A humid morning in August, sophomore Sophia Holley lined up on the edge of the turf for the beep test, a conditioning test for preseason training on Towson's field hockey team.
 
Her teammates cheered her on when they were finished, some of them patting her on the shoulder. There, on her left shoulder blade, is a lioness tattooed. The inked portrait has a lioness sitting down with a crown on it, and from far away it might just look like a sketch of an animal, but for her it means much more.
 
"I was born in August so I'm a Leo, so is my sister. Part of the reason I got it is because I'm a Leo, the other part is because of my dad," Holley said. "He has a tattoo on his arm of a lion with a lioness on each side, representing my sister and I, which I love. My dad is my best friend."
 
The Nottingham, Maryland native attributes her drive to her father who led her to Division I field hockey. When she was in high school her dad signed her up to play club ball and traveled to support her.
 
Following her first season at Towson, Holley was struggling with injuries. She thinks about the lioness. The lioness is the primary hunter of its pride, also nurturing its young and protecting the alpha lion.
 
"Her name is Queen," she said. "She is basically the representation of my strength on my shoulder and all my life experiences, a remembrance for me to keep pushing through and that I am strong enough."
 
During the summer, Holley was progressing on recovering from her shin issues and would be able to play fully again.
 
"I got to the point where I could see the light at the end of the tunnel of being able to play again and being healthy," she said. "It was around that time in the summer when I got it. I had thought to get it last December but I waited and now it means so much more to me."
 
On game day you'll see her suited up in the No. 25 jersey, rocking space buns in her hair with golden scrunchies, loud and proud cheering on her team. She says without her dad she would not be here, but she is her and her teammates, along with Queen, have her back.
 
"I did add a crown to it," she said. "People call me 'Queen Phi-Phi' so that's a part of me in it. It's a constant reminder that I can do anything I put my mind to, as long as I will it."