Egusquiza Counts Her Goals
While her teammates on Rider’s field hockey team were juggling their time between practice and their studies, midfield/forward Virginia Egusquiza faced another challenge during her freshman year on campus.
Egusquiza, now a sophomore International Business and Business Administration dual major from Getxo, Spain, had studied Spanish, Basque and English since she was a young student, but she said she still needed to adjust to the English language because of the prevalent American accent.
Despite the language obstacle, Egusquiza overcame it with flying colors, said Dan Hussong, assistant coach of Rider’s field hockey team. “She has to work twice as hard with that barrier,” Hussong said. “She had a 3.4 GPA her first semester. She just applies herself so diligently.”
An academically and athletically distinguished student and field hockey player, Egusquiza was named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year, First Team All-NEC pick and a NEC Academic Honor Roll last year.
“She’s just one of those people who are going to be successful because she works hard with whatever task we give her,” Hussong said. “She’s as hard working in the classroom as she is on the field.”
Earlier this summer, Egusquiza was one of 23 athletes selected to try out for the Junior World Cup Games as a member of Spain’s national 21-and-under team. She made the team, which placed 13th in the 16-team tournament in Boston in August.
Egusquiza, who began playing club field hockey when she was 6 and has competed internationally, was recruited by Rider and Syracuse University through AGM Sports, which offers services and scholarships in American colleges and universities for international athletes.
“I decided to come to Rider because the campus is smaller, and I liked the coaches and team,” she said. “But I would not have been able to come to Rider without a scholarship. That’s why it is a huge opportunity for me to be here.”
In the future, Egusquiza plans to work for an American-based company back in Spain. She knows her time abroad and her background in various languages and cultures would make her valuable candidate.
“I feel employers not only look at your knowledge but your experience,” Egusquiza explained.
Susan Denbo, professor of Business Policy and Environment and Egusquiza’s academic adviser, said her student’s varied and positive encounters will serve her well after she graduates.
“Virginia recognizes that academics is important to her. She balances her classes and sports very well,” Denbo said. “She registers early, and she knows what she wants.”
Hussong said the coaching staff recruited Egusquiza because they saw was one of the superior players of her age group in Spain and knew she would blend well with the team.
“The team is actually a very cohesive team. They all like each other and are all best friends. Virginia goes home with her teammates on the weekends for home-cooked and for Thanksgiving,” Hussong said. “When you put a high level player like Virginia into your program, it lifts the level play among other members of the team.”
