SportsLine ep. 3 from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.

The pressure to succeed on the field has become almost as important, if not more so, than what the athletes do off the field.

For field hockey midfielder Paulina Lee, her list of off-field activities is inconceivable. One wouldn’t believe she had time for her sport based on her resume.

“If you ever saw her resume, you would be impressed,” said Erin Dye, a teammate and fellow marketing major. “She is a large reason why other business majors and I have gotten more involved.”

That resume includes: a plethora of jobs for Alpha Kappa Psi, campus ambassador for Procter & Gamble for safe drinking water for children water, Boyne Resorts receptionist, junior accountant executive for Archer Inc., student marketing coordinator and assistant Chippewas Kids Club coordinator, and internship at Procter & Gamble, vice president of NCAA Student-Athletic Advisory Committee.

But that’s just outside of what she does when field hockey season comes around.

She won placement on the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association Division I academic squad, represented CMU at the inaugural NCAA Career in Sports Forum, was a Jane McNamara Scholar-Athlete recipient, also was a Chi Alpha Sigma (National College Athlete Society) 2011 inductee, was named a Dick Enberg Schloar-Athlete of the Year and 2011 Bill Boyden Leadership Award winner.

Not to mention she currently has a GPA ranging between 3.85-4.0.

Paulina’s parents, Betty and Paul Lee, emigrated from China to the U.S. to study in the states.

Her father Paul came from Hong Kong, attended Cornell for his undergraduate and attended the University of Rochester for his graduate studies, obtaining a PhD, as well as two masters degrees. He has also worked for Kodak Co. and Kodak-ITT Geospatial Systems.

Her mother Betty came from Macau and attended Nazareth College of Rochester during her undergraduate degree, and attended the Rochester Institute of Technology for her graduate studies where she received a Masters of Business Administration. She’s currently a bookkeeper at a Catholic church, but worked at Xerox Co.

Paulina also has an older sister, Christina Lee, who graduated from Cornell and works as a scientist for Johnson and Johnson, Inc.

“My parents have worked very hard to be where they are today,” Paulina Lee said. “My sister and I are also very close.”

Paulina’s work ethic both on and off the field most likely has a great deal to do with her parents ambitious approach for education, along with her high school atmosphere at Mendon High School in Pittsford, N.Y.

“In high school we were always encouraged to join a lot of things,” Lee said.

So that is what she did. Not just playing field hockey, she also played soccer and was involved in art classes, orchestra, choir, government, varsity club, French club, National Honors Society and advanced placement courses.

“There were little cliques in high school and she didn’t get into that, she actually brought them together,” said Peggy Smith-Lewis, Lee’s high school coach. “She took the leadership roles even if they weren’t appointed to her.”

Lee has appeared in 52 games, starting in 30, helping CMU advance to three Mid-American Conference semifinals since coming to CMU. Her highlights include scoring on a penalty stroke in a shootout against Ohio and having the winning assist last season against Providence.

But despite all she is involved in, she still has one true love.

“One of things I loved was the team and coaches Cristy (Freese) and Earl (Maris),” Lee said. “There were also a couple older girls who I had played on club teams with, so I had a family out there already.”

Sophomore Erin Dye led the Central Michigan offense with a team-best seven goals and 16 points. Her 66 shots and 3.30 shots per game were both ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference.

The St. Louis, Mo. native appeared in all 20 games, starting 18 of them at midfield. Her 1,324 minutes ranked second on the team behind senior captain Kim Sihota.

After the graduation of offensive powerhouse Kelly Jordan, Dye took over the top contributor spot helping the team have a perfect 2-0 record when Dye had multi-goal outings, scoring a pair against Missouri State (Oct. 16) and Ball State (Oct. 31).

Honorable Mention: Simone Lazar

As a true freshman, Simone Lazar started 19 of CMU’s 20 matches at midfield, playing 15 complete games. Her three assists were a team-best, tied with junior Brooke Sihota.

The Ontario native scored the game-winning goal on a penalty shootout against Ohio, and following the season was selected as an alternative to the Canadian Junior National Team.

Honorable Mention: Anastasia Netto

Following the graduation of both experienced goaltenders last season, junior Anastasia Netto stepped up as CMU’s starter in 18 games this season, posting a 2.68 goals against average. Her .697 save percentage was tied for third in the conference.

