The Photographer’s Angle: The Sydnee Ramos Celebration

Photo by Jay Ruzicka

The Photographer’s Angle: One Photo. One Story. From the perspective of the photographer who took it.

October 18, 2025. Dean College Field Hockey Senior Day.

Just over a minute into double overtime against New England College, senior Sydnee Ramos drew the goalkeeper out of the cage before feeding a pass to teammate Katrina Lee, who scored the game-winning goal. Ramos fell to her knees in an emotional moment and was quickly surrounded by her teammates in celebration. To me, this moment felt like the culmination of years of work by Ramos. She didn't score the goal, but she made it possible in one of her final NCAA games. On Senior Day, in front of her family, friends, teammates, and coaches.

The photo itself was a difficult capture. The sun was behind Ramos, creating less-than-ideal lighting. With teammates rushing toward her, I knew I had only seconds before she was obscured by the celebration. It was one of those moments where you shoot quickly because capturing the emotion matters more than perfect conditions. I wasn’t sure I could capture it in time. I fired off two shutter clicks before I could no longer see Sydnee.

This image serves as a reminder that the photographs that mean the most aren't always the ones with perfect light or the most creative composition. They're the photographs that tell the story without needing a single word. They're the photographs that make the viewer feel something. My motto has always been to make the viewer feel like they were there at the game. When I think of one of my favorite photos to do this, I always come back to this one.

Just weeks later, Sydnee Ramos and Dean College Field Hockey went on to win the program's first ever GNAC Championship.

Written by Jay Ruzicka