The girls on the field hockey team have been here before, and it’ a great place to be. For the second consecutive year, the team won the WPIAL Class AAA championship and is PIAA playoff-bound.
This time around, however, the players and coaches are determined their season won’t end until they bring home a medal from the state championship. Advancing deep into the PIAA playoffs is something that has remained elusive, despite great talent, depth, and impressive leadership coming from both the coaches and athletes.
Coach Jen McCrady doesn’t mince words when it comes to what’s ahead for the players. “The PIAA will always be tough, especially because other areas of the state have higher caliber teams. Experience is our best way to be competitive, so we will keep doing what we’re doing by challenging ourselves in practice every day. I think if the players get into a rhythm during the games, play together, and have each other’s backs, they can achieve anything.”
The team’s leading scorers, juniors Abby Pitcairn and Paige Ryan, are undeniably dynamic on offense. At the WPIAL finals, sophomore forward Sydney Condron emerged as a new threat when she put the first point on the scoreboard. Their accomplishments are largely made possible by midfielders Meg McCrady, a senior, and juniors Mia Jamiolkowski and Abby, whose expertise allows them to quickly move the ball and distribute it.
“It’s always awesome to see someone step up like Syd did in the final, and as did junior Katie McIlroy did in the semifinal,” states Coach McCrady.
It seems as though every year the field hockey coaches are in the enviable position of having excellent talent and a deep bench, but Coach McCrady says the real credit for their success is due the players who love the sport and put in extra time in the off season to get better.
Forward Megan Botos, a senior captain who plays on a club team after the high school season is over, has played field hockey since she was in seventh grade at Dorseyville Middle School, and loves everything about the sport. She is particularly excited about the growth and advancements they’ve made since her freshman year.
“I think what we have now is a combination of players with great skills and talent, our communication is really good, and we’re really driven as a team,” says Megan. “We have a special bond; I love all of the girls on the team. We’re all friends and get along really well.”
Team bonding and finding time to have some fun are an integral part of the team’s game plan. They get together for team dinners pretty often, and for the past few years have held a team dinner on Halloween right before the WPIAL championship game.
“It’s a tradition,” explains sophomore keeper Marissa Hardiman. “It helps to relax us and we’ll probably do it again before the next game [PIAA playoffs].”
Their camaraderie is one reason for their good onfield chemistry and communication skills
Marissa probably has the best vantage point of the field of anyone on the team, and voices what she sees coming down the field. “I just try to encourage the team, let them know where the field is open, and make sure everyone is covered,” she says.
Coach McCrady credits Marissa and the rest of the defensive unit for their outstanding performance against a stubborn Pine-Richland in the WPIAL finale. “It could have been a very different game without them.”
In addition to Marissa, other members of the defense are juniors Sarah Fownes and Grace Knepshield, sophomore Rebecca Klaas, and freshman Isabella Lagazzi.
Going into the PIAA playoffs, the girls are trying not to get ahead of themselves and worry about too much. “We just talk about focusing on one game at a time and playing the way we know we can. We’ve got a great team when we all play together. Plus, Coach McCrady is a really inspirational person and great motivator. She gets everyone to work together and harder.”
The players will be looking forward to the coach’s motivational words as they get ready for the first round of the PIAA playoffs. Everyone agrees that their opponent will be very experienced and put up a strong fight, but so will the Foxes.