Kathleen Parker had to write out Julie Clark’s accomplishments to be read out over the loudspeakers. If she hadn’t, Parker would probably have forgotten that the former sweeper and 1993 graduate provided statistically for the Orange.

‘I really don’t remember one season from another,’ Parker said. ‘When I was working on my presentation, it was really the first time I realized Julie was the captain. Those things are really nice, but I remember Julie and little things here or there.’

A halftime ceremony was conducted for Clark before SU closed the regular season against Colgate with a 3-1 victory. That’s because the Orange Plus Hall of Fame will induct Clark at noon today at Drumlins Country Club. She will be the fifth field hockey alumna inducted and the 59th member overall.

Even though Clark was instrumental in helping the Orange to its first Big East championship and NCAA tournament berth in 1993, she was taken aback when she was informed.

‘I actually thought they wanted money (when they called),’ Clark said. ‘They said, ‘No, we’re here to induct you in the Hall of Fame,’ which I thought was a joke. You go to Syracuse, play hockey and have fun. I never thought about or aspired to be in the Hall of Fame. I was playing hockey. That’s all it was.’

Just playing hockey wasn’t all she provided for SU, though. Clark came to SU, as Parker says, as a ’40-year-old freshman.’ Providing that kind of maturity as a freshman speaks volumes, considering Clark had a blown-out knee, an injury she suffered during track and field her senior year in high school.

Clark redshirted to complete her rehab. Sitting on the sideline and not being able to gain on-field chemistry with the upperclassmen didn’t prevent her from connecting to SU.

And by the time junior year rolled around, Clark was already team captain. She provided leadership in both facets – by setting an example and directing teammates to where they needed to be during games.

‘She had such respect for her teammates, and she was like a coach on the field,’ Parker said. ‘We hardly had to say anything because she directed the play.’

For 10 years, Clark has been an assistant coach for Skidmore College, a Division III school in Saratoga. Even after she graduated, Clark stuck around during the summertime to provide a helpful hand for SU field hockey camps. As a former player and now a coach, Clark still retains a player’s perspective and takes what she learned from Parker to mold her coaching philosophy.

‘I learned that you have to laugh at yourself,’ Clark said. ‘You have to be demanding of your players while at the same time allowing them to make mistakes.’

Published on October 27, 2004 at 12:00 pm