockey, so to be able to coach her was something Snyder couldn’t have imagined happening. Coach Cortney Parker saw something in Snyder to put her on the varsity team as a freshman. Parker pushed Snyder when she was having rough days and still supports the team. Makayla’s sister Alexa who is a freshman on the team also inspires to be a role model for her

“Those two coaches are the reason why I am where I am today,” she said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to play at the level I am now. Alexa is in the same shoes I was in as a freshman. I want to be a good role model for her on and off the field. I want her to be a better player than myself.”

Aside from field hockey, Snyder dances at Allonge Dance Academy. She hopes to pursue a career in business, so she can one day open her own studio.