University of New Hampshire Athletics
Photo by: Alex Miller
The Definition of Dedication: Nicole Poulakis’ Championship Mentality
2/27/2026 11:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
DURHAM, N.H. – For Nicole Poulakis, all roads lead to field hockey. The senior captain of the 2025 University of New Hampshire field hockey team built her collegiate career on a foundation of hard work, discipline, and commitment on and off the turf.
From Ice to Turf
Hailing from Ajax, Ontario, Poulakis grew up playing ice hockey. After spending countless hours at the arena as a child watching her older brother play, she picked up the stick herself at just three years old.
"When you're Canadian, playing [ice] hockey is in your blood," Poulakis said. "I was always around it growing up, and since I practically lived at the arena I figured I might as well try it if I was going to be there all the time."
But before entering her freshman year of high school, Poulakis made a career-defining decision: she traded in her skates for cleats.
Following in the footsteps of her father, who introduced her to field hockey, she decided to get ahead of the curve.
"Everyone kind of starts playing [field hockey] in high school, so I knew I was going to play once I got there," Poulakis explained. "I wanted to get a head start before everyone else, so I joined a club."
That initiative paid off. Poulakis spent that summer playing for Team Ontario, kickstarting her love for field hockey. Thanks to her background in soccer and ice hockey, the transition felt natural.
She describes field hockey as a blend of the two sports: the stick skills of hockey combined with the flow of soccer. This resulted in a seamless shift and a new competitive outlet.
Despite the college recruiting process being muddled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Poulakis eventually made her way to the United States for campus visits. It didn't take long for her to find a home away from home in Durham.
"When I came to visit UNH, I did a camp with the field hockey team, and I just fell in love with it," Poulakis said. "It was one of the first tours I did. When I would go to other schools, they just wouldn't be the same."
"When you're Canadian, playing [ice] hockey is in your blood," Poulakis said. "I was always around it growing up, and since I practically lived at the arena I figured I might as well try it if I was going to be there all the time."
But before entering her freshman year of high school, Poulakis made a career-defining decision: she traded in her skates for cleats.
Following in the footsteps of her father, who introduced her to field hockey, she decided to get ahead of the curve.
"Everyone kind of starts playing [field hockey] in high school, so I knew I was going to play once I got there," Poulakis explained. "I wanted to get a head start before everyone else, so I joined a club."
That initiative paid off. Poulakis spent that summer playing for Team Ontario, kickstarting her love for field hockey. Thanks to her background in soccer and ice hockey, the transition felt natural.
She describes field hockey as a blend of the two sports: the stick skills of hockey combined with the flow of soccer. This resulted in a seamless shift and a new competitive outlet.
Despite the college recruiting process being muddled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Poulakis eventually made her way to the United States for campus visits. It didn't take long for her to find a home away from home in Durham.
"When I came to visit UNH, I did a camp with the field hockey team, and I just fell in love with it," Poulakis said. "It was one of the first tours I did. When I would go to other schools, they just wouldn't be the same."
Excellence On and Off the Field
At UNH, Poulakis has built a resumé defined by excellence.
The 2025-26 America East Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year boasts a 3.90 cumulative GPA, and she is eligible for the 2025-26 America East Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Poulakis has been named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad and America East Commissioner's Honor Roll every year at UNH, and she earned three consecutive America East All-Academic Team selections.
Her success in the classroom mirrors how she approaches competition.
"I thrive under deadlines and stress," Poulakis explained. "I think that developed as a skill from when I was younger, where I was always balancing so many different sports, teams, and commitments."
That same composure under pressure defined her senior season.
Poulakis captained the Wildcats to the 2025 America East title, as she scored the only goal in the championship game of the Wildcats' 1-0 overtime victory. She was named America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team.
"Winning America East was the best feeling ever. My whole four years we've been trying to win it," Poulakis said. "Our team has always been good enough to win, but this year we just had to do it. We have so much talent on our team, and celebrating this win with all of them was so cool."
She finished the 2025 season ranked No. 3 nationally in goals per game (1.21) and No. 4 in points per game (2.84) to earn NFHCA All-America Second Team honors, as well as Offensive Player of the Year by both ECAC and America East.
For Poulakis, the championship represented far more than a trophy – it represented her four years of persistence and drive.
In four years, she recorded 60 goals and 29 assists for a total of 149 points; those numbers rank second in program history in both goals and points, as well as fifth in assists.
The 2025-26 America East Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year boasts a 3.90 cumulative GPA, and she is eligible for the 2025-26 America East Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Poulakis has been named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad and America East Commissioner's Honor Roll every year at UNH, and she earned three consecutive America East All-Academic Team selections.
