Adam Nussbaum: Take me through a typical in-season day.

Amanda Magadan: We lift three days a week, usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday, train from 4:30-6:30, and then have games on Friday and Sunday, or just Saturday.

AN: What other sports have you played and when?

AM: I played softball from when I was eight years old until high school and was supposed to play in college.

AN: When did you start playing field hockey?

AM: When I was a freshman in high school. I was just looking for a sport to play in the fall.

AN: Who has been the most influential figure throughout your field hockey career?

AM: Jennifer Stone. She’s the coach here at Lafayette and believed in me and really pushed me to succeed. She told me about the whole process for going about joining the USA U21 Team and is the main reason why I was able to play on it.

AN: What was your recruitment process like?

AM: I was originally looking to play softball in college, but still went to college field hockey clinics. I was planning on going to one at Yale and then decided to go to one at Lafayette the week before for additional practice. From there I spoke to the Lafayette coach, who is now retired, and was considering playing both softball and field hockey. That idea was quickly shot down so I decided to quit softball and play field hockey here. The only other school I looked into was Quinnipiac, but I ultimately chose Lafayette because of the direction of the program and sense of community at the school.

AN: What is the team doing to prepare for the upcoming season?

AM: A lot of our preparation has to do with perfecting the basic skills suck as passing and receiving and the first tough. Additionally, we’re improving our mental game and solidifying that aspect of the game.

AN: What was it like to be selected to play in Holland on the USA U21 Team?

AM: It was my first time in Europe so that was pretty exciting. It was surreal and almost overwhelming at first because we were competing against Olympians and girls that are essentially bred to play these sports.

AN: How do you think this experience will help your play at Lafayette?

AM: It made me a strong and overall better player on the field and taught me how to manage the center of the field as a center-mid. It also boosted my confidence and showed me what the highest level of competition is like and how to match up with it.

AN: Did you have to make any changes to your personal game to adapt to the style of the team?

AM: Well it’s a much faster-paced game because of the higher degree of play. I had to make quick decisions and be focused and mentally checked in at all times.

AN: What was the most memorable part of playing for the National Team?

AM: Just seeing how everyone progressed both as a team and individually throughout the tournament and playing against these incredible athletes. It took a lot of hard work but we grew together as a team and meshed together. It was an incredible learning experience that I’ll always keep with me and I’m very thankful to have been a part of it.

AN: What’s your favorite vacation spot?

AM: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

AN: What’s your favorite food?

AM: Chinese food.

AN: If you could meet one celebrity, who would it be?

AM: Jennifer Lawrence.

AN: What is your favorite movie?

AM: Dumb and Dumber.

AN: What don’t people know about you?

AM: I can fit 33 gumballs in my mouth.