"Just about being in the right place at the right time."

This is a common sentiment often heard from the humble Heather Conroy, star midfielder for the Penn State field hockey team. Conroy's team leading 13 goals currently leads the Big Ten and has her tied for second in the country. Her performance this season has led the way for the Nittany Lions (10-1, 2-1 Big Ten) who currently sit at third place in the conference behind defending national champion Michigan and Iowa. The Lions wsere the only undefeated team left in Div. I until a Sept. 27 loss to defending Big Ten champion Michigan State.

But Conroy refuses to take any of the credit for her team's success.

"It's a shame you have to score goals to get recognition," Conroy said. "There are a lot of players on this team that are unsung workhorse leaders. I think there's recognition that is deserved throughout the team and not just in myself."

Conroy redshirted her freshman year, as many players under Penn State field hockey coach Char Morett often do. She came on in the 2000 season to start at midfield for every game, notching her first and second career goals against St. Joseph's.

The end of the 2000 season was a disappointment for the Lions after they were bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Princeton. So in an effort to improve on the early finish to the season, Morett had her team immediately start in on conditioning drills.

While running conditioning suicides in Holuba Hall in December 2000, Conroy made a typical step and plant move and tore her Achilles tendon -- an injury that keeps a player out of commission for sixth months. To add insult to injury, Conroy received a letter the next day announcing her addition to A camp, which is used to select the national team.

That injury still plagues Conroy who plays through the pain everyday, but she doesn't let that stop her from playing with extreme intensity and drive. Before a recent game, Conroy was forced to come out of warm-up practices due to an injury she received to her nose. She came right back to start the game and record her second hat trick of the season.

"To come back the way she's come back from that [Achilles injury] is just a testament to her determination, her work ethic, and her attitude," Susquenita H.S. coach Barb Adams said.

Conroy, who is from the Harrisburg area, was a three-sport star at Susquenita -- playing basketball and softball as well. Her freshman year of high school, having only had one year of field hockey experience, she chose to run cross country. A few weeks later, Adams received a visit from Conroy's mother Karen, who pleaded with her to allow her daughter to start the season late. Adams knew she couldn't let such a talented athlete pass her by so she gladly accepted.

"Heather is the most natural leader I've ever had or ever seen at the high-school level," Adams said. "She just has an aura around her whether she's on the field or off the field."

Conroy was rewarded for four years of hard work with the John Travers Award, given out annually by the Harrisburg Patriot-News for excellence in both athletics and academics to the top high school athletes in the area.

Several coaches at top schools, including North Carolina and Wake Forest, recognized Conroy's talent. She chose to come to Penn State, citing both the academics and the team as reasons.

"I love the academics here. I love the job placement. I love the area, and most of all I love the team," Conroy said. "Your team is who you spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with. You have to feel a bond with your team."

Last season, Conroy was overshadowed by star midfielder Kiley Kulina, who has since graduated. Conroy, who is now the main shooter on penalty corners, was used as an option on corners behind Kulina.

"We always expected Heather to be an offensive threat," Morett said. "Last year she got some experience when we would go to an option behind Kiley. Heather can really focus on her shot."

Morett relies on Conroy to be the emotional leader on the team, while Adams said she had the ability to make everyone better around her.

"Heather made people better than they were," Adams said. "That's the true test of a leader and that's her biggest compliment."

Conroy didn't stop playing field hockey once the fall season ended in high school. Bill Gaudette, of the East Coast Field Hockey Training Center, took her under his wing and became a key factor in her growth as a player. Conroy got the exposure of playing at national indoor competitions and learned from other top high school players.

But behind every great player is a great support network. Conroy's parents, Mike and Karen, travel the hour and a half from their home for every Lions home game.

"Her parents were so supportive," Adams said. "They took her wherever she needed to be to get to where she is now."