Yorktown's Diaz follows her idol's example

Athlete Spotlight Posted Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:37 pm I owe some of my best memories and closest friendships to my time on the YHS team. ' —Lily Diaz Yorktown center midfielder Lily Diaz is entering her fourth year on the Huskers' varsity field hockey team, after playing one season on JV as an eighth grader. She is one of the team's senior captains, alongside Megan Durante, Alana D'Andraia, and Izzy Wilson. Diaz earned All-Section and All-League honors as a freshman, and then followed that up with All-State, All-Section, and All-League recognition during both her sophomore and junior seasons. As a freshman, Diaz started every game and finished the year with 6 goals and 11 assists. She built on that with 16 goals and 13 assists as a junior. This will also be her fourth full season with the girls varsity lacrosse squad this upcoming spring. Named All-American as a junior, Diaz was pulled up at the very end of her eighth-grade year to help the Huskers with their Section 1 Class B championship run that season. Diaz, a midfielder in lacrosse, was also a member of Yorktown's sectional title squad as a sophomore. How old were you when you started playing field hockey and what got you started? When I was 12, my current coach, Courtney Hyndman, first introduced me to the sport. We've all been lucky enough to know her for years, long before high school, because of her involvement with our school and club lacrosse programs. She mentioned a youth field hockey clinic, so in the seventh grade, I decided to give it a shot. I actually went into it a bit skeptical, but I quickly fell in love with the game. The following season, playing on the JV team with some of my oldest friends really solidified everything and led me to where I am today. What is your favorite part of being on the Yorktown field hockey team? The community we've built. Coming in as a freshman, it was definitely intimidating to play with such talented upperclassmen, but those girls really shaped my whole experience. Even now, I'm always looking to learn from their skills to improve my own game. Beyond the sport itself, field hockey has introduced me to friends in different grades, both above and below me, that I might not have met otherwise. I owe some of my best memories and closest friendships to my time on the YHS team. What is your favorite team activity or pre- or post-game ritual? We have some great pre- and post-game traditions. Before games, I love singing and dancing with the team in the locker room. On the days we bring that high energy before hitting the turf, we always seem to play our best. For post-game, singing on the bus ride back is always fun, but my favorite memories are definitely the trips to Salsa Fresca to just hang out together after a game. Who has been your biggest role model? It's hard to pick just one role model because my parents and my older brother, Troy, have all had such a huge impact on me. Like most younger siblings, I've spent years looking up to my brother. In hopes of impressing him, I set high standards for myself that I hope exceed his expectations. Plus, growing up with him definitely made me more prepared for some of our tougher opponents. My mom has shown me what it means to be truly dedicated; she taught me how to stay determined and handle the mental side of the game. Finally, my dad is my biggest supporter. He never misses a game. No matter the weather or the traffic, I can always hear his voice cheering me on louder than everyone else. That energy really helps me play at the level I do today. What's one thing about yourself that most people don't know? I've been making our pregame mix for the past few seasons. It's actually become a bit of a tradition. I get suggestions from the whole team and then use a few DJ apps on my computer to blend in my own sound bites and tracks. It's fun to turn our playlist into a team-specific soundtrack that really represents all of us. What do you plan to do after high school? I'm looking forward to finding the right college fit for the next four years. I plan on studying architecture or design. Through my art classes at school, I've realized I have a real passion for creative fields and want to pursue that professionally. Who's your favorite professional athlete and pro sports team? Though it may seem a little biased since they just won the NBA championship, my favorite professional team is the New York Knicks. My favorite athlete has to be Jalen Brunson—watching his hustle and finesse is incredible. He plays with an energy that I try to replicate on the field hockey and lacrosse fields, especially during those big, crucial, or clutch moments. I've been lucky enough to have been given the nickname 'JB' on the team, which definitely motivates me to always play as close to Brunson as I possibly can. What's your go-to warm-up music? Surprisingly, my warm-up music is actually pretty mellow. If I'm on the bus to an away game, I'm usually listening to The Beatles or Bob Dylan to get in the right headspace. I think more mellow music works best for me to settle down any pregame nerves or jitters. What is the go-to app on your phone? Definitely Letterboxd. It's a social platform for watching and ranking movies. I feel like it's a great substitute for traditional social media because it feels a lot more productive to engage with films that way. What's one place you've never been but would love to visit? I'm a huge fan of the East Coast, but I'd love to see more of the West Coast. I'm hoping to visit California, Seattle, and Oregon soon to experience what that side of the country is like. It seems like the perfect mix of scenic trails and views with the hustle and bustle of LA. Best place to eat in Yorktown and why? It's is technically in Jefferson Valley, but I love A&S Pork Store. They make some of the best sandwiches in town. I usually go for a classic chicken cutlet sandwich—it's super easy to just grab and go. What would you say to a young athlete thinking about trying out for the Yorktown field hockey team? I'd just ask them to look at how much these years have meant to me. When you join a team like ours, even the small moments like sitting around before practice become highlights. We've really become a family, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it.