She finished the season 6-12, recording a MAC-best 115 saves in 19 appearances. Ohio’s Courtney Seiders was second with 109 saves in three more appearances.

Central Michigan freshman Simone Lazar has been selected to receive such an honor as a reserve for the Canadian junior national field hockey team.

“When we recruited her, one of Simone’s questions was could she still pursue her aspiration to join the Canadian national team, and we’re very supportive of what she does,” said CMU head coach Cristy Freese.

Lazar took part in the U-18 Canadian Cup during summer 2010 and was scouted along with 39 other players to be invited to a field hockey camp in August. The group was cut down to 24, and those advanced to the second round of tryouts in January along with an additional 16 players.

By the end of the tryouts, the junior national team was built of 18 players and six more were picked as reserves, including Lazar.

“Making the national team is like every player’s dream, so it’s just one step in the right direction for me,” Lazar said.

The team scheduled its first tour for March 13-20, when it will play a four-game series against the USA women’s U-19 team in San Diego, Calif.

Lazar said the team will schedule other tours in which they will rotate the reserves into the lineup, but “the CMU season comes first” when those tours coincide with the school’s schedule.

“During our fall season, her number one commitment is to us,” Freese said. “The times she may have some Canadian commitments that would be her first obligation would be when we’re not in season.”

Freese said that playing for the two separate teams would help Lazar in different ways.

“We think we’re providing ways for her to improve her individual game and make her better for the Canadian team, but I also think the Canadian team gives her a high level of play when she comes back to play at the Division I level with us,” Freese said.

The Etobicoke, Ontario, native made herself known in her debut season at CMU, being selected to the All-MAC tournament team. She started 19 games and appeared in all 20, picking up a team-leading three assists.

Her biggest shot came in the Oct. 2, 2010, game against Ohio, when Lazar netted the game-winning goal in a shoot-out at the end of regulation.

Her teammate, goaltender Anastasia Netto, took a similar responsibility in fall 2008, competing for the Trinidad & Tobago national team. During her time on the team, Netto played in countries that included Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay and the U.S.

“It gave her experience against a high level of competition and we gave her some better, individual goalkeeping practices to help her improve her overall game,” Freese said.

According to a statement by the conference, “The criticism is in violation of the Mid-American Conference’s sportsmanship bylaws.

“The Mid-American Conference expressed its appreciation for the support of the MAC sportsmanship policies by the Kent State administrators in this matter. The Mid-American Conference will have no further comment.”

The Chippewas ended Kent State’s two-year home conference winning streak, beating the Golden Flashes 195.100-194.875.

Soccer honored in Lansing

The Central Michigan women’s soccer team was honored by the Michigan Legislature Thursday for its outstanding academic achievement.

CMU finished the 2009-10 academic year with a 3.76 cumulative grade point average, the highest in the nation for the sixth consecutive year. It recorded a 3.73 GPA in 2009 and 3.70 in 2008.

State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton), State Rep. Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) and greeted the team in Lansing to recognize their academic achievements.

The Chippewas went 16-5-1 in 2010, winning the Mid-American Conference championship and making their second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

Field hockey announces recruiting class

Head coach Cristy Freese announced six players as part of the 2011 CMU field hockey recruiting class.

Joining the Chippewas next season include three backs: Jordyn Brengosz (Arrowhead High School/Nashotah, Wis.), Tiffany Cioppi (Williamsville North High School/Getzville, N.Y.) and walk-on Alicia Hutchison (Parkland High School/Allentown, Pa.). Others entering the program are forward Elizabeth Momeyer (Trafford High School/Harrison City, Pa.), midfield/forward Mary Alice Moore (Miller Place, N.Y.) and walk-on midfielder Maureen Riley (Louisville Du Pont High School).

Two earn MAC honors

Two different athletes earned Mid-American Conference honors this week.

Senior forward Kaihla Szunko was named MAC West Player of the Week after recording her 16th double-double of the season in Saturday’s 78-72 win against Kent State. Szunko finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

CMU junior thrower Kevin Mays was named MAC Field Athlete of the Week for his fourth-place finish in the weight throw at the Akron Invitational, recording a career-best toss of 65 feet, 9 inches.

The CMU track programs host the Jack Skoog Open Friday.