Field Hockey Preview: Redemption Season

Coming off an undefeated preseason, the St. John’s field hockey team is looking strong through their first few games.

They managed to hold their ground against the nationally ranked Fairfax High School team, as well as dominate their first WCAC game against Seton.

However, the Cadets’ schedule will not let up this season as they continue to play competitive teams. The team knows that this will help them in the road to the championship. “I think we’re playing such a competitive schedule because it will allow us to be better in the season,” captain Ellie Shea ’20 said.

The team also has a great coaching staff, including new assistant coach Mindy Urick. “We are ready to embrace the challenges to come and help the girls have a great season with lots of moral and personal victories,” coach Urick said.

The coaches also make sure the girls are always giving 100 percent and stress “competitive greatness,” which means they go into every game the same way, no matter how good the team is, Rosie Kelly ’20 explained.

While much of their success comes from practice and their coaching, the team also knows that to be successful they have to work together and encourage one another to be the best they can. Leah Morrison ’23 said, “I think that we’re really good at encouraging each other and addressing mistakes and making it a priority to fix them.” This family-like aspect of the team can be seen not only in the relationships among the varsity players, but also in the support from the JV team at every game.

“This season is obviously not just about ‘moral and personal victories’ for the ladies on the team. The whole team has their eyes on the prize, the WCAC championship,” Kelly said. “It’s redemption season.”