Due to the increasing number of field hockey players, North and South’s Girls’ Field Hockey teams split into two teams. The team now enters its first independent season, drawing out nearly 50 players at tryouts, many who are new to the program, eager to build a strong team, Dana Boehmer, Varsity Field Hockey Head Coach, said.
With most of last year’s varsity roster made up of North players, this season feels like a reset, sophomore Malini Shah, Varsity Midfielder, said. Players view the year as an opportunity to grow together and build a foundation for the future, Shah said.
“[The split] is definitely a very big adjustment,” Shah said. “This year, we’re looking at it as a year to build up our team so everyone [gets] a good sense of the game.”
After the split from North, field hockey faced the challenge of rebuilding its roster, senior Siya Shah, Varsity Co-Captain, said. Using Instagram posts, word-of-mouth, and outreach to friends and incoming freshmen, the program was able to attract many new players, Siya said. New faces are being guided by returning players who are helping the team find chemistry on and off the field, Siya explained.
“Even though this is the first year of rebuilding [and] it’s hard mentally, it’s all [going to] be fine,” Siya said. “I love my team and I’m just excited to see where the season goes. It’s all [South players], so it feels like a closer community.”
The focus for the pre-season has been helping new players adjust and build confidence while keeping the team focused on being its strongest rather than worrying about North, senior Alexis Clark, Varsity Co-Captain, said.
“There’s a really good team aspect,” Clark said. “[The new players] believe in [and] trust all [the] captains and the seniors, [knowing] that we’re trying to help them. Working with [underclassmen] will get us to where we need to be.”
The team is carrying larger rosters this year, with 25 players on varsity and 21 players on junior varsity (JV), Boehmer said. Several freshmen new to the sport earned spots, and having coached JV for more than a decade, Boehmer has seen first-year athletes develop into varsity contributors.
“As the [former JV] coach, I had freshmen who were inexperienced,” Boehmer said. “I’ve seen them go on to become really good players on varsity over the four years.”
Boehmer is taking on new responsibilities in her first year leading varsity, working to strengthen the program, Boehmer said. Their goal is to help every athlete feel included and develop their skills, Boehmer said.
“I want everyone to feel really excited when they’re in our program, and [feel] proud to wear South field hockey [uniforms],” Boehmer said. “I want them to feel included, and I want them to walk away saying that they had a great season.”