Missouri State

SUZY FORTUNE
Field Hockey, 1981-84
Inducted 2013

Suzy Fortune was part of the last four years of a string of five straight Missouri State league field hockey titles for the Bears of coach Rhonda Ridinger in Missouri Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference play. MSU won the AIAW regional championship Fortune’s first year and finished fifth in the nation as the Bears' 24-6-3 record capped a string of the program's only five 20-win seasons. Missouri State stayed strong as it moved into the Gateway in 1982 and captured the first two GCAC league crowns in 18-3 and 16-2-2 seasons and had a combined 70-17-7 mark over Fortune's four years. A native of St. Louis where she was an prep All-America in soccer at Ritenour High, Fortune continued her on-field success when she arrived to play at Missouri State and was named All-America honorable mention from both the College Field Hockey Coaches Association and from Mitchell and Ness her senior season with the Bears. Fortune was also a two-time all-conference pick in the Gateway. A center halfback, Fortune was a captain her last two seasons with two all-tourney selections in the Midwest Independents’ Tournament. She was also an MSU selection to the league's all-centennial team. She later worked as an assistant coach at both Missouri State and Southern Illinois University. The teams on which she played at MSU were among the program’s all time top five single-season leaders in wins, most goals scored, fewest goals allowed, most shutouts and most points scored. After her graduation from Missouri State, Fortune returned to her prep alma mater as a physical education teacher and coach. Her coaching assignments at Ritenour have included work with teams in volleyball, soccer and basketball. She was Ritenour High's varsity head coach in girls' soccer from 1999 to 2005.