Krista Page had played field hockey at Catawba College and decided to make the sport a part of her adult life by accepting the head coaching position at Cocalico (Pa.) Senior High School 13 years ago.

Her daughter Jordan, though, originally wanted no part of field hockey. So when her mother dragged her and the Cocalico team to a summer field hockey camp run by former Old Dominion head coach Beth Anders, the younger Page was unwilling to leave the bleachers.

But once Jordan built up the courage to join everyone on the pitch, Krista Page immediately knew which sport her daughter should pursue.

“She really wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. It was either volleyball or cheerleading, and we decided to do field hockey,” Jordan’s mother said with a laugh. “She just started playing in the seventh grade and found some success in it, and here we are.”

Now a junior, Jordan Page has established her role as a defensive anchor for the No. 3 Orange (14-2, 3-2 Atlantic Coast). She has started every game this season, tallying seven assists and shutting down a number of skilled opponents along the way.

However, Syracuse is more than just a school or a team for Page. It’s her second home.

“I really enjoy Syracuse, the atmosphere here, the coaching staff here and what the program represents,” she said. “Syracuse was the best fit for me.”

It was the final destination of a journey that began in 2005.

It all started during the summer of that year when Page finally picked up a stick at Beth Anders’ camp and trotted onto the field, not thinking her decision would completely alter her future.

But as those in attendance would soon find out, she was a natural. Even Anders, who led Old Dominion to nine national championships during her illustrious coaching career, took notice immediately.

“You could tell she was going to be good from the get-go,” Anders said. “She could see someone do something and repeat it on the spot.”

It might have been the first time the two worked together, but it wouldn’t be the last.

Page said her multiple visits to Old Dominion shaped her as a player. She received one-on-one lessons from Anders and saw what it was like to play for a powerhouse Division I program.

“It was beneficial in the fact that I got to play, and I developed my skills a little bit quicker than others,” she said. “Not just my skills. My knowledge of the game is greatly owed to that.”

That knowledge paid off in the high school ranks, as Page went on to score 66 goals for Cocalico.

Her lone regret was failing to win a state championship, Cocalico’s closest opportunity being a finals appearance in 2010.

That’s why Page had to choose a college team capable of winning a championship. Mother Krista said this desire, along with Jordan’s adulation for former Orange midfielder Shannon Taylor, led her daughter to Central New York.

Anders was disappointed that Page didn’t pick Old Dominion, but she still wished her the best.

“A player with her caliber, you would certainly want to coach on your team,” she said. “But that’s a family decision and I’m sure it was the right one for her.”

Anders also said that Page is one of the most coachable players she has ever worked with, one that rarely repeats mistakes and does whatever it takes to help the team.

Page’s current head coach, Ange Bradley, found that out when the junior accepted a position change earlier this season.

“When we shifted her from a midfield to a back, that was the single most growing moment of our team system and style of play,” Bradley said. “It allowed us to go from being a good team to a great team, and that really made a lot of difference in the way we play.”

Just as Page has been a catalyst for Syracuse in 2013, her family continues to be the biggest influence in her field hockey career. She said that none of her accomplishments would be possible without the support of her parents.

“They gave up a lot of themselves to help me and have me succeed,” she said.

Krista Page said her proudest moment as a parent came during Syracuse’s overtime loss to No. 1 Maryland on Oct. 18. It was during that game that, after watching Jordan develop as a player for the past eight years, she fully grasped how mature her daughter had become.

“She played out of her mind in my opinion that day,” Krista Page said as she fought back tears. “There were national team players on that field, and there she is shutting them down.

“It just brings tears to your eyes because you want nothing more than for your kids to do the best that they can do.”

Even Jordan is amazed by how far she has come since she stood up from that aluminum bleacher seat in 2005 and began the next chapter of her life. Although her main objective has yet to be achieved, she still finds complete fulfillment in her ability to handle any bounce on the field.

“We’re still striving to win a national championship here, which was an ultimate goal when I came to Syracuse,” Page said. “But it’s just going out, working hard, and seeing results happen. Just getting closer and closer to the ultimate goal that we all have here.”

Published on October 28, 2013 at 12:41 am

Contact Tyler: tfpiccot@syr.edu