Britta Laurenson

About my hockey background

Before high school

Hockey is something I have been around my whole life. With my Dads side of the family playing for the Den Bosch hockey club in the Netherlands and with my Mum's endless passion for the sport playing for the New Zealand Masters team. I was always in and around the turf watching my Mum and she got an autograph stick in my hand as soon as I could walk! By 5 years old I was more than ready to jump into my hockey career! My mum coached me at the Mt Eden hockey club, all the way through from 5 to 13 years old. I co-captained various teams and, in the mixed grades, I was always. determined to be better than the boys and remember enjoying setting up counter attacks off flat stick tackles.

School hockey

I knew I wanted to take my hockey to the next level so in year 8 I compiled and submitted a successful scholarship application to Saint Kentigern College, a private presbyterian school ranked 6th in the country. I spearheaded this scholarship application myself, sourcing letters of recommendation and writing the application. This drive towards my goal led me into my first year of high school hockey with Saint Kentigern in 2022. 

In 2022, my first year of high school, I played for the schools 2XI, which had players up to 18 years old, and earned most valuable player of this team. Also in this first year, I was moved up into the 1XI to play in the Federation Cup national school girl tournament. In my next year in the team I was awarded with the Most Promising Hockey player award, in 2023.

Coached by Brett Leaver (Ex Blackstick and Olympian, 157 caps), during multiple campaigns at the Federation Cup we have broken through to the top 16, and the team continues on an upwards trajectory. 

Now in 2025, my second to last year of school, I am co-captain of the team. In this team I played many of my games in the attacking midfield, and this year have moved into free-man defense. In my first year as co-captain we have put a large emphasis on fostering a positive culture and I have taken my responsibility to lead by example on the field seriously. This has greatly developed my communication skills on the field.  In 2024 and 2025, I began coaching the Saint Kentigern girls U15A team and this has allowed me to grow my understanding of the structure of the game too. 

Club hockey

In 2022 I shifted clubs to Howick Pakuranga Hockey Club and was selected into the Premier Youth Girls Team, which had players aged up to 18. I played in this team from 2022-2024 and was part of the captaining group in my first year, as the youngest player in the team.  

In 2024 we topped our grade and won the Auckland competition, where, in the final, I scored in shootouts and got an assist. I then won the Just Hockey Scholarship prize in 2024.

In 2025, as a 16 year old I was brought into the Premier Women's Team coached by Blair Tarrant (Blacksticks Captain and Olympian, 217 Caps), playing all, and starting many games this season. This is the highest grade of club hockey in New Zealand and each weekend I play against Blacksticks and alongside New Zealand A players. This team is where I began to play in the outside defense. 

The increase in pace and my lack of experience compared to others in the team has led me to develop as a player at a much faster rate. I invite the challenge of playing at these higher levels and find the most fulfillment in the game when I am challenged. I think this team has developed my tackling the most and it is a skill I have been able to implement in my school team, setting up those counter attacks I loved so much when I was little. 

Regional

I have been involved in Auckland hockey development camps and tournament teams from 10 years old. In 2023 I was selected into the U15 team going on an exchange to Melbourne, Australia, to play against the Victoria U15 team. Following this, in 2024, I was invited to be apart of the U16 team going to Sydney, Australia, to play against the New South Wales U16 team and train with their U18 team. I was co-captain of this team in Sydney. This was my first taste of hockey abroad and opened my eyes to hockey beyond New Zealand. In 2025 I was selected for the Auckland U18’s team to play in the national competition. 

All these experiences have contributed to me as a player. Key aspects of my game include my vision to distribute, and technical efficiency to execute this. I have also put a lot of time into my 3D skills, which I utilize in more attacking positions. Finally defensively a skill of mine is shaping up to influence the path of the attacker, jabbing and flatstick tackling to cleanly win back the ball. 

Why I want to play college field hockey

I am drawn to the American College experience as a Student athlete, because firstly I would love to build a wide range of experiences. In a new culture, in a new hockey environment with players from all over the world. I hope to forge friendships and broaden my perspectives far beyond what I may have been capable of if I followed the traditional university path in New Zealand. Furthermore, I am a very goal oriented person, I think this will open up opportunities for me in both hockey and academics. 

Academics are something I have had an affinity for and put emphasis on throughout my education. In 2025, I have begun the IB diploma and am enjoying the challenge of this highly regarded course. So the balance between hockey and academics is something appealing to me. 

Finally the facilities and the care you receive as an athlete are second to none. I am looking to step into a team that plays high intensity, structured hockey and equally emphasizes academic performance. With a welcoming culture and high performance standards and goals for the team, as these are all qualities that I have personally. It excites me to be immersed in an environment where I am surrounded by people with shared passions.