Field Hockey Falls One Win Shy of State Title

Record: 15-6-1

Graduating seniors: Paige Macrae, Cally Dougherty, Elizabeth Johnson, Katie Monaghan, Laura Hyder, Alex Loftus, Emily Cooper and Olivia Langerhans.

Overall impressions of the season: This season was an undeniable success. I am so proud of the 2011 MHSFH team for overcoming so many obstacles on the way to defeating Wall, winning a Group 3 Central Title, and advancing over Kingsway to the State Finals. I am excited because this season's successes pave the way for our continued success next season. 

The team’s unsung hero: Katie Monaghan was our unsung hero both on and off the field. She spent much of the season injured (in the beginning of the year, recovering from stress fractures in her spine, and in the middle of the season, tearing her ACL during the home game vs. Burlington Twp on our Senior Day), but was invaluable to the team. On the field, Katie's play spoke for itself. She was a tremendous defender with an outstanding block tackle, great ability to distribute the ball, and excellent communication skills with her keeper and the defense/midfield. After Katie's season-ending injury, she continued to be a leader. Every day at practice, Katie worked with the younger defenders. She helped them to focus on improving their tackling technique, their positioning on the field, and most importantly, their self-confidence. This leadership and selflessness surely helped the team develop the confidence necessary to succeed in the playoffs as far as we did. Katie did all of this without being asked, without complaint, and without letting her teammates see how much it pained her to not be on the field competing alongside of them. Katie's demonstration of leadership in this unsung hero role was exceptional.

The impact of the seniors on this year’s team: This senior class taught the team what it meant to play with heart. They were relentless competitors when it came down to our success in the playoffs. Paige Macrae, Cally Dougherty, Elizabeth Johnson, Katie Monaghan, Laura Hyder, Alex Loftus, Emily Cooper, and Olivia Langerhans helped the team to gel as the season went on. They brought a sense of focus, determination, and fun to the team. I know they are very proud of the fact that outsiders wouldn't be able to tell what grades any of the girls were in because they were all so close and respected each other regardless of class. I am proud of the new traditions that this senior class has left behind: beating Wall and advancing to the state finals for the first time since 2006. I am grateful for the leadership this class has showed and honored to have been their coach for four years.

Reaction to defeating Wall Township: I felt relieved and truly happy for the girls, especially the seniors. Before the second overtime ended in our favor, the coaches looked in the eyes of the seniors—I specifically remember looking at Paige Macrae—telling the team, "Win it for each other, win it for the seniors." I was so proud of the girls for walking off the field absolutely spent, having exhausted themselves for the good of the team—so that the seniors could finally walk off that field as winners. I'm also happy to have established a new identity for the future of this team. Now, all the remaining underclassmen will recognize that we can, will, and should beat Wall, should we face them again in the playoffs. We are on the road to renewing the MHSFH image of tradition and excellence. The girls now understand that we CAN win a state title, no matter who stands in our way.

The loss of the seniors: I will miss their love for the game, for each other, for their littles (their younger teammates in their "families"), and for the team. I will greatly miss the talent and leadership on the field. I will miss all of the great contributions that they have given to this program, but I will be proud of the success they will find next year in college. 

The team’s talent: This team was certainly talented, but what stands out most about this team was their heart. I have never had a team that truly felt like a family, that the players on the field were supporting each other, and that truly came together as ONE when it mattered the most. Every single person on the team, from the varsity starters down, contributed their talents for the good of the team. Together, our heart combined with talent, made for a truly special group.