Meet Our Field Hockey Mentors
Better Together is excited to announce its sport-specific mentorship program. Athletes can be matched with a field hockey mentor who plays at the collegiate or high school level. Mentors can help the student-athlete navigate their physical, mental, and emotional journey and the challenges they will face on and off the field. Using resources from Better Together and their own experiences, Mentors will help the younger generation of athletes have the tools for a better chance of happiness and success on and off the turf.
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Claire Danahy
UMass Amherst, Class of 2024
Major: Business Analytics and Sport Management
Sport: Field Hockey
Athletic Background:
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USA Field Hockey National Team
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Chelmsford High School Field Hockey
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NorthEast Elite Field Hockey Club
Personal Statement:
“I want to be a mentor for aspiring college athletes because I know firsthand how challenging and rewarding the journey can be. My five years in college athletics taught me so much, and I want to share my story- the highs and lows-to encourage others navigating similar paths. College sports can be overwhelming, and having someone who’s been through it can make a real difference. I want to be that support system."
Grace Schulze
Northwestern University, Graduate Student
Major: Management
Sport: Field Hockey
Athletic Background:
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Undergraduate at Princeton University
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Greenwich Academy and AGH Field Hockey alum
Personal Statement:
“I want to be a mentor because I’ve lived the highs and lows of competitive field hockey—from injuries and limited playing time to the intensity of the recruiting process. I’m here to be a steady, supportive resource for young athletes navigating those same challenges.”
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Zoe Gitlin
Merrimack College, Class of 2028
Major: Political Science
Sport: Field Hockey
Athletic Background:
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Ridgefield High School – Varsity Field Hockey (Honorable Mention)
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Field Hockey Clubs: FHCC, AGH
Personal Statement:
"As an athlete, I know how challenging the journey can be—especially when it comes to mental health, which isn’t talked about enough in sports. That’s why I’m passionate about mentorship. I want to be a resource for young athletes who feel like they have no one to turn to, helping them build confidence, resilience, and a strong support system."
Emma McCann
Middlebury, Class of 2028
Major: Political Science
Sport: Field Hockey, Lacrosse
Athletic Background:
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Newton Country Day High School
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Mass Elite
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Wizards Field Hockey Club
Personal Statement:
“I'm an athlete at Middlebury College, where I play both field hockey and lacrosse. In high school, I was fortunate to captain my field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse varsity teams while also competing at the club level in each sport. Balancing multiple sports taught me invaluable lessons about dedication, resilience, and finding joy even during challenging moments.
Throughout my athletic career, I've been guided and shaped by mentors who believed in me and helped me navigate the journey of competitive sports. I'm excited to be this mentor for others as a part of Better Together, helping younger athletes work through the pressures of their sport, reinforce their love for the game, and develop both as players and people”
Meet Our Team Leaders
Daphne Faldi
Co-Founder
Director of Mentor Training and Community Outreach
Dr. Kimberly O'Brien, PhD, LICSW
Co-Founder
Director of Programs
Maura McCarthy
Co-Founder
Coordinator of Marketing and Community Outreach
This platform allows seasoned student-athletes to mentor and guide younger athletes by sharing their life experiences and complimenting our structured Better Together Mental Health Literacy and Leadership programming.
Mentorship involves a combination of clinician-facilitated topic-specific group sessions and six (6) one-on-one virtual Zoom sessions with a designated Better Together Mentor. The mentor and the mentee will engage around the Better Together course content at their own set agreed-upon times. Mentors will be compensated for all sessions.
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Lead by Dr. Kimberly O'Brien, PhD, LICSW
Better Together provides customizable programming to support athletes’ mental health and well-being throughout your athletes-development. We aim to optimize the processes of wellness, balance, success, and happiness. We provide each athlete with a current or former college athlete who will support, inspire, and mentor your athletes. While you improve your athlete’s athletic skills, we improve your athlete’s mental skills. Our curriculum and practical tools will help each athlete find the best version of themselves.