Former Pelicans ace chosen as captain of university side in USA

A hockey player from Lynn has been elected as captain of her university team in the United States of America for 2025.Former Pelicans player Poppy Beales will lead the Yale field hockey team after being chosen by her fellow players last month.A delighted Beales said: “Being voted captain truly is an honour and it is a role I’m extremely excited to take on.”“YFH means a lot to me. There have always been incredible role models that I’ve looked up to and I am excited for my class to take on the senior leadership role as we build on the foundations they’ve set.”Beales is a two-time first-team All-Ivy League player and first-team NFHCA All-Mideast Region honoree.This season she notched six goals for the team and started all 16 games for the second season in a row. She has totalled 39 starts in three seasons.She seemed destined for sporting stardom from an early age and was also a keen golfer at Middleton Hall Golf Club before leaving for the States. Beales, who also played for Harleston Magpies Hockey Club and was an U18 England trialist three years ago, pointed to the team’s decisive win against Cornell earlier this year as one of the highlights of her career. “One of my most memorable moments with the team was our 5-0 victory over Cornell this season,” she said.“It was a true team effort, with everyone playing their part. From the moment we arrived at the field for our pregame warm-up, the energy was high, and we were all focused and ready.We executed offensively and were dominant defensively for the full 60 minutes. “That match felt like a culmination of all the hard work we’d put in. Running onto the field at the final whistle to celebrate with the team was an incredible feeling.”Yale head coach Melissa Gonzalez revealed that Beales embodies the ideal characteristics of a Yale field hockey player. “Poppy exemplifies everything that Yale Field Hockey stands for: humility, respect, and an insatiable drive to grow and develop,” she said.“Her work ethic is unparalleled, and she leads by example; her actions always speak louder than words. “Poppy sets the tone for the team with her resilience, her hunger for improvement, and her commitment to becoming the best version of herself.”Gonzalez added that Beales has the leadership skills needed to excel in her new role next year.“Poppy is a selfless leader,” said Gonzalez.“She celebrates the success of her teammates and always gives her all for the betterment of the team. “Her passion for each individual’s success and her care for the team is felt in everything she does.”We are incredibly excited to see Poppy step into this leadership role. Her authenticity, passion and dedication will elevate everyone around her as she leads with her heart.”