We were first introduced to Lone Star Field Hockey club when we met club founders, Una and Ali at a middle school field hockey scrimmage. How little did we realize the impact Lone Star and the Murdoch’s would have on our family’s lives. MK joined the club during indoor season her seventh grade year. The girls won the Stanford 7’s tournament that spring, and MK knew then she wanted to play college field hockey. Everyone was incredibly patient and kind - the girls all accepted MK into the fold instantly and she never looked back. MK was truly a beginner, field hockey was the first team sport she had played and the learning curve was steep – when her school coach saw her again that fall of 8th grade he was shocked at how much she had improved (a testament to the Lone Star coaches and playing model for sure!). When COVID shut the world down, Lone Star was MK’s lifeline to normality. She and Daisy were the only freshman on the u-19 team that fall and MK was the lone San Antonio player in the club at that point, she was also the least experienced player on the team. So much grace that year, so much learning! Age, hometown, school…none of that mattered…she was welcomed with open arms and made lifetime friendships across cities and grades. From recruiting events in the coldest parts of the Northeast to team trips to Florida, core memories were made along the way – both for our daughter and for us as parents. It is an understatement to say Lone Star is a family environment – for the four years of high school the club was our family. The friendships and the stories we can tell are all epic! Memorable moments – I think June 15th going into MK’s junior year. Watching her navigate the recruiting process and knowing that her hard work was going to pay off and she would play college hockey was a dream come true for her. To see her hard work and perseverance culminate in a commitment to a D1 program at a top academic institute was icing on the cake for us as parents. Also watching our daughter grow into a leadership role. Seeing her lead in her own style and willingly give of herself to help those behind her as she had seen others do for years. Also her vulnerability to reach out to older girls about how to best prepare for college hockey – the advice she received from Meg, Grebe, Kendall and Eliza was invaluable this summer. But that is one of our favorite Lone Star attributes, her teammates have always been there for her. We are incredibly grateful to the coaches at Lone Star. They knew our daughter well enough to know when to push her, when to support her. MK knew she could approach them with technical and tactical questions, but I think the conversations at the Churf and on Phipps also had major life lessons embedded in them. The character and dedication of the coaching staff was an amazing attribute to helping build our daughter into a strong competent player, but also a genuinely good person and teammate. She has a wicked sense of British humor that she surely did not pick up from her parents! As a family, we are incredibly grateful for the friendships, the lessons and the love of the game that Lone Star gave our daughter!

The Lonestar field hockey program has been a terrific experience for our daughter (currently U19 and a junior in high school). She started with Lonestar in middle school having never played the sport before. Lonestar's dedicated coaches, over the past several years, have provided her with both the skills and confidence to continuously improve her play. She has enjoyed her time with the other players and traveling to tournaments across the country. And, she is motivated by all of the older girls who have gone on to play in college. She aspires to their heights! I would encourage anyone to join Lonestar's club.

The Lonestar coaching staff, players, and parents have become like a second family to ours. Not only does my daughter look forward to boot camp weekends and out of town tournaments but so do I as a mother. We love reuniting with all the Lonestar girls and parents and have had the priviledge to spend time with some great families! Each and every player supports and encourages each other and their field hockey journey!!! My daughter’s field hockey skills were raised to a whole other level with the coaches and training programs Lonestar offers. As her game grew so did her love and passion for the sport. Her commitment to play at a D1 school would NEVER have been possible without Lonestar and the passion and support of her coaches. If you are considering field hockey at the collegiate level or just want to improve your game Lonestar is where it is at!

Our daughter has been playing with LS since her kindergarten days, We tried various indoor and outdoor sports prior to hockey and I still remember the smile on her face after her first hockey session and that smile hasn't faded. Lonestar has made her fierce, respectful, and kind. When she steps on the field she knows that 10 other folks from various backgrounds have her back and she has theirs. To the Raja family hockey teaches kids life skills, leadership, teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and an opportunity to meet people from all over the world. All of Lonestar's coaches volunteer for the passion of the sport, to share the happiness and joy that this sport has brought to them.