By Grace Purdy Special to UNHWildcats.com
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For senior goalie Amanda Gottlieb (Canton, Conn.), being a part of the University of New Hampshire women's lacrosse team and the Wildcat community has been a journey that has brought her a lifetime of memories, and has shaped her into the strong, successful person she is today.
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 BEING PART OF THE WILDCAT COMMUNITY
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Amanda Gottlieb
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One of the common sentiments among UNH student-athletes is the closeness and sense of belonging that the Wildcat community provides, and that is what made UNH really feel like home to Gottlieb.
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"What makes UNH so special is all of the loving staff and my fellow student-athletes. There is a huge sense of community in the field house and it has made UNH my second home, and I will cherish that for a lifetime. Being a student-athlete at UNH has also taught me how to come out of myself, and to not be afraid to show my personality. It has also helped me develop my time management skills and to be accountable for myself."
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 WORKING HARD ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM
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Being on the UNH lacrosse team has brought Gottlieb a sense of accomplishment, as well as a work ethic that has translated both on the field and in the classroom.
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"My favorite moment of being a student-athlete was when my name was finally called as a starter versus UConn my senior year. I had worked hard at getting my skills better and recovered from a long-lasting concussion the season prior and it was just an awesome feeling to finally run through the tunnel of my teammates."
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One of her favorite parts of being a student-athlete was being on the team, and all of the bonding moments that come along with traveling to games and away trips, and all of the hours put into practicing.
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"My favorite part about being on my team was the people I was with. It didn't matter what practice had in store for the day, what time it was, or even where we were; we were always having fun and cracking jokes together. One of the best road trips was when we were driving from Atlanta to Nashville over spring break. During that road trip, we watched 'A Star is Born' and everyone loved it, and we also played games in our team group message that gave us all a good laugh on such a long ride."
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Seniors Amanda Gottlieb, Rylee Leonard, Michele Smith and Caroline Hernon in Nashville in 2019
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Along with the fun memories of team road trips and inside jokes, being a student-athlete at UNH has also taught Gottlieb lessons about life that will stick with her long after graduation.
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"I have learned a lot of things early on, but the one that sticks out most to me is to always make a list of things you need for trips. My sophomore year we were on our way to Binghamton University for a game, and two hours into the six hour drive I had the sudden realization that I had forgotten all of my goalie equipment back in Durham. I never forgot it again after that experience and I made a list of all essentials I needed for every away trip after that."
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Amanda Gottlieb and freshman Ava Schroeder BALANCING ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS
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As a student-athlete at UNH, balancing both academics and athletics can be difficult, but Gottlieb gained a lot of perspective and insight that carried her beyond the field and playing a sport in college.Â
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"It's all about time management and getting into a routine and understanding yourself; whether cranking out homework before practice works for you, or if you'd prefer doing most of it at night; it's all about creating a routine and holding yourself accountable."
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"The biggest thing I have learned at UNH is that it is okay to take time for yourself. When you have papers, exams or your classes and practices to go to, it can get stressful. Taking time to help yourself is key to staying sane, whether that is going to get coffee, or taking a trip to the beach. Anything that helps you get out and de-stress is important; you can take time for yourself."
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Amanda Gottlieb and junior Sabrina Grovom REFLECTING ON MOMENTS AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE AT UNH
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Seniors Caroline Hernon, Amanda Gottlieb, Rylee Leonard and Michele Smith
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When asked about what she will miss most about being a student-athlete at UNH and her experience as an undergraduate, Gottlieb reflected on her favorite moments about being on campus.
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"I will miss being a five-minute walk away from my teammates and friends, I will miss 7 a.m. lifts and practices, and most importantly I will miss being on the UNH campus and walking to class every day. My experience at UNH has meant so much to me and it has been a very special time. From all the lessons I've learned and people that have come into my life, I will take all that with me in the years to come."
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 WHAT'S NEXT?
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Following graduation, Gottlieb plans to continue her education at UNH, as she was recently accepted into the accelerated master's program for Elementary Education and is interning at Deerfield Community School in a 4th grade classroom.
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In reflecting her time at UNH, Gottlieb left her fellow seniors with this message:
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"It is unfortunate that our senior year was cut short, but that just shows how strong we are and how well we all are able to deal with adversity. It was amazing to get to know a lot of you and create friendships that will last a lifetime. DIESEL OUT!"
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Asst. Coach Erin Rigby Chase, Gottlieb, Smith, Leonard, Hernon, Asst. Coach Kate Gunts and Head Coach Sarah Albrecht Please check back to UNHWildcats.com as we continue our Senior Reflections series.
