Highlight: Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey (09/26/2024)

By ERIN HAN, WILLIAM INOUE, and SOPHIE LOW

    On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the girls’ varsity field hockey team held a strong game against Milton Academy.

    Though the team fell just short of securing a win, finishing 0-1 after a tense fourth quarter, the game was still a notable display of the team’s solid collaboration and resilience.

    With roughly seven minutes left in the second quarter, just as Milton was about to snag a point off a pass to the right post, Exeter’s goalkeeper Josie Gilbert agilely dove across, blocking the shot with her stick. But yet again, Milton abruptly took control of the ball and managed a shot through Exeter’s defense.

    Though the early goal turned out to be a thorn in the side, Big Red demonstrated commendable performance throughout the remaining quarters, particularly in their defense. “We started off the game slow and did not play our best, which resulted in a goal against us,” said prep Margot Wegbrans. “However, after the goal and going into the second half, the team played extremely well, [though] unfortunately, that did not result in a goal for us.”

    For the rest of the game, Exeter kept Milton at bay, maintaining a significant distance between its goal and Milton’s offensive players, and avoiding any sort of scramble resembling the context of the initial goal. Furthermore, the team came close to scoring on several occasions, consistently pressuring around Milton’s goal.

    “We were very close to scoring several times, [though] most of the highlights were in the defense,” noted Wegbrans. She added, “The captains led the team through making sure that the players were covering the open space in the defense and were in the open space in the attack.”

    Throughout the entire game, the captains were pivotal in guiding the team through difficult moments. “A challenging moment was when we got a green card, and the team had to stretch to cover the open players,” recalled Wegbrans. “Our captain Natalia Ulbin really led the team through this.

    Ever since preseason, the team has been committed to building both individual technique and team spirit. “While we’re a young team this year, all the girls, new and returning, have been working hard and bringing a positive attitude to the field,” described captain Hannah Hoyt. She concluded, “I am proud of everyone and excited for our continued growth this season.”

    Lower Luvy Danielson echoed, “We have all the pieces we need for a successful season.” She emphasized that the team’s primary focus has been to “build combination, play up and down the field, and finish when we get the chance.” Danielson then noted, “Morale is high and the team vibe is a source of inspiration!”

    As one of the newest players on the team, Wegbrans added, “The field hockey team is such a supportive environment and an amazing team. I’m so grateful to be a part of it.”