Nov 17, 2005
By Mike Rubin/ Correspondent
She may only be 21 years young, but Taylor Kloss has developed into one of the country's top field hockey athletes.
After leading the University of Massachusetts at Lowell field hockey team to a Division 2 NCAA championship, this Georgetown native has finished her athletic career in style.
The Nov. 11 game went into two overtimes before Harwich native Joanna DeLuze stole the ball from a Bloomsburg (Pa.) College player from 30 yards out and beat their goalie low on the right side at 92:01 of the game. After years of chomping at the bit, the River Hawks were champions.
"We [had] a great team this year, and the chemistry was unbelievable," said Kloss, a forward and midfielder as well as a captain for the River Hawks. "There's definitely a special bond with everyone here, and it's just been an unbelievable experience for me while I've been here."
Originally born in Malden, Kloss moved to the Georgetown area during middle school years. It was also during that time where she developed a passion for field hockey.
"I remember watching my older sister [Rachel] play and I knew that's what I wanted to do," said Kloss. "[Field hockey] just seemed like so much fun, and I just wanted to give it a shot. It just seemed so intense, and the more I watched [Rachel] play, the more certain I was to go out for the team."
It didn't take long for Kloss to develop into one of the Royals' top players. After seeing limited time during her freshman season, the budding star continued to hone her skills in the off-season, participating in several field hockey camps.
Sticking to a rigorous workout regimen in the off-season, Kloss quickly earned All-League honors, while leading the Royals to several successful seasons during her high school career.
"Playing high school field hockey was a lot of fun for me," said Kloss. "We just seemed to get better every year, and we had a lot of great chemistry back when I was playing in Georgetown.
"We were all there to pick each other up, and we motivated each other to do better on the field," Kloss added. "I think that the chemistry we have now on this team, was very similar to the one I had back when I was in high school."
Following an impressive senior season, for which she was named the 2001 Cape Ann League player of the year, Kloss was heavily recruited by several area colleges, before choosing UMass-Lowell.
"I just knew that [UMass-Lowell) was a great program, and I was excited about playing for coach [Shannon Hlebichuck]," said Kloss. "I knew right away, that UMASS-Lowell was the right school for me, and I couldn't wait to get things started."
Since her freshman year, Kloss has appeared in every game for the Riverhawks. Not only has she served as the team's iron woman, but also has emerged as one of the program's top leading scorers. Through three years prior, the standout has posted 16 goals and nine points.
"At first there was a bit of an adjustment playing at the college level," said Kloss. "But after a while I just got used to it, and I just kept working hard to improve my game. I met so many new people, and have made a lot of friends that I'm sure I'll have for the rest of my life."
Not only has Kloss served as an instrumental factor on the field, but has emerged as a proven leader off of it.
"She's a great teammate, and she's got such a great personality," said coach Shannon Hlebichuk. "She's like a breath of fresh air, and she just picks everyone up. She's a great motivator and she's such a pleasure to coach. She loves the game, and she's such a great player to coach."
During Kloss' successful career at UMass-Lowell, she guided the River Hawks to a pair of NE-10 tournament championships, along with two appearances in the Division 2 Final Four. During her sophomore year, she nearly grabbed a National Championship before suffering a loss to Bloomsburg in the Division 2 finals.
Despite the loss, the experience was definitely a memorable one for Kloss.
"That was tough because we came so close, but it was definitely a great experience for me," said Kloss. "I remember that CBS [television network] was following us all around because we were in the [National Championship] and that was just incredible. I told my friends back home about it, and they couldn't believe it."
In her junior year, Kloss was anointed captain, and she definitely didn't disappoint. While she continued to wreak havoc among the opposition, she guided the River Hawks to another successful season along with another NE-10 Championship. Perhaps Kloss' most previously memorable experience (before this year's title game) was last year's River Hawk loss to Bentley in the Division 2 National Semifinals.
"We played in the middle of a snowstorm and it was like the 'Snow Bowl' up in Foxboro," said Kloss. "There was three inches of snow on the grounds, and some of the parents came and helped shovel the field so we could play. Even though we [lost], it was just one of those games, I'll remember for a long time."
Continuing her success in field hockey, Kloss once again guided the Riverhawks to another exciting season. Not only has she paved the way for a 20-3 title-winning mark, but also has compiled 10 points, all from goals.
"It's been another great year," said Kloss. "We have a great team, and a great coach, and I can't believe it's [over] for me."
With her collegiate career in its twilight, Kloss plans to graduate with a degree in Marketing with a concentration in public relations.
"I know my experience as a field hockey player, will help me when I graduate and go into the real world," said Kloss. "These past four years have been a great ride."
