James Nedock/ THE POST Kim Wickman fights for the ball with her teammates in practice. Wickman and her teammates were getting prepared yesterday for this weekend's games against Miami and Louisville.

Her name may not always be seen in the newspaper articles, but Kim Wickman is the type of athlete who, when it comes down to it, makes the crucial, game-winning plays on the field, Ohio Field Hockey Head Coach Shelly Morris said.

Morris said Wickman, the sweeper on defense, is one of the most consistent and solid players on the team.

"(Wickman) is the backbone of our defense; she's an unsung hero," Morris said.

"She comes with a lot of plays and makes a lot happen on the field."

Wickman started playing field hockey in the seventh grade. Before that time, she battled it out as the lone girl on the boys' soccer team. Because her high school in Oley, Pennsylvania did not have a girls' soccer team, Wickman's parents directed her toward field hockey. Oley High School, along with many other high schools around Philadelphia, had a girls' field hockey program, Wickman said.

"Field hockey is just huge on the East Coast, especially around my area," Wickman said. "There are a lot of girls on (Ohio University's team), at least six of us, from that area."

After high school, Wickman moved into a starting role on Ohio's team and has started ever since. Wickman, now in her senior year, said she's come a long way since her freshman year.

"I've learned a lot in the past few years, since Shelly's been here," she said. "There's obviously a big difference from me playing my freshman year to now. I don't feel as shy and scared basically."

Morris said she thinks Wickman's performance makes her a leader on the field.

"She leads by her play," Morris said. "She may not be as vocal with the team as the captains, but being a senior, she's definitely a leader on the field with the way she plays - and she's looked up to for that."

As a sweeper, Wickman controls the defense along with the goalie. Wickman said the defense often gets overlooked in field hockey.

"Defense doesn't get the recognition it deserves, it's always who scored the goals," Wickman said.