Season Recap: Field Hockey

Season Recap: Field Hockey

Exeter suffered a devastating loss against Dover in the semi-final game, ending in an overtime defeat of 3-2, and ending the Blue Hawks season. Exeter was ahead by two goals early on in the game, the goal stayed that way until the second half, when Dover came back to tie up the game and send it into overtime. Despite the loss, Exeter’s return to the semi-finals marked their fourth consecutive semi-final appearance. The Hawks had won the championship in 2021 and 2022. 

The Bluehawks had incredible success throughout the season, ranking 3rd overall, and ending in a 15-3 regular season. They saw outstanding performances from all the players but someone who had stood out to multiple people on the team and never backed down was sophomore goalie Amalia Gloss. Amalia reacted to hits quickly and was always ready for a block. Her talent resulted in great saves and many wins. Amalia had an incredible season and even got nominated for Student-Athlete of the Week for Seacoast Online. Her coaches and teammates talk highly of her. 

Deb Grott, head varsity coach of Exeter Field Hockey, who’s been running the program for many years, noted “Amalia, our goalie, stood out because she's only in 10th grade, and so she came and sat with us last year as the backup goalie for varsity. She played maybe one or two games for us, she was in net, so she had big shoes to fill, big pads to fill this coming year.” Coach Grott continued, “(she) pushed herself, not only during the season, but out of season two, to learn more. She's constantly trying to improve herself as a player, as a goalie.” 

Poppy Schaffer, a senior defense player, also mentioned “(Amalia) really, really, really improved this year, and she was a key player, for sure.” 

Overall, the team dynamics and communication were key to Field Hockey’s success. On the field, communication is the ability to know who to pass to and just talk to each other. The coaches take a path to ensure that their players are ready for the next game through communication. Eli Schovren, assistant varsity coach who was a part of the Exeter Field Hockey team, talked about this a little more about communicating with players at practices, specifically practices before a more challenging team: “We take every day by day. It's a game. We don't look too far ahead. We don't worry about what’s going to happen in October when we are in August. We worry about what's happening in the present…We focus on what's happening at that practice and how we're going to prepare for the next (game). I think that helps them not get so worried about those more challenging games.” By taking this type of approach during practices, they ensure that players aren’t worried about games further in the future, and help keep themselves in the present.

Along with communication, defense is a huge reason the Exeter Bluehawks have won so many games. Their defense has been outstanding through the regular season and playoffs. Senior Poppy Schaffer was a defensive player for the varsity field hockey team. At the beginning of the season she was playing left back, but as the season progressed she was moved to the center back position, “How I help the team, I'm kind of the person that clears the ball out when it gets to the last line of defense,” said Poppy. 

In the Bedford game in the regular season, even though they were untimely defeated, the defense had an amazing game. They charged the ball and didn't let the ball travel too far into the goal area before they cleared the ball again. 

The Hawks demonstrate exceptional proficiency in ball distribution during offensive plays, reflecting a significant degree of selflessness among the players. A particularly illustrative moment transpired in the Bedford match when Dani Caron, a junior captain and a commit to UNH field hockey, opted to pass the ball to Elsa Bishop, a senior captain and a commit at Bryant University, despite having a clear opportunity to shoot. This decision exemplifies her advanced understanding of the game.

Bishop noted, “One of our biggest challenges this season was capitalizing on an offensive push, and to counter the struggle we moved our positions around. By moving our stronger players up the field, we were able to provide better plays for the forwards and consequently score more.” 

To begin the season there was a lot of selfish play at hand, but towards the end, a big improvement was learning how to share the ball and when the time was right. 

The entire season as a whole was incredible. It didn't go the way everyone wanted, but with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses, and making it back to the semi-finals for the fourth time, no one could be overly upset. Coach Grott left with a final statement about the overall season, saying, “Even though we lost [the semi-finals game] they had an amazing season. Under the leadership of our three captains, Elsa, Emma, and Dani, they figured out what makes the team tick. We're there to help them and to pull them through different aspects of it, and it was an amazing year.” Coach Grot continued “Sad, always sad when it ends, but you have to look forward to the next year. And even though the seniors leave, they've left a lasting impression on Exeter Field Hockey that will never be forgotten.” Bishop added, “There was a lot of development leadership-wise that I adapted to throughout the season. In the end, I am entirely grateful for the experience this program has given me.” Throughout the entire season, the fans showed incredible support for the team. They consistently rallied behind the players, demonstrating their loyalty and passion. The fans expressed their gratitude for the hard work and dedication the team put into each game, recognizing the effort and commitment displayed both on and off the field. Their pride in the team was evident, as they celebrated the players' achievements and stood by them during challenging times. This strong connection between the fans and the team created an inspiring atmosphere that energized everyone involved, making the season a memorable experience for all.