The field hockey team amassed a record of 7-5. According to head coach Tom Rosenbaum, the team is working their way through every game in order to advance further in the playoffs this season.

While the playoffs are many weeks away, the team continues to focus and work hard in practice, according to Alexa Steil, two-year senior captain.

“Going into the season, we lost a lot of seniors, yet we had a lot of juniors,” Steil said. “We had a lot of new freshman trying out, [but] we ended up becoming a really strong team and working well together. I think this year we have a really good chance at playoffs and being able to stay in, hopefully getting to the top four.”

Additionally, Rosenbaum acknowledges the girls’ capabilities as a unit on the field, especially in their first game.

“We have a lot of talent […] We have a lot of kids that have been playing two to three years, so we have some athletes who are very fast, quick, and knowledgeable on the field,” Rosenstein said.

The first big game the girls won was against Stevenson with a score of 5-1 on Aug. 24. Steil feels this game specifically created a sense of unity throughout the team.

“I’d probably say our best victory was against Stevenson, because Stevenson is usually one of the better [and] top teams that we play,” Steil said. “It was our first win as a team, so it was really exciting. To see everything transfer from practice into a game and everything work out and people being in the correct places is exciting.”

According to Rosenbaum, senior Emily Abrams scored the first goal in the game, which created an exciting energy on the turf.

“I felt a lot more motivated and stronger as a player,” Abrams said. “There’s always so much more energy when someone scores [during an important game].”

Two days later, the players fought against the defending state champions Lake Forest on Aug. 26, according to junior Megan Dillon.

“We scored first, and they were the state champions last year, so we were all rallied up,” Dillon said. “It was 1-0 and then they scored [to make it] 1-1. It was 2-1 for the whole game, so, in the last five minutes, they scored, and it was 2-2, and we had to go into overtime. We were all exhausted and ready to beat [them]. We knew we had it in us, but we ended up losing in overtime 3-2. It was a very heart-breaking game, but it was exciting, [and] we’re going to get them next time.”

Even though the team has faced countless injuries this season, Rosenbaum appreciates the key players on the team that continue to accelerate their skills, as well as new players who have improved their skills this season.

“With injuries, a lot of people have stepped up,” Rosenbaum said. “[Abrams] got us a goal in seven of the eight games, [and] that’s pretty consistent [so] she’s one of our top key kids.”

Rosenbaum and the two captains, Steil and senior Sarah Westerfield, are determined to advance much further than last year and beat Glenbard West in the playoffs.

“It all depends on how we’re ranked, who we play and when we have to play them,” Rosenstein said. “It’s going to come down definitely in the top five or six.”

In addition, Abrams feels similar to Rosenbaum and the captains in regards to their thoughts on playoffs.

“We have improved so much as a team and have continued to impress our coaches,” Abrams said. “I think we will make it further in playoffs than we did last year.”