Slipping off her helmet and gear, Avery Warwick (11) picks up her soccer bag, trades her blockers for gloves and her turf shoes for cleats. It’s a quick turnaround, but Warwick shifts from one cage to the other with subtle ease.

Warwick has been playing soccer for nearly her entire life, beginning at just 4 years old. She plays club for St. Louis Scott Gallagher and travels across the country to compete. Whether it’s a soccer ball or a field hockey shot, she thrives in the cage. Since beginning field hockey her freshman year, she has come to learn a lot about maintaining balance and priorities.

“I try to compromise the best I can,” Warwick said. “[I’ll leave] a practice 10 or 15 minutes early to be 10 or 15 minutes late to the next thing. There’s nights I get home at 9 p.m. and still have to start homework, shower and eat dinner. It’s my third year doing it, so I’ve gotten used to it.”

Despite having been a soccer goalie for much longer, stepping in the field hockey cage comes naturally to Warwick. She credits this to the training she has received and the footwork she has developed from playing soccer throughout the years.

“Playing soccer definitely helps for field hockey, because a lot of [being a] soccer goalie is about moving your feet and being on your toes,” Warwick said. “That definitely helps for field hockey goalie; it helps you be more athletic in the pads, because it’s a little hard to move in them. It helps with reading body language so that you can be able to make the save.”

The crossover between the two sports gives Warwick a unique and significant edge in the goal. Field hockey assistant varsity coach Carrie Lampe met Warwick when she began coaching at Ladue in 2024 and was instantly impressed by her talent.

“She has this incredible speed,” Lampe said. “She is not hesitant at all, whether it’s a big shot or somebody coming in tight on her, she’s able to withstand the pressure. That soccer ability has made her pretty brave and very consistent with her footwork. She has more natural instincts, and she can rely on that and her speed, so she’s harder to predict as a goalie.”

Even with her speed and natural instincts, Warwick admits the biggest challenge resides in the mental side of being a goalie. The team counts on her as the last line of defense in high pressure moments.

“[The mental aspect as a goalie] is definitely hard,” Warwick said. “Even though everyone tells you ‘it’s not your fault,’ you do put that weight on your shoulders. Since I’m the last person, if a goal is scored, they’re not going to think about the forward who let the pass through. They’re going to think about the goalie who didn’t make the save. You feel the pressure of the whole team on your back, and you feel like everyone’s depending on you. But sometimes, it’s not expected from you. It’s expected to go in and you were able to stop that.”

As Warwick looks ahead to the rest of the field hockey season, she has one major goal in mind. She hopes to raise the energy and motivate her teammates.

“A goal of mine is to make it to playoffs for club and state for field hockey,” Warwick said. “[I’m focusing on] keeping it positive and encouraging everyone.”