Sept. 24, 2009
Next Game: Friday, Sept. 25, vs. Pacific (7 p.m.)
First-Ever Night Game A Success... | ...And A 1-0 Shutout
Media Guide | Soza Says | Statistics
STANFORD, Calif.- Recently, www.gostanford.com caught up with senior Midori Uehara of the Stanford field hockey team for a quick discussion with topics ranging from the team's red-hot start, the correct pronunciation of her name and her cameo appearance in a video likely to develop into a YouTube sensation.
You guys are rolling right now: one win away from the best start in school history, undefeated at 7-0 and ranked higher than any team in school history at No. 13. What's been the key?
"It's been wonderful. I could not ask for a better start to my senior season. Everyone is really focused and on board with what we are trying to accomplish. We have taken ownership of our team and our goals. This team has good chemistry and gets along well on and off the field."
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The national ranking is a new thing for you guys. What's it like to be mentioned in the same discussion as other fall sports (women's soccer, women's volleyball, etc.) that have traditionally been fixtures in the top-25?
"We are all really proud of the national recognition. Our hard work is starting to pay off. It's not as if any of the previous teams I have been part of didn't work hard or want it more. They all did. But things are just coming together for us this year. We know that we have had this kind of potential for so long, and now it's being realized."
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On a team with fairly easy pronunciations for first and last names, you're making PA announcers everywhere earn their money. Help us out.
"It's Midori (Me-door-ee) Uehara (Way-har-uh). My teammates just call me Mid (Meed). I'm half Japanese and in Japanese, Midori means green. My parents named me after the Japanese figure skater Midori Ito."
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You and teammate Camille Gandhi made up a dangerous 1-2 punch last year as the club's top goal scorers (15 combined). Through the first seven games this season, you have scored two goals apiece. It just seems like this year's team is getting contributions from everyone.
"I think one of our strengths is how powerful our offense is across the board. We have midfielders scoring. We have forwards scoring. It's really important to have different people getting on the board so the other team can't mark specific players. Right now, we know that we have capable scorers all over the field. Hey, as long as we keep doing well, whatever works!"
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You are one of two New Yorkers on this team, joining sophomore serving frozen yogurt to Tina Fey this summer, what's your take?
"Yeah with her personality, you can totally see it. Ale was great behind the counter. I visited her there during the summer when I was back home. All of her co-workers loved her, because she's so fun to work with."
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Your brush with fame is more recent. Along with teammates Stephanie Byrne and Marlana Shile, you have a cameo appearance on a video spotlighting two-sport standout Toby Gerhart that is gaining popularity by the minute. Just over two minutes into the five-minute vignette, you guys challenge the football/baseball star to a pick-up game. Of field hockey.
"Yeah, I've seen it. We had fun filming that and it was kind of cool to be a part of the whole production, with all the different people involved. I think tennis and maybe synchronized swimming had already shot their portion of it, so we had a sneak preview of the concept. I think he could pick up field hockey if he stuck with it. For some reason, guys always seem to pick it up easy and can usually play ok on the first time."