After a long and hard-fought season, the first official KO varsity field hockey season since the pandemic has come to an end. The team consisted of 23 girls led by Head Coach Chapin Yates in her inaugural year.
The team ended with a record of 6-12-1, though, according to Coach Yates, this record does not reflect who they are as a team nor how they played in each hard-fought game. “KOFH competed hard, challenged tough opponents, and, most importantly, played with pride,” Coach Yates said.
Going into the season the team had a simple goal. They aimed to fully live by their mission statement: KOFH strives to consistently bring 100% energy, positivity, and a supportive strong environment in order to have a successful season and have fun. The team achieved their goal of building a culture centered around positivity as well as a strong work ethic, while still having fun along the way. This was the foundation for the team, and they continued to grow as the season progressed. By the end of the season, the team was able to confidently say they lived by this statement throughout each and every game and practice.
This season, the team was able to improve on their stick skills and learned to play as a team and not just as individuals. They started off strong with a decisive 10-1 win over Miss Porter’s School and followed it up with an exciting 2-1 win over School of the Holy Child. After a couple of ties and losses, the team found their stride again defeating a strong Greenwich Country Day School 3-1 and an aggressive Millbrook School 2-1 in overtime.
The team’s game against Millbrook in early October was arguably one their best. After a long bus ride, the team was able to come out strong and defeat Millbrook in an exciting overtime victory against one of the most physical teams in the league. Junior Allegra Kotowitz was able to slide the winning goal past the goalie to capture the win for the Wyverns. “This game stood out because it was not only close, but the girls were able to hold their own,” Coach Yates said. “What we lacked in size, we made up in heart.”
A standout player this season was senior forward captain Alyssa Pavano. She was a force to be reckoned with out on the field, being the girls’ go-to player to pass to as she possessed the ability to make something out of nothing. “Alyssa set the standard for what it means to be part of KOFH,” Coach Yates said. “She was our biggest advocate for team improvement, always led with pride, and strengthened the sense of team.”
The team rounded out their season with two wins over School of the Holy Child 2-1, and Wilbraham and Monson Academy 9-6. For their last game of the season, the team unfortunately fell short to a talented Suffield Academy team 1-0 but fought hard until the very end, making sure to leave everything out on the field.
Going into next season, the team looks to fill the shoes of the nine seniors they will be losing to continue to build on the foundation they created this fall. Coach Yates looks forward to underclassmen stepping up into new leadership roles and continuing to work toward great team chemistry, all while keeping their motto at the forefront of their minds.
