Friends come and go, but a true friend will be by your side through the good times and the bad. But for two Kent State field hockey players, a friendship has not only lasted many years, but a couple of states as well.

For Lisa Carter and Jennifer Watrous, this bond goes beyond being roommates and co-captains on the team. Their friendship is one based on trust and loyalty; it is a relationship that has stood the test of time and reached enormous heights.

The evolution of these two seniors on the Kent State field hockey team can be traced back to their childhood days in their hometown of Greene, N.Y.

"We met in the second grade, and really became close friends when we had the same teacher in the fourth grade," Carter said. "We have grown and become best friends all the way through."

As they grew older and their friendship became stronger they developed a common love for the game of field hockey, but what they make look so easy today was not always the case.

"Growing up, East Coast Field Hockey is the sport to play," Watrous said. "It was a lot of hard work in the beginning, but since I enjoyed it so much, I didn't mind the work."

As the two friends moved onto Greene High School, field hockey began to play a prominent role in their lives.

"Our high school was known for field hockey," Carter said. "Our coach was well-known, so we picked it up and started playing."

While at Greene, the two standouts were a part of the 1992 team that made it to the state championship, and each earned their share of individual awards as both garnered all state honors.

They continued their field hockey success as both took part in the Olympic Futures Program for elite field hockey players in New York state.

"The Olympic Futures Program was an off-season camp that we both took part in," Carter said. "After the camp, we were both chosen to compete in a national tournament against teams from around the country."

As it came time to move on to college one would think that adapting to the demanding life of being a college athlete would be tough, but not for Watrous and Carter.

"Having each other here made the adjustment easier," Watrous said. "She knew everything about me, and I knew everything about her, it was like having a part of home here with us."

Carter adjusted well to the collegiate game, starting every game on her way to capturing the Mid-American Conference Rookie of the Year Award in 1993.

Watrous had her breakout year last season as the team's defensive leader on her way to earning All-MAC second-team honors.

Kent head coach Jennifer Jones-Goodrich said the seniors have made a lasting impression on the Kent field hockey program.

"They are two very special human beings, who will do well in the real world," Jones-Goodrich said. "I personally will miss both of them and I hope they will stay a part of the family because they mean a lot to me."

As their college careers come to a close they still have goals to reach in their final season at Kent.

"My goal is to win the MAC Championship and go to NCAA's," Watrous said. "Coach always says to leave everything on the field so we have no regrets. I want to end the season knowing we did everything we possibly could, giving everything we have so we'll have no regrets."

Each is looking to continue to reach their goals as they prepare for graduation and life after Kent.

Carter said she may want to join the exciting field of sports journalism.

"I would like to become a sports commentator," Carter said. "My long term goal after finishing school is to host my own talk show."

Watrous said, "My short-term goal is to graduate with above a 3.2 grade point average. My long- term goals include finishing grad school for business administration, becoming assistant coach and then teaching high school health and coaching at the high school varsity level."

But no matter what path Carter or Watrous takes, it will always be Greene.