Through constant nail-biters and shutouts, varsity field hockey defied all expectations and are now advancing to regionals.
The Bulldogs concluded their regular season with a 9-5-1 record, placing fourth in the Potomac district. Their success was partially attributed to a new coaching staff, including Head Coach Christy Germani, who coached at the college level and umpired games for years prior to her new position.
“It has been a great experience [coaching this team],” Coach Germani said. “The girls are all very kind and accepting of me and each other. I’m pretty sure I hit the jackpot coaching the nicest team in Loudoun County.”
Eight regular season games were decided by two points or less, while the defense held strong and accounted for three shutouts. The offense was explosive as well, dealing 36 goals against their opponents in nine games.
“The big thing this year has been communicating on and off the field,” right back Marah Burnes said. “It’s definitely helped our team become more cohesive.”
The Bulldogs celebrated senior night right by shutting out Potomac Falls 5-0, where four different players scored. The team continued their celebration with cakes that donned the faces of each senior.
“I felt very proud and happy for my entire team,” right forward Ada Bradley said. “I was super glad that we won for the seniors, and it felt good since we had only beat Pot Falls by one the time before.”
Battling their way to district semifinals, the Bulldogs fell short to a strong Riverside team. However, with their dominating 4-1 win from district quarterfinals, the team was still able to punch their ticket to regional semifinals.
“We know what works well for our team, so we’re really trying to perfect those skills,” center back Elizabeth Tamaro said. “Since we know what teams we’re going to play, we’ve been reflecting on our past games against them and [perfecting] what went well and changing what didn’t.”
Varsity field hockey is set to continue their postseason play on Monday, Oct. 30. The time and place is TBD.
“I am super proud of how hard [everyone] works, from the starters to the bench,” Coach Germani said. “Everyone has had a role to play this year in our success, and while it might not be the one they would choose for themselves, they have put the team first, which is what being part of a team is all about.”
