They say getting a job is all about who you know.

Fresh out of college, Allie Lucenta received the opportunity of a lifetime at Framingham State all because of who she knew through field hockey and the door to a career was opened.

Lucenta began her collegiate career as a student-athlete at Westfield State. The Natick, Mass. Native was like many others when deciding where to attend college…overwhelmed. Thankfully, it didn’t take much for her to fall in love with the school.

“When applying to colleges, I had no idea where I wanted to be,” Lucenta said. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play a sport or not, nor did I know what to major in. I ended up applying to 15 schools with a wide range of locations and sizes. I began talking to the coach (at the time Holly Stevens) and came on a few visits. My parents fell in love with the campus and I loved the team. I believe my overnight with the team truly sold me on the school and I committed soon thereafter. Westfield ended up persuading me into the Criminal Justice and Psychology majors, which helped, lead me to the career I am in today.”

Competing at midfield and back for the Owls, Lucenta was a member of the team for three years. Although Westfield State’s primary conference is the MASCAC, they compete as a member of the Little East Conference as an affiliate along with Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Salem State and Worcester State.

During her collegiate career, she scored three goals, including one game-winner along with three assists. It wasn’t what happened on the field though that stayed with Lucenta. The lifelong friends and great education stuck with her after graduation.

“I had an amazing time at Westfield State, mostly because of being a part of the field hockey team,” Lucenta said. “It was such a positive mix of athletics and academics. I met some of my lifelong friends at Westfield; even my two assistants at Framingham are two of my former teammates and best friends (Megan Fountaine and Alanah Melanson).”

After graduating from Westfield State in 2016 with her degrees in criminal justice and psychology, Lucenta began working with the Northeastern University Police Department while also becoming assistant coach underneath her former high school head coach Ashley Means.

Having the opportunity so soon after she was a student-athlete was unreal for Lucenta, but the doors would continue to open for her as Coach Means decided to move on and Lucenta was selected to take over the helm of the Rams field hockey squad.

“I always liked that idea of coaching but never really knew how to begin until this opportunity fell into my lap,” Lucenta said. “Little did I know Coach Means decided to focus on other opportunities she had the following season and I was given to chance to take over the program as head coach. I was one year out of college and 23 years old coaching a college team. I texted my now assistant, Megan Fountaine, and asked what her plans were for the fall as she had just graduated. She said she was working and looking for coaching jobs. It could not have been more perfect..”

While serving as head coach, Lucenta has also been working on her master’s degree in criminal justice leadership, which has served her well during her time on the police force as a detective. Although they are on campus, the department is a fully accredited police department who has the same functions as cities and towns. They are also responsible for student code of conduct violations, discrimination, or Title IX cases as part of the campus.

Her role as head coach and job as detective may seem like they have nothing in common, but many lessons Lucenta has learned in her career translate to her coaching role.

“I have learned so much from this job that I have been able to bring into coaching,” Lucenta said. “Both of my jobs work with college students and I am able to utilize my knowledge from Framingham and Northeastern at the other school. As a detective and any role as a police officer, it is crucial to know how to effectively communicate and control a situation. These skills are brought into coaching each day while talking to players, other coaches, or running practices.”

Although she may not have a lot of free time outside of work, coaching and her studies, Lucenta makes time for her two dogs Benny and Charlie. She also enjoys a trip to the family beach house with friends. She recently began coaching ice hockey in her hometown of Natick in her free time.

Being such a young head coach helps Lucenta to relate to her student-athletes and learn from each other as they grow as a team. Even though it is sad for her to compete against her alma mater, she loves being in the conference with the comradery it brings.

“My first few years coaching I had to learn so much,” Lucenta said. “I was incredibly thankful to have Coach Bergen from Westfield to assist me in any questions I had about conference play, recruiting, etc. When it came to practice plans and day to day responsibilities as a coach, I am getting more and more comfortable every year.”

When opportunity knocks, everyone has the choice whether to ignore it or answer it. Thankfully for Lucenta, she decided to let that door swing wide open.