Gloria Nantulya may be the only player on the Syracuse field hockey team who can boast netball and rounders on her athletic rsum. And though she also grew up with a passion for soccer playing with the boys’ team at Braeburn Primary School in Kenya, she has traded her soccer cleats for a stick.

‘Soccer is my first love,’ said Nantulya, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and lived there until she was 15. ‘I’ve played ever since I could kick a ball. I played a lot of soccer in my life and between the two sports, I think I play field hockey better than I play soccer. In the end, field hockey is better off for me.’

And for the Orange. Although the freshman only played sparingly in SU’s season opener against Temple, Orange head coach Kathleen Parker is excited about what Nantulya has to offer.

‘So far it’s her refreshing attitude that’s making an impact,’ Parker said.

Nantulya stood on the sideline during SU’s game against Richmond last week, intently watching the play on field so she could, in future contests, provide the necessary ploys to help Syracuse (1-2) to victory.

In addition to netball (think handball) and rounders (think baseball), Nantulya played track and field, basketball, softball and cross country competitively in high school. She moved from Nairobi to Brookline, Mass., in 2001, when she was a junior in high school. Her family moved when her father, Vinand, took a job at Harvard to become a research scientist.

Nantulya picked up her athletic exploits and leadership right where they left off. Through 2003, Nantulya served as the field hockey captain at Brookline High School.

‘I don’t think I can live without playing a sport. I have to,’ she said. ‘It’s just a love of mine. Sports, sports, sports.’

After Nantulya graduated in 2003, her father took advantage of another job opening, this time in Geneva, Switzerland. Currently, Vinand is a Senior Health Adviser for the ‘Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.’ Nantulya tagged along for a year and got involved with the Black Boys Hockey Club and various club soccer teams while studying French.

But then Nantulya knew it was time to go to higher learning. The only question that remained was where. One thing was for sure, Nantulya knew it would definitely be in the United States.

‘In England you take classes knowing what major you want to have,’ Nantulya said. ‘In America, you come in and then you can decide (your major) your second year. There is much less pressure not having to know your major in advance.’

Because of her studies at Braeburn and Hillcrest Secondary – both British schools in Nairobi – fluency in English was not an issue. But finding a Division I-A school where she could walk on the field hockey team did not come with guarantees.

Through heavy research and constant contact with Orange assistant coach Mary McCracken, Nantulya opted for Syracuse.

She’s adjusted well on campus. Though Parker admits some of Nantulya’s stick skills need to be fine-tuned − possibly because Nantulya didn’t play in Switzerland − the Kenyan’s enthusiasm is rubbing off.

‘Here’s somebody coming from a different background,’ Parker said. ‘From day one she was comfortable and fit in and made some very insightful comments. It’s nice to have a perspective outside of the world we’re tunneled in.’

‘She shows no anxiety whatsoever as far as I see,’ McCracken said. ‘She’s pretty relaxed.’

For now, Nantulya devotedly concentrates in practice, on the sideline and in those game moments.

‘Right now I’m focused on field hockey,’ she said. ‘I’m not looking for anything else.’

Published on September 9, 2004 at 12:00 pm