Every fall, the field hockey program comes back after a short and sweet summer to perform for another outstanding season. The team has developed and changed every single year with young, new, upcoming players and losing the old leaders that have made the group so successful over the years. Reading between the plays, corners and defensive strategy, the field hockey team relies on the girls’ group work and capability to work together so persistently and cohesively on and off the field.
Samantha Siegel, a varsity member of the field hockey team for four years now, said that, “it is the most diverse group of girls of any sports team I have ever played on and with that you would expect it to be challenging to blend as one. It’s quite the opposite of an experience, we all come together in a way that is so unique to a lot of girls sports team around us.”
Getting teenage high school girls to get along isn’t easy; with it comes drama and the day to day challenge of a lot of different personalities clashing. Instead of butting heads, the 20 girls that make up the field hockey team get along like best friends, win like teammates and collaborate like leaders. Every year head coach Sarah Falzarano has new goals and challenges for the girls to hopefully achieve. But one of her famous mottos is teaching the girls the lessons that come with playing the game, “it’s more than hockey.” Without the efforts of every individual you could say that over the span of the 10 years Falzarano has been the field hockey coach, it would not have been half as successful. As for this year, key seniors Emma Christus, Samantha Siegel and Ali Kramer hope to have yet another successful season. Big upcoming games like Ridge and potentially Bridgewater have been challenges every year for a small group one school like Bernards.
Abby Devito says that, “everyday at practice, and the last few games have put us in the mindset of having these huge games turn out successful, we need to keep that energy going for the final stretch of the season.” It’s inevitable that when teams start winding down at the last leg of their season, the players lose the communication and drive that once existed in the beginning. One thing the Field Hockey team can strive on is its drive to win, and getting closer and closer to a bigger title. Instead of losing the vision of a bigger title, every girl buckles down and pushes through with the 110% effort given.
The Field Hockey team finished the season at 18-4, and was a game away from the New Jersey State Finals, losing to Shore High School in a heartbreaker.
