A university field hockey team has been cleared to play in the national championships just one week after the school cut its season short because of hazing allegations.
It's game on for East Stroudsburg University's women's field hockey team as they prepare for the NCAA District II Championships in Shippensburg this weekend.
"It is very exciting because we had something taken away but now we get a chance to show what we really can do out there." said ESU hockey player and junior Amanda McGuire.
Last week East Stroudsburg University put out a news release saying the team would be forfeiting last weekend's play-offs and at that point a chance at the championships because of hazing allegations.
According a complaint filed at the Monroe County district attorney's office, the allegations stem from an October 4 incident in which field hockey players were reportedly painting rocks near their field and then had members of campus police chase them around.
The team said it's a decades-old tradition. The school began investigating whether team members violated anti-hazing laws. In the meantime the univesity forced the team to forfeit the play-offs and end its season early.
The university however just announced it will allow the players to compete in the national championships.
"Moral has been great. We've been through some tough things but we are very excited. We want to compete. That is what we are all about," said ESU field hockey coach Sandy Miller.
"It was my last game. My last home game. It hit me really hard and then I thought we were done but now I can't explain the feeling. We are all so happy," said ESU field hockey senior captain Molly McNeil.
It is unclear why East Stroudsburg University officials changed their minds about letting the team play. Phone calls made to the university were not immediately returned.
It's game on for East Stroudsburg University's women's field hockey team as they prepare for the NCAA District II Championships in Shippensburg this weekend.
"It is very exciting because we had something taken away but now we get a chance to show what we really can do out there." said ESU hockey player and junior Amanda McGuire.
Last week East Stroudsburg University put out a news release saying the team would be forfeiting last weekend's play-offs and at that point a chance at the championships because of hazing allegations.
According a complaint filed at the Monroe County district attorney's office, the allegations stem from an October 4 incident in which field hockey players were reportedly painting rocks near their field and then had members of campus police chase them around.
The team said it's a decades-old tradition. The school began investigating whether team members violated anti-hazing laws. In the meantime the univesity forced the team to forfeit the play-offs and end its season early.
The university however just announced it will allow the players to compete in the national championships.
"Moral has been great. We've been through some tough things but we are very excited. We want to compete. That is what we are all about," said ESU field hockey coach Sandy Miller.
"It was my last game. My last home game. It hit me really hard and then I thought we were done but now I can't explain the feeling. We are all so happy," said ESU field hockey senior captain Molly McNeil.
It is unclear why East Stroudsburg University officials changed their minds about letting the team play. Phone calls made to the university were not immediately returned.
