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The varsity women’s field hockey team is continuing to mesh as they enter their season. Led by Head Coach Tom Rosenbaum and senior captains Annie O’Rourke, Ellie Kahle, and Emma Duffy, the girls are working hard to reach their goals this fall with their new team.

This year’s team is different than last, according to Rosenbaum, because they have more underclassmen on the team who are starting, rather than seniors. They also have stonger knowledge of the game this season.

“Our team is pretty spread out. Last year we were dominated by seniors, we had a lot of starters who were seniors, and so this year we have a wide variety,” Rosenbaum said. “This year our knowledge of field hockey is much greater.”

In addition, the team has their minds set on improving and having a great season. They focused and trained hard during their offseason so they would be ready to dominate by the time their season began in August, according to Kahle.

“We are a lot more dedicated than we have been in the past,” Kahle said. “We have done a lot of offseason training, so that when we get in season were all ready to hit the ground running.”

Even though their team has a variety of ages, they have still been able to bond on and off the field. They have spirit days and in the past have participated in a walk for diabetes, according to O’Rourke.

“Sometimes we have spirit days at school, when we have a home game which lets everyone know to come out and support us,” O’Rourke said. “And usually in the fall, there is a walk for diabetes that we do since there have been girls throughout the program with diabetes, to support them.”

The captain’s main job is to keep the girls positive and focused on the game by encouraging them, according to O’Rourke. O’Rourke believes that this is a key part to the team as a whole.

“I think [encouragement] is a really important aspect of the team,” O’Rourke said. “Keeping them positive and keeping the atmosphere extremely positive [is also important] as well.”

According to Kahle, her favorite memory of playing field hockey was when South qualified for the elite eight. Her goal for this season is to make it back to the elite eight, and hopefully win state.

“My favorite memory was definitely my sophomore year when we won the qualifying game to go to the elite eight in the state tournament,” Kahle said. “It was super exciting because GBS had never made it that far before.”

According to O’Rourke, she also wants to make it far in the playoffs this year. She is hoping for a rematch with Glenbard West, so the Titans can take home the win.

“Last year we lost to Glenbard West in the playoffs, and one of my goals is to make it farther in the playoffs this year,” O’Rourke said. “If we do end up facing Glenbard West again in the playoffs, we will definitely beat them.”

According to Rosenbaum, although he wants them to make it far in playoffs as well, his main focus is for them to improve their skills.

“The goal I have for them all the time is pretty simple, and that is to be better today than they were yesterday, improve on something that you need to make yourself better on the field,” Rosenbaum said. “To compete for 60 min, not for 59:10, not 58 min, but a full 60 min.”