University of New Hampshire Athletics
Catching Up with the 'Cats: Julie Munson
6/15/2021 7:48:00 PM | Field Hockey
By Riley Burns
Special to UNHWildcats.com
Julie Munson '04 can remember the first time she ever came across the sport of field hockey. In eighth grade, she recalls being in her room doing her homework and glancing outside to see two of her best friends playing around with field hockey sticks. Having a sense of curiosity, she made her way outside to talk with them and they said they were trying out for the school team and they were also in need of a goalie. She tried out and the rest is history.Â
Munson graduated from Dover High School in 2000 where she was a three-time all-state selection in field hockey while also lettering in basketball and softball. She then went on to continue her athletic career as a UNH Wildcat from 2000-2003 and became a captain in her senior season.
She always wanted to go to UNH and getting to play a sport as well was just the icing on the cake.
Munson has reflected on what it means to be a Wildcat and how she has taken so many life and field hockey lessons from head coach Robin Balducci.
"It's a feeling of pride I get when I think about UNH," said Munson. "Robin is an incredible coach, mentor and role model."
Coach Balducci had a lot of positive things to say about her coaching experience with Munson as well.
"Julie was a coach's dream player – disciplined, committed and hard working," said Balducci. "Julie was a smart, mature athlete and a true leader both on and off the playing field. But probably her strongest attribute was her selflessness. She was always willing to help and would always put others first making her a great team player. Julie was a true asset to our program throughout her career."
During Munson's senior season, she talked about how everything having to do with the team, the sport and the feeling that it was all almost over became very nostalgic for her and her teammates.
"One of the biggest things I took away from my time at UNH through sport is how connected and family oriented you are as a team," Munson said with regards to the team's long road trips, away games, staying in hotels, and constantly laughing and having fun together. "I simply never wanted it to end."Â
And so, she didn't let it. After Munson graduated from UNH, she continued with the collegiate game as an assistant coach at James Madison. In her six seasons with the Dukes, she helped guide the team's goalies to lead the nation in goals against average and shutouts in 2008. The Dukes also advanced to the NCAA tournament three consecutive seasons from 2006-2008. After her time at JMU, Munson spent three seasons back in New England with the Harvard University field hockey team as an assistant coach who handled recruiting duties. During one of her seasons with the Crimson, the team was going through a head coaching change, so she stepped in as the interim head coach. Â
Following a 30-year hiatus, Southern New Hampshire University hired Munson to rebuild the program from scratch in the fall of 2013.
"The idea of starting a program in my home state was through the roof exciting to me," said Munson.
Beginning their journey in the fall of 2014, Munson was up for the challenge. After the first two seasons SNHU had a combined three wins, but from 2016-2019 the team posted 44 victories overall. SNHU qualified for the 2019 NCAA tournament and finished the season with a 17-5 record.
"I just kept telling my players to trust the process, we're doing all the right things, and every day we are getting a little bit better," said Munson. "Our goals and expectations are always the same and they don't really have to do with results. We want to create a united team dynamic because we are a family here at SNHU."Â
Munson hopes to continue growing the game and her team in the years to come. She says she owes a lot of where she is now to her experience she had as a Wildcat with her former teammates and coach Balducci.
"Ten years from now, you won't care about winning and losing games, you'll care that you gave all that you had and supported your teammates through all of those tough times," said Munson. "There will always be certain moments that stand out, but they'll always be your teammates."Â
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Previous Catching Up with the 'Cats stories:Â
Mailaja Mohammed '98 (Football)
Becky Haley, '08, and Erich Fiedler, '06 (Men's and Women's Track and Field/Cross Country)
Kelsey Hogan '14 (Women's Basketball)
R.J. Harris '14 (Football)
Gordie Clark '74 (Men's Hockey)
Caroline Murray '16 (Women's Soccer)
Patrick Foley '04 (Men's Hockey)
