BERKELEY – Noemie Mekki and Canisha van Duyn are both in their 20s with extensive international field hockey experience.

But don't be surprised if you catch them wandering around campus with the same uncertain look in their eyes as an 18-year-old incoming freshman.

Mekki and van Duyn are in the unique position of being graduate transfers who have never played for an American college. Mekki (France) and van Duyn (The Netherlands) both completed their undergraduate education in their home countries but have transferred to Cal to play one season for the Golden Bears while enrolling in the business administration certificate program.

"I feel like a freshman," Mekki said Monday after the Bears' second day of practice for the 2024 season.

Graduate transfers typically can make a smoother transition to a new team than a freshman because they already know what it takes to negotiate life as a Division I student-athlete. Mekki and van Duyn are familiar with playing field hockey at a high level, but navigating the day-to-day challenges of a student-athlete in the United States will be a work in progress.

"It's a little strange because I think I'm the oldest player on the team," van Duyn said. "But the team is awesome. Everyone is so kind. So I think it's going to be cool because of all the time we will be spending together."

Cal head coach Shellie Onstead said the biggest adjustment for Mekki and van Duyn will be the structured nature of the program's calendar and the sheer amount of training the team does in comparison to their clubs back home. But she also said the duo's experience, intelligence and feel for the game will be a big asset to a team that is moving into the ultra-competitive ACC this season.

"It's probably a lot more structured than what they are used to," Onstead said. "Everything is pretty much at a higher level here. I think that's great.

"What they bring to the team is really good experience, and experience in a game like this means a ton. They are making decisions at a level that's going to help everybody else."

Mekki has competed in the European Cup twice with France's U21 National Team, including last month in Terrassa, Spain, where she served as team captain. She hails from Paris and left town to move to Berkeley during the recently completed Summer Olympics. She had to sell her tickets to the field hockey gold-medal game to get to Berkeley in time for the start of training camp.

"I wanted to play at a more intense level," Mekki said. "It's difficult because we are far away from our family and friends, but I know I will grow from this experience. It's a big chance to play against the best, so I think I will learn a lot."

van Duyn will be joined by friend and Dutch teammate Liz Klompmaker, who is also making her way to Berkeley this fall from the Netherlands as a sophomore. The two played together for Groningen, a top club in the Northern region of the Netherlands.

"I had been thinking about coming to the United States to play a few years ago, but I never went through with it because I really like hockey in the Netherlands," van Duyn said. "But I graduated this year and wasn't sure what to do next, and I thought with Liz coming here also, it could be a lot of fun. And it's a different experience in a different country, and I wanted to explore and see what it's like."

Mekki and van Duyn are joining a program fresh off its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006 after winning the first America East championship in history. The Bears will be challenged in the ACC but enter the season attempting to build off the good vibes created from last season's memorable run.

"We learned a lot from last year, and I'm approaching preseason a little bit differently based on some lessons that I'm integrating slowly and just taking our time a little bit," Onstead said. "We're going to go back and show some really cool film and remember what worked for us so we can keep the momentum going. We are going to have a lot of belief after last year. I'm very excited."

The Bears open the 2024 season on Sept. 1 against Michigan State at Underhill Field.