Ten Questions for Field Hockey Senior Defender Tiffany Deinzer

By UMBC Retrievers News
You have led the nation in defensive saves all season. How cool is it to be able to say that you are the best in the entire country at something?
It’s pretty cool. I never thought before this year that I would ever be able to say that about anything. It kind of just snuck up on me. I assumed that after the first week I would never be able to say it again, but I just kept getting them.
In just one year, you’ve got more than twice your three-year career total of defensive saves. How do you explain your surge?
I really don’t know. I feel like we got a lot more aerial shots on corners this year, and that [goalie] Ashley Benitez was down logging for them, so I was up and I could just hit them out as I saw them coming in. That would be my only explanation.
You’re from California. What made you decide to come all the way across the country to go to school?
I really wanted to play field hockey, and UMBC offered me that opportunity and it offered me the chance to be close to Washington, D.C., which has really helped me get internships in [my major] political science. And once I came here, I loved the girls, I loved the campus, and it just ended up being a great fit–an unexpected fit because I was already close to making a decision when Coach Hartman called me and asked me to come out for a visit.
What will you miss most about UMBC after you graduate?
I’m definitely going to miss my team most of all. You get so close with a group of people after awhile, and it will be lonely without them.
Do you plan to stay involved in field hockey at all post-graduation?
Eventually, yeah, I’d like to coach. It’s something I love to do. I’m sure I’ll play on the side with club teams. But I would like to get a job, hopefully in legislative affairs in D.C., or for a state government. I’m also interested in applying for an internship position with the NCAA and working in athletic departments.
What are your emotions now that your collegiate field hockey career is over?
It’s sad. I feel like there are so many things left that I wanted to do with the team. I’m so grateful to have had this experience. I know so many people never get to do what I’ve done. But I always want more. If I could stay another year, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
What would you say is your greatest asset on the field?
My perseverance. I’ll never give up on myself, and I hope the girls on my team knew that I would never give up on them at all. No matter how many times I would get beat, I would do my hardest to get back in the play. I’m sure my coach would say my voice [is my greatest asset] because I’m always talking.
What has been your favorite moment on the field?
I would have to say it was this year when we beat Georgetown. Coming into the game I knew we could win, but I didn’t know if as a team we knew it. Coming back in the second half, scoring two goals and having 20 minutes left on the clock was hard because I knew it would be tough to hold the lead for that long. Then they had a corner with two minutes left, and I was able to stop the goal from going in. I felt like that was the most important save, the most important game for our team. It really helped push us to know we could do it.
What’s something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
Probably that I’m a closet softie. I put up this tough, mean front, as my teammates can attest to. I’m the first one to yell at them when they’ve messed up. But in the end, I’m the first person to cry at a sappy commercial or at a human interest piece on The Today Show.
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to read a lot. I like to shop, and I love to travel. It’s probably what I would love to do more than anything. My favorite place that I’ve gone most recently would be Paris. I went this winter and it was amazing. I’d love to go to Greece.