The girls’ field hockey team has continuously succeeded, opening their season with a 12-game winning streak.
As the defending Midland Wachusett A-League champions, the girls’ field hockey team has begun their season with an impressive 12-1-1 record. Coached by Daniel Welty, the team has witnessed a parade of victories. Welty credits their wins to a strong batch of players.
“The team’s highly skilled,” Welty said. “You’ve also got people stepping up in their roles this year that are excelling too, so that’s always a good thing.”
The skill of the entire team has benefitted from mass improvement and key players.
“It’s been great to see players step it up like [junior] Abi Southey stepping on at midfield and [senior] Laney Halsey stepping up as a midfielder as well,” Welty said. “Those are a couple of girls from last year that didn’t get a ton of playing time or a ton of starts, so to see people stepping up from one year to another is great. That pushes everyone else to get better too.”
According to senior captain and center forward Meredith Wu, the team’s camaraderie has facilitated the growth and teamwork necessary for their standout season.
“The word we emphasized this season is support, and I think supporting each other on and off the field has really helped bring us together and build a closer bond,” Wu said. “On the field, we will bring each other up and say, ‘It’s okay. You’ve got it next time.’ Then off the field, we will support each other with anything, whether that’s with school or with our personal lives. We’re just always there for each other.”
Sophomore right midfielder Hannah Regan is grateful for the experience and relationships she has gained on the team, noticing how it benefits their play.
“I feel like we’re connecting a lot more on the field, especially with passes and getting more touches,” Reagan said. “We really know where each other are, and we can communicate that.”
The season has not been without hiccups, however. A hard-fought game on Oct. 2 against Shrewsbury, a team whom they had previously beaten 5-1, nearly ended in a narrow 1-0 Algonquin win. Luckily, a last-minute score by senior captain Annelise Gingrich brought the final score to 2-0. Wu remains proud of the team’s composure and determination.
“They were very aggressive, and I think that was very frustrating for everyone on our team because it felt like nothing would ever go our way,” Wu said. “I think we persevered through that anyway, and we were able to maintain possession and play calmly, even though it definitely was a tough game.”
Overall, the girls’ field hockey team is off to a stellar start. According to Welty, the team’s excitement moving forward is riding high.
“When you’re doing well and when you’re winning, it’s contagious,” Welty said. “People are getting excited about that.”
