The girls varsity field hockey team is ending the season with a 7-10-1 record. They started the season cold losing six of their first eight games, but picked it up mid season bringing it back with a four game winning streak, and in the last stretch of the season, the team lost three games and won one. Their final game was senior day and was saturday November 10, against Suffield Academy. The team fought hard bringing the game to overtime with a 2-2 score, but in the end lost by 1 in overtime.
Due to sickness during the final leg of the season, many players were unable to compete in their last few games. They were tough losses, games that could have gone either way, and with a healthy roster and with their best effort, head coach Nicole Blake is confident they could have won all three.
The team has really developed since the beginning of the season in late August. “We played hard all season with great improvements along the way. We played as a team, communicated and got on the boards for almost every game,” Coach Blake said. “The talent this team has for its future, the sky’s the limit.”
The team consists of one senior, three juniors, eight sophomores and four freshman, 12 of the 16 members are underclassmen. The team has some very young talent so while the stats may say different they can look at this season as a developmental win.
The good thing about having a young team is that they will only be down one senior next year and will be much more comfortable playing on the field with each other. The team is already excited for next season and the success to come. . “We had a good season,” junior Anusha Memon said, “I’m excited for next year”
Coach Blake reflected back on the season as she said that their game against The Loomis Chaffee School on Wednesday, Sept. 26 was definitely an early highlight even though they did not come out at the victorious team. Coach Blake said that Loomis is a very good team and the girls impressively gave Loomis a great fight and only came up short by one goal losing 4-3.
The players were also proud of their performance during this tough game. “We played exceptionally well against Loomis,” junior Alex Daddabbo said, “we showed no fear and gave it our all.”
That game against Loomis showcased the full potential the young field hockey team really had. After seeing this game, Coach Blake new that some of their losses later in the season could have been wins, if they had played as hard as they did against Loomis.
These tough losses against teams such as westminster, and a tie against Hamden Hall late in the season are both games the team knew they could have won.
Regardless of these tough games that could have gone either way, next year with a more developed team the Field Hockey team can and will expect a great season next year.