Her success in the classroom mirrors how she approaches competition.
"I thrive under deadlines and stress," Poulakis explained. "I think that developed as a skill from when I was younger, where I was always balancing so many different sports, teams, and commitments."
That same composure under pressure defined her senior season.
Poulakis captained the Wildcats to the 2025 America East title, as she scored the only goal in the championship game of the Wildcats' 1-0 overtime victory. She was named America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team.
"Winning America East was the best feeling ever. My whole four years we've been trying to win it," Poulakis said. "Our team has always been good enough to win, but this year we just had to do it. We have so much talent on our team, and celebrating this win with all of them was so cool."
She finished the 2025 season ranked No. 3 nationally in goals per game (1.21) and No. 4 in points per game (2.84) to earn NFHCA All-America Second Team honors, as well as Offensive Player of the Year by both ECAC and America East.
For Poulakis, the championship represented far more than a trophy – it represented her four years of persistence and drive.
In four years, she recorded 60 goals and 29 assists for a total of 149 points; those numbers rank second in program history in both goals and points, as well as fifth in assists.
Giving Back
While her on-field performance speaks for itself, Poulakis' impact extends beyond game days.
As a marketing intern with UNH athletics, she works behind the scenes to promote 20 Division I teams. For most college students, internships center on resumé building and networking. For Poulakis, her internship with the UNH Athletic Department is about giving back to the community that shaped her.
"I grew up seeing people do the behind-the-scenes work for my teams to promote us and get more people to come to our games," Poulakis said. "When you see people put in the work for your team, it makes you want to do it for other teams."
Her experience managing her high school team's Instagram account gave her a strong foundation, but seeing collegiate athletics from a marketing perspective has only deepened her appreciation.
"It's crazy to see how much work goes into it and how many people contribute," Poulakis said. "You appreciate it more when you know that that many people want to bring in crowds for your games and ultimately want you to be successful."
Her work with UNH athletics off the field continues to mirror her identity as an athlete: putting her team first, focusing on the details, and being committed to elevating those around her.
As a marketing intern with UNH athletics, she works behind the scenes to promote 20 Division I teams. For most college students, internships center on resumé building and networking. For Poulakis, her internship with the UNH Athletic Department is about giving back to the community that shaped her.
"I grew up seeing people do the behind-the-scenes work for my teams to promote us and get more people to come to our games," Poulakis said. "When you see people put in the work for your team, it makes you want to do it for other teams."
Her experience managing her high school team's Instagram account gave her a strong foundation, but seeing collegiate athletics from a marketing perspective has only deepened her appreciation.
"It's crazy to see how much work goes into it and how many people contribute," Poulakis said. "You appreciate it more when you know that that many people want to bring in crowds for your games and ultimately want you to be successful."
Her work with UNH athletics off the field continues to mirror her identity as an athlete: putting her team first, focusing on the details, and being committed to elevating those around her.
The People Make the Place
For the four-time America East Offensive Player of the Week in 2025, the accolades and statistics matter, but they are not what she'll remember most.
"Everyone that I met here has made my experience great. My team was successful this year, and obviously they're all really talented players. But it's their personalities that made it such a fun and successful year. Field hockey's a sport where you come from everywhere – players from New Zealand, America, Canada, Europe, like everywhere. It's really cool to meet people from all around the world, and now they'll be my friends for the rest of my life."
Poulakis offers simple advice to anyone chasing big goals:
"It's all about hard work and commitment. If you value those two things, you'll be successful."
"Everyone that I met here has made my experience great. My team was successful this year, and obviously they're all really talented players. But it's their personalities that made it such a fun and successful year. Field hockey's a sport where you come from everywhere – players from New Zealand, America, Canada, Europe, like everywhere. It's really cool to meet people from all around the world, and now they'll be my friends for the rest of my life."
Poulakis offers simple advice to anyone chasing big goals:
"It's all about hard work and commitment. If you value those two things, you'll be successful."
What's Next
After graduating this spring, Poulakis will pursue her master's degree in Sports Management and Leadership while continuing to play field hockey in some capacity.
On the immediate horizon is playing for Canada's Women's National Team at the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Santiago, Chile from March 1-8. It will be a return trip to Santiago for Poulakis, who was on the Junior Women's National Team that competed at the FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup this past December.
On the immediate horizon is playing for Canada's Women's National Team at the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Santiago, Chile from March 1-8. It will be a return trip to Santiago for Poulakis, who was on the Junior Women's National Team that competed at the FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup this past December.
Players Mentioned
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