‘It’s best case scenario’: Former field hockey player returns to VCU

Arrick Wilson, Sports Editor

VCU assistant coach Shannon Pereira played her graduate season for the black and gold after three years at Saint Francis University.

After a professional field hockey and coaching career Pereira is back with the Rams.

“I definitely loved my time at VCU. And just being back, especially with the coaching staff that I know, it’s just great,” Pereira said. “It’s best case scenario.”

VCU head coach Stacey Bean coached Pereira at Saint Francis University, where Pereira earned All-Atlantic 10 honors in all three seasons, according to SFU Athletics. When Bean accepted the job with VCU in 2017, Pereira followed her after her senior year in 2018. 

Since then, Bean has led VCU to the highest winning percentage by any coach in program history, while winning an Atlantic 10 championship in 2020, according to VCU Athletics.

Bean went from coaching Pereira in the past to now coaching with her. Pereira brings an athletic mindset and mentality to the Rams, Bean said.

“Shannon [Pereira] is one of my top five favorites of all time, so to have her back is amazing,” Bean said. “She was a very, very good player, but as good as she is, and was as a player in her prime, she’s 10 times the person.”

Pereira took a role as the graduate assistant for the Rams in 2019, after her one season with the Rams, according to VCU Athletics. Pereira coached and played with current VCU graduate students Litiana Field, Janne Wetzel, Mackenzie Williams and Lynea Gregory.

Field said having Pereira is great for the older graduate students, as she has a connection with the players.

“Everybody respects her as a coach, doesn’t see her as … anything less than a coach or anything,” Field said. “She’s been very supportive. We love to have her back.”

The league’s head coaches voted Field and Wetzel into the A-10’s preseason First team, according to the A-10 website. Pereira said Field, Wetzel and other graduate students bring experience coming into the season.

“Just knowing that we’ve been to the championship game before and like what to expect,” Pereira said. “They definitely bring maturity, strength and just knowing what to expect.”

After leaving VCU as a graduate assistant in 2019, Pereira’s journey back to VCU began. Pereira said her intentions of playing overseas were halted due to COVID-19, but she eventually found a team to play with in the Netherlands.

“I knew I wanted to be back in the U.S., so finding DeSales [University] and being a GA [graduate assistant] there, I think was a great opportunity for me, to just to be coaching again,” Pereira said.

Pereira said she plans to share the experiences that shaped her career guiding players and aiding them along the way.

“I think the biggest thing for me is just empowering them [players] to make the right choices and just be there as a support,” Pereira said. 

The Rams look to get back to the A-10 championship, after losing the title game last season. VCU has made it to the last two consecutive A-10 championship games, winning one in 2020, according to VCU Athletics. 

Head coach Stacey Bean said last year’s loss has shaped the black and gold, adding motivation for the Rams.

“It hasn’t been easy to get to the final. We have a lot of parity in the conference. So you know, it’s not just St. Joe’s,” Bean said. “It’s fuel to the fire for a competitor, anytime you lose its fuel to fire.”

The objective and expectation for the Rams is a championship. Pereira believes that the Rams can accept the challenge and make it back to the A-10 championship game again this season. 

“I think they know what it takes to be a championship team,” Pereira said. “The ball’s in their court and this is their season. And I think they have what it takes.”