The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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58 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2023 BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan field hockey has needed younger players to step up and de- liver this year as it tries to defend last season's Big Ten Tournament champion- ship, but two upperclassmen have been at the forefront of the team's efforts. Redshirt sophomore goalie Caylie McMahon and senior backfield captain Rosie Hope have been leaned on this year as prominent pieces, but the two have a history that predates their arrivals in Ann Arbor. The teammates reflected on their relationship in a recent episode of the "Conqu'ring Heroes" podcast, where they discussed how they met in England prior to arriving at Michigan. "Rosie has been an impactful player since she got here her freshman year and is a remarkable teammate," McMahon said. "One of the best teammates I've ever had. I actually had the privilege of meeting her during my gap year. "I played field hockey in England, and I actually met her over there and we laugh about it today that we both knew that we'd be friends for life since liter- ally the first day we met. She's such a solid player, super versatile, can put her at attacking center mid, defensive cen- ter mid, right back, right mid. She really does it all. "She's such a solid player for us and a really great leader. She's one of our cap- tains and definitely sets that standard of level of play, pace of play and really holds others accountable, which is needed. She's amazing, and I'm really honored to play with her here." Hope is an England native and played for the East Grinstead Hockey Club be- fore coming to U-M. She recalled her first encounters with McMahon across the pond. "I was still playing on my club team there at the time," Hope said. "She was training and playing with [my rival club], so we played against their team. She wasn't playing in that game, but I remember meeting her afterwards, and there was another alum there at the time as well, Meg Dowthwaite, who said 'Cay- lie is thinking about going to Michigan,' because she hadn't committed then and I was planning to go that January. "So, we met and got talking and then like a few weeks later Caylie ended up committing to Michigan. Ever since then, we've just become really close, re- ally good teammates and good friends. I graduate this year, but I'm sure I'll see Caylie again, all over the world." Did Hope have a role in bringing Mc- Mahon to U-M? She will not take full credit for it but hopes that there was some sort of pull that allowed that to happen. "I wouldn't go that far to say, but I hope I had a little bit of influence on her," Hope said. "I hadn't been to Michigan yet other than for my official visit at the time. But I remember I was super excited because I was delayed in going because of COVID, so I was itching to get out. I think she could probably sense a bit of that excitement and was like, 'Oh, maybe I want a piece of that.'" On the field, Michigan enters the final two games of the regular season with a 7-7 record after splitting a pair of home games against nationally ranked Big Ten opponents. The Wolverines dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to No. 10 Maryland on Oct. 13, but followed it up with a 2-1 win over No. 15 Penn State on Oct. 15. U-M field hockey will close out the regular season with a trip to Central Michigan on Oct. 22 before the finale at Michigan State on Oct. 27. The Big Ten Tournament is set for Nov. 2-5 in Ann Arbor. ❑ ❱ OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE Field Hockey Stars Caylie McMahon And Rosie Hope Reflect On Their Relationship Senior backfield captain Rosie Hope (15), a native of England, first met redshirt sophomore goalie Caylie McMahon (inset) when the younger player took a gap year and played on a rival club team in England before committing to Michigan. PHOTOS COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY