Gabreille Gober isn’t one to sidestep anything.

Rather, Gober likes to tackle things head on, much like when she puts herself in the path of a field hockey ball while trying to protect her team’s goal.

It’s what made her a great goalie.

“I’m not one to duck,” Gober said when asked about why she likes the position.

But she admits that her college decision was one thing she initially put off. In September of her senior year, Gober jumped head first into the recruiting process. She looked at a few different colleges, but her trip to Fairfield, Connecticut, sealed her decision to attend and continue her field hockey career at Division 1 Fairfield University.

“I came a little bit late to the game,” Gober said. “But when I went up there for my first visit, I fell in love with the area. It’s such a small town, and that’s exactly what I was looking for. I’m not a big-school person. I grew up here, small, middle of nowhere. It’s an absolutely beautiful campus, and the atmosphere is amazing.”

Gober started her field hockey career in youth leagues, but for the first two years her teams didn’t have goal keepers. When she got to middle school, she put the pads on and found her home.

She was the Northwestern Lehigh varsity team’s starter for the past two seasons, helping it win a district title last fall after it failed to win a district playoff game in 2021.

“Winning a district championship this year was amazing,” said Gober. “Going from my freshman and sophomore year where we had that massive class of seniors - they were amazing leaders. When they left after my sophomore year, we kind of hit a valley instead of a peak. Coming back up to the peak of that mountain was amazing.”

It wasn’t until just before her senior season got underway that Gober began looking for a college team. During her senior season, she connected with her future team.

“I was at a field hockey tournament in November, and they were in need of a goalie and they found me there,” she said. “Before that, I didn’t even know Fairfield existed. It just kind of happened and I’m really, really happy.”

Having her college plans finalized was a big relief.

“It felt like an elephant stepped off my chest,” Gober said. “I don’t have to be scared of what’s happening next year. I have solidity in my decision. I’m going there. I’m really excited. There’s so much that goes with it that I am ready for the next step.”

Northwestern head coach Lissa Opolsky said Gober is prepared for that next step.

“Gabby was a solid player in the net, and aggressive in one-on-one situations,” Opolsky said. “She was able to organize and control game play with her communication and field presence.

“Gabby will bring enthusiasm and positivity to her new team. She will be learning a new style of play, and be working toward making herself stronger and faster to compete at the next level.”

Gober plans to major in biology.