LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When the Bellarmine field hockey team travels to St. Charles, Missouri, to face the Lindenwood Lions and the Seton Hill Griffins on Friday and Saturday, it will be a homecoming of sorts for about a half dozen Knights from the St. Louis area. But for one of those six, it will be the last trip to compete against a "hometown" school.

Senior Alex Ojeda grew up in Edwardsville, Illinois, a town near the Mississippi River that is just 45 minutes or so from Lindenwood's campus, but there's no doubt that her loyalties are firmly entrenched in Louisville. Throughout her college career, the business administration/communications double major has demonstrated a deep affection for Bellarmine, and this year she is serving as president of Knights Nation, the student pep club. 

Ojeda said she has been one of the Knights' most ardent fans since even before matriculating at BU and becoming part of the field hockey team. "My visit before my freshman year was the big hype of winning the (D-II men's basketball) national championship.  I think coming into that environment was what sparked my interest and made me want to be involved in athletics beyond playing field hockey," she said.

That experience also solidified a swift recruitment process for the Edwardsville native. "I played for a big public high school where field hockey really wasn't its forte; we basically played on a dirt field," Ojeda said. "I got something in the mail from Bellarmine and saw it had field hockey. I came for a visit in December, and I enrolled the next spring, so it was a pretty quick process, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

A self-described lifelong sports fan, Ojeda said she entered college and immediately became involved in Knights Nation and has served as one of its officers the past three years.  As an athlete herself, Ojeda has a unique perspective that has helped with her promotion of Knights athletics. 

"Playing field hockey — a sport that doesn't have the high profile of basketball or lacrosse — I know on a personal level what it's like to come to games that aren't as highly attended, and I think that perspective will help me down the road (as Knights Nation president)," Ojeda said.

Looking back on her playing career, Ojeda can be proud of her accomplishments.  Last year she was named second-team All-Conference and has amassed 19 career goals.  This year, she is one of the Knights' leaders on the offensive end.  Six games into the season, she leads the team in shots with 17 and has chalked up three goals and an assist.

However, Ojeda's personal goals for this season can't be measured with statistics.  She said her overarching goal is simple:  "To have no regrets.  This is my last season.  After each game, I want to think I wouldn't have done anything differently.  I don't want to have nightmares about a pass that I missed or a shot that I didn't get."

Looking back over her field hockey career at Bellarmine, Ojeda tends to reminisce the most fondly about the off-the-field aspects of being on the team.   "I love scoring; I love doing all that, but because we are such a traveling team I think a lot of the fun comes from the road trips," she said.

The Knights regularly travel by bus, including trips to destinations to the northeast that are more than 13 hours away. Because of all the time on the road, Ojeda said she and her teammates get creative with ways to pass the time.  "There was one trip where someone introduced blind karaoke," Ojeda said. "We covered our eyes, turned up the music loud in our ears, and we had to sing into the bus microphone. I don't think I've ever laughed as hard in my life as listening to all the girls singing their songs."

For the Knights, this weekend's four-hour drive to the St. Louis area is considered a short trip, so there may not be time for karaoke.  However, the trip is an important one for the Bellarmine team.  At 2-1 in the ECAC (3-3 overall), Bellarmine is in second place behind Limestone.  A victory over Lindenwood on Friday would give the Knights a season sweep over the Lions and keep their league title hopes alive.

Game time on Friday is 5 p.m. CDT (6 p.m. EDT).  On Saturday, Bellarmine will step out of conference to play Seton Hill in a neutral site game on Lindenwood's campus at 11 a.m. (noon EDT).  Fans can follow all of the action on live stats here.