VCU news

By Joan Tupponce

Morena Macera was apprehensive about leaving Buenos Aires, Argentina, when, at the last minute, she learned she received a scholarship to play field hockey at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“I didn’t know anyone or anything about the university,” said Macera, a junior midfielder. “I knew very little English.”

What she did know was field hockey. And over her first two seasons at VCU, Macera – who has been nicknamed “More” – has become a team leader and two-time selection for the All-Atlantic 10 First Team.

An up-and-coming star in the sport, Macera has played field hockey since she was 4. She has also participated in tennis, swimming, track and field, and horseback riding, and she was 10 when she joined one of the largest multisport clubs in the north side of Buenos Aires, Club San Fernando. There, she was introduced to higher-level women’s competitive field hockey.

“My grandfather was part of that club. My father and my aunt played all types of sports. One of the sports my aunt played was field hockey. She told my father to send me to the club to play,” Macera said. “I made so many friends there.”

At the club, levels of play start at D and progress to A. Macera advanced from the lowest to the highest level in just two years. In 2021, she led the club to a team championship.

“The coaches there are so good. I had people from the national team of Argentina coaching me,” she said.

At 17, Macera was called to train with Argentina’s junior national team.

“Argentina is one of the best teams in the world. I was getting a lot of information and practice for my career. It was the best part of my life,” she said. “I was called for the national team for four years, but I was never in a tournament. I never got to play an official game.”

The last time Macera was cut before play started, she was contacted by the agency PlayPro Global in Argentina, which tried to convince her to go to the United States to play field hockey.

“I didn’t pay attention to it because I wanted so badly to play for Argentina,” she said. “When I got cut, my aunt said, ‘Why don’t you talk to them? They are giving you an opportunity.’”

Macera asked her aunt to talk with the agency, and it resulted in Macera having to make a split-second decision to come to the U.S. It was July 2023, and she would have to leave in early August.

“I would be leaving my home, my house, my family, my friends and my dogs,” she said.

Because it was late in the budgeting process for universities, it was difficult for her to secure a scholarship. But then fate stepped in.

“The woman from the agency told me there was a girl that decided not to go to VCU so there is a scholarship for you there,” Macera said. “She told me she knew the coach and that she is very good.”

When Macera landed in Richmond on Aug. 4, 2023, she felt lost.

“Everyone spoke to me in English. I didn’t like it. I wanted to speak Spanish with someone, so I called my father,” she said.

A few days later, other players from Argentina arrived for the school year, and Macera made fast friends with them.

“We started hanging out. There were no problems in our group. Everyone was happy,” she said.

Macera soon began to understand the dynamics at VCU.

“The coaches were so nice, and I got along with everyone on the team,” she said. “It was a beautiful experience.”

Macera’s coach is quick to return the praise.

“Morena brings a high level of passion, creativity and speed of play. She absolutely loves the game and loves her teammates,” field hockey head coach Stacey Bean said. “She really helps elevate and raise our team’s level of play in both training and in games. She’s a very technically skilled player.”

This fall, the field hockey team finished 11-7. Macera led the team in total points with 22 and assists with six while ranking second on the team in goals with eight. Macera scored three game-winning goals on the season and led the team with 46 shot attempts.

VCU’s recent advance to the A-10 semifinals is a sign of the team’s hard work and success this season.

“It was a good year for us. Our energy level is getting higher, and we like it,” Macera said. “That was one of my goals this year was to get the team to the highest level we can be. I want to help them feel confident and to always be humble. I don’t like to forget that.”

Macera, a student in the School of Business, looks forward to more individual and team progress during her remaining U.S. collegiate career – a career she never could have envisioned growing up in Buenos Aires.

“I want to continue here at VCU,” she said. “I want to continue pushing.”