Speed kills.

That little two word phrase is common throughout the world of sports.

Simply put, having someone on your team that is fast and skilled could result in a difference maker.

For Northwestern’s field hockey team this season, that player - and difference maker - was Brinley Rex.

The senior scored 21 goals and added 11 assists in 2022, but it was her speed on the field that captured everyone’s attention.

“It’s definitely something that came natural to me,” said Rex, who has been named the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Field Hockey Player of the Year. “Every time I talk to anyone, they always bring up my speed. I obviously train to get better, and to get faster. I’ve had some amazing coaches that have taught me.”

One of those coaches saw her every game - and was glad she did.

“She has come a long way over the course of coming in as a freshman,” said Tiger mentor Lissa Opolsky. “She was able to see the field when she was a freshman. And she had an impact on both teams in 2019 and 2020 (that won district titles), but over that course of time she really grew into herself as a player.

“Her speed is pretty much unmatched with anyone in our league. I think she’s faster, sometimes, with the ball than without the ball. And she just has a very competitive edge and determination on the field. When you put all that together, it really makes her a special player.”

Rex was anticipating a special season, as she was one of six senior starters hoping to leave their mark on the program.

What she wasn’t expecting was a setback during the offseason.

During a summer camp in July at Kutztown University, Rex got hit in the face by a stick. All of a sudden, her training was stalled.

“I wasn’t able to do much (in the preseason),” said Rex. “I got hit in the face with a stick, so I have like an x scar on my face now. I shattered my nose and broke my nose and messed up my eye. So I honestly wasn’t able to go to any preseason things, which made me so scared.

“I got back the first day of actual tryouts. I just focused on catching up to everyone, getting back into it because I didn’t play for so long. And then it was just working with the team and getting to know all the new girls that came in ... Everyone else was obviously stronger than me because they got their lifting in throughout the summer. I couldn’t do anything. I was stuck in my bed. That was terrible.”

The injury could have had a hand in her slow start, as Rex managed just one goal in her first five games. But soon after that, her scoring picked up, as Rex registered 18 goals in her next 11 games, including a five-goal performance against Saucon Valley.

“I love scoring, obviously, but I also love assisting,” said Rex, who started playing field hockey in elementary school when her friend and teammate Brooke Page talked her into it. “A lot of people love scoring, but I’m also into assisting because I love seeing other people score. I also love the sound of a goal. I don’t know how to explain it, but the noise of the back of the cage is the best noise ever. It’s a noise I’ll never forget. Hearing the ball bang on the back, you’re like ‘Yes!’ It’s just a different feeling. You get so excited when you hear it.”

Because the Tigers heard that noise often, the wins piled up. After a 4-3-1 start, the team closed out the regular season winning nine of their final 10 games. They reached the league finals and then captured a district title. They also added a win at states.

“Our class was so close,” said Rex about her fellow seniors. “We all started in like second or third grade, and we’ve all played together for so long ... We wanted to win districts and get to states, those were our main goals. But we also just wanted to work hard and always keep a positive attitude, and I think we succeeded in doing that.”

While Rex likens her classmates as sisters, her actual family is Northwestern through and through. Her grandparents went to Northwestern, as well as her parents. Her two brothers graduated as Tigers, and her sister is also attending Northwestern. In fact, her mother drove the team bus.

That might be one reason why Rex is staying close to home to play in college.

“It was actually a very easy decision for me,” said Rex of deciding to play at Division 2 Kutztown. “My club coach is actually the coach at Kutztown. I really liked her and her coaching style, and she reached out to me to visit and I visited and knew I was going to go there. My parents obviously loved that decision because they wanted me to stay close to home. And I think I did want to stay close to home. I love my family and love being around them ... and the campus is so beautiful, so it was an easy decision.”