Back in August, the Wayland field hockey team set its sights on the MIAA 2008 Field Hockey Tournament. In the last week of the season, Wayland achieved its goal, and will enter the state tournament in a game against Swampscott, MA scheduled for this Wednesday. It was a successful season and the team hopes that this will reflect in tournament.

Last Friday, October 24, the Wayland Field Hockey team lost a hard-fought game against Concord-Carlisle. This game concluded the team’s regular season and put Wayland in third place in the league, behind Weston and Concord-Carlisle. Despite the loss, Wayland still managed to qualify for tournament, with an overall winning record of 7-6-3.

Friday’s competition was the final in a string of three games last week. With a record of 6-5-2, Wayland needed to win at least one of these games in order to achieve a record above 500 and make it into tournament. On Tuesday, Wayland clinched a victory against Arlington. The score was 4 to 1, with one goal by Kelly MacDonald and a hat trick by forward Maggie Davis. Coach Fraser commented, “The season reflects a determined team’s goal to achieve tournament. They fought hard and accomplished this in their third to last game of the season with a convincing victory.”

Although victory over Arlington insured Wayland’s place in tournament, there were two more games left to complete the season. On Thursday, Wayland lagged behind Tyngsboro with a score of 1-0. In the last 2 minutes, midfield Emily Andresen scored off of a long drive into goal, tying up the game with a final score of 1-1. On Friday, Wayland came out strong against Concord-Carlisle. Thanks to a goal by forward Naomi Rosenhaus, the first half ended with a score of 1-1. In the second half, Concord-Carlisle scored again, and although there were several valiant attempts at the goal, Wayland was unable to put another one away. The week’s win, tie, and loss concluded the regular season.

Due to recent changes in the league, the bar for qualification was set higher than in prior years. The team needed to place first or second in their smaller league, or achieve a record above 500. They ended the season in third place in their small league, but with a record over 500, thus able to qualify for the tournament.

The team’s expectations are high as they enter tournament, with their first game today. As Coach Fraser puts it, “We’re seeded in a good position to advance, unlike other years when we have drawn to be against the top seed and lost in the first round. This year we’re placed to do well.”