By: Hanna Laeu ‘17
Staff Writer
Gordon College’s Field Hockey team finished off their final game of the regular season with a 1-0 win over Roger Williams on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Due to other conference results, the Scots knew that even with a win they would miss the postseason. In the end, their record left them just one position away from a playoff spot.
Following the game, Captain Karli-An Gilbert ‘17 said, “For field hockey in the CCC, you have to finish in the top four, but for other sports it’s the top eight, which is frustrating when playoffs come around as well. All in all, I would have loved to win another championship with the team I love, but something about having my last game as a player being a win is so incredible I can’t even put it into words.”
Ten freshmen joined the team at the beginning of the season. Gilbert expressed her thoughts on the younger squad, she said, “This year, the team was dominated by underclassmen. They are so talented, but there are just some developments in the game sense and confidence that come with age and experience at the college level.”
Shannon Hicks ‘17, a fellow captain and goalie of the team, agreed with Gilbert, saying, “I think being a young team, we were still learning how to play with each other and what it takes to win crucial games. We did not have a full lineup established before the season started and relied heavily on newer inexperienced players. This proved to be a challenge as our game schedule became more difficult. Our growth is obvious and we came a long way, but that is not always most effective when getting from point A to point B takes an entire season.”
However, the inexperience did not prevent the team from locking down the defensive realm of the game. Michelle Satava ‘17 said, “Our main strength this season was our defense and goalie. Briana [Kowolenko] had countless saves that kept us in the game. Shannon [Hicks] also had incredible saves that any other goalie in the conference would be sure to let in. Defense definitely prevented us from getting obliterated because we often did not have as many shots on goal as the other teams when we won, but our defense was good enough to save them.”
As for the offensive side, Emily Allcroft ‘18 scored the most points for the Scots as a forward, ending the season with a total of 10 goals. Allcroft started and played in all nineteen games of the season, averaging in 2.63 shots per game. The junior will remain a key asset for the team next year.
The team is saying goodbye to five seniors this year: Bailey Balmer, Marirose Brown, Gilbert, Hicks, and Satava. The contributions of Balmer and Hicks were recognized by earning spots on the second team All-CCC. Additionally, all five seniors received much recognition from friends and family at their last home game on Oct. 22.
For these women, Gordon College Field Hockey is more than just a sport. “This team and program has shaped me into a stronger more faithful woman and has been the most meaningful experience of my life. The coaches, especially Cory Ward, have been the most loving, loyal, supportive mentors for me and I would not be the woman I am today without Gordon Field Hockey,” said Hicks.
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