Lauren Mahoney, left, looks to beat a Hutt United player in Dalefield’s 1-0 win. PHOTO/FILE
Lauren Mahoney turned in a player of the match performance in Dalefield’s 2-1 win over Harbour City. CHRIS COGDALE caught up with the dedicated fullback.
Lauren Mahoney’s dedication to her beloved Farriers Dalefield cannot be questioned, but she said it’s worth the effort to play for the team with which she has a special bond.
The 20-year-old Victoria University student travels over the Remutaka Hill from her Kelburn home up to twice a week to train and play for the two-time Wellington premier women’s champions.
“I think there’s a really good camaraderie with the team. There’s no fighting and no drama or anything like that.
“Everyone are good mates and want to work hard for each other, and that’s what draws me back to travel to play for them, and we’re a very good team,” Mahoney said.
“I could’ve trialed for Wellington teams which would have been easier, but everyone knows each other, we hang out, and we do social stuff together, with the men’s team as well.
“Everyone is so lovely and are good friends and that makes everyone play a lot better.”
Like many of the region’s outstanding hockey players, Mahoney got her early hockey grounding in Wairarapa age-group teams. She then progressed through the ranks at Wairarapa College to the first XI.
Mahoney first played for Dalefield in the Wairarapa women’s division one team in year 11 and debuted for the club’s premier team in year 12.
Mahoney took a year off in 2020 to concentrate on her first year of university, where she is studying a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and criminology.
The draw of playing competitive hockey was hard to resist, though and she returned in 2021 to play an integral role in Dalefield winning their second consecutive Wellington premier title.
Mahoney is confident the team can complete the threepeat after the encouraging win over Harbour City.
“The game on Saturday definitely showed our potential and how we worked together really well.
“We’re good enough; we’ve just got to keep working hard and make sure that no one slackens off or anything like that and keep up the fitness and keep going to training, and I reckon we can get it.”
Reflecting on her good form, Mahoney said she understands her fullback role better now and has learnt to play smarter, which helps her direct the players in front of her.
As for life outside hockey, Mahoney has passed her fitness test and is most of the way through the police recruitment process, and she hopes to enter the Police College by the end of the year.
