Jessie Mauro

My hockey background

I started playing hockey when I was 12 as a third sport alongside my academy football at Derby County, and my county tennis, but by the age of 15 I realized it was hockey that I wanted to concentrate on.  I now love it!

I started playing hockey for school alongside junior club hockey but I was encouraged to start playing ladies hockey to help develop my game.  

This year, after a summer of trials, I was selected to be a part of Beeston Ladies Hockey Club’s 2^nd team, and made my National League debut in September.  The standard of coaching I have received has been amazing and playing alongside such talented people has improved my game hugely.  

At the end of this season I was invited to play for Beeston Ladies’ 1^st team in the Premier League and at a National Cup Semi-Final (in which I scored), which was a huge honour and something I am incredibly proud of. 

I am also captain of Beeston’s U16 team, and we have qualified for the National Supra League finals (top 8 teams in England) for the last two years. In addition I  am part of the leadership team for the Beeston Talent Academy, and have been selected to play in the end of year festivals for the last two years. The Talent Academy is an England Hockey U18 banding of regional players selected as being those with potential to develop their hockey to a high level.

My favourite position to play is screen as I am very good at reading the game and ball distribution.  Being in the middle of the pitch allows me to be a link between the forwards and defence and so I can use my positional knowledge to help others.  However, this season for the ladies teams I have played many games as an inside forward as my speed has been a big advantage in making attacking runs/leads. 

Having been at a football academy since the age of 8 I have always been around people playing sport at a high level.  I love all aspects of elite sport training, from the technical and tactical aspects through to strength and conditioning.  S & C was an integral part of the football training I received and since leaving the academy I have continued to use a personal S & C coach weekly alongside my hockey to maintain and constantly improve my fitness levels.

Why I want to play college hockey

I am extremely keen to move to the USA to continue my studies and play sport in a country where athletes are celebrated.  Sport really is my passion and my dream is to turn my love for this into a career; whether that be playing professionally or helping others develop their skills in a coaching capacity.