The varsity field hockey team had a unique 2024 season, finishing with a record of 1-15-1 in the regular season, and also making the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division II playoffs. This year, the team welcomes not only a large amount of freshman, but eighth graders.
The way that the MIAA playoffs work is that the team earns a ranking based on wins and the strength of the teams that they play. The Warrior’s opponents last year were strong, which helped to get them into the playoffs.
“We’re definitely carrying in the spirit of competitiveness,” junior captain Aine Chase said. “We play a lot of teams in a DCL that have very strong teams, so we definitely learn how to compete hard, and how to learn from our mistakes.”
Heading into the season, the team chemistry is something highlighted by the captains. Chase, along with seniors Kiera Hines, Kate Goodman and Zoe Garcia are the team captains for this year.
“I think [our biggest strength] is definitely going to be the team energy,” Hines said. “It’s been really great to see how everybody’s been connecting, and I think that’s really going to help us on the field.”
Chase also highlighted the increase in freshman players trying out for the team this year. She credits the youth field hockey program in Wayland for that.
“Every year, we get a larger number of kids because of the youth program that started,” Chase said. “For a lot of the upperclassmen and sophomores, there wasn’t a youth program, so our numbers are pretty limited, but we do have a very large class of freshmen that joined us this year.”
The team opens their season on Friday, Sept. 5, with a home game against Arlington Catholic High School.
“We’re ready to compete again,” Chase said. “Everyone seems to be ready for the season and everyone is excited to play and compete.”
