Make Mansfield Yours is a weekly feature on GoMounties.com that highlights a current Mansfield University student-athlete or alumni on why they chose Mansfield and what makes the university special to them. The feature aligns with NCAA Division II's brand of Make It Yours that allows student-athletes to shape their athletic and academic experience to be exactly what they want it to be.

Alycia Pici
Class of 2013
Biology
Field Hockey

Why did you choose Mansfield University?
I chose Mansfield for the small class size, fantastic biology department, the close community and family feel, and the fact that it felt like my home away from home.

What makes Mansfield University special to you?
Mansfield allowed me to grow professionally in my career and allowed me to establish foundations in athletics that I use in my career as a coach and teacher. The professors I had during my time at Mansfield were fantastic and allowed me to hone in on my interests within my major. Overall, Mansfield still feels like a place that I can call home.

How did your experiences at Mansfield University benefit your career/personal life following graduation?
Mansfield shaped me into the person I am today in my career by allowing me to grow into a great leader and role mole for my students and athletes. I use my past experiences as teachable moments and as learning experiences. As a Club field hockey coach, Mansfield allows me to provide professional references and suggestions for what to look for in a college and the continued contacted with individuals at the college for questions and help. The rigor of studies at Mansfield allowed me to achieve success in my masters program and obtain a 4.0 GPA as a result of the constant research projects we conducted in the science department and the opportunity to present findings to others.

Favorite memory at Mansfield
Beating Bloomsburg my senior year 4-2 for the first time, It was such an accomplishment to have before I ended my playing career.

Advice you would give to a current Mansfield student-athlete
Cherish your time, work hard and give everything your all. You will never get another chance to play at the level you are at now, so leave it all on the field, walk away from every game knowing that you did everything you could, and you have no regrets. Most of all HAVE FUN, you have been given the opportunity of a lifetime, cherish it!


If you are a current or former Mansfield University student-athlete and would like to be featured on Make Mansfield Yours, please fill out the submission form