This fall, after years of begging, I finally convinced my family to subscribe to the holy trinity of field hockey viewing: ESPN+, The Big 10 Network, and ACC Network Extra. It was definitely a struggle, but it was worth it to get to watch all of the outstanding matches so far this season. While there have been countless nail biters, I wanted to highlight my three favorite matchups that I watched on screen.
1. Lafayette vs Penn State, September 21
This game was one of the first to have me on the edge of my seat. From the first whistle, it was a defensive brawl. Lafayette got ahead early, but Penn State battled back to take the game into overtime, 2-2. In two periods of back-and-forth overtime, Lafayette defender Lena Thedrian rose to the occasion. Finally, when it came time for shootouts, Lafayette goalkeeper Raffi Fragomeni was a brick wall, and kept the Nittany Lions at bay long enough to pull out a Leopard victory. The grit, determination, and competitive sprint showcased in this game made it one of the most memorable so far this season.
2. Maryland vs Iowa, October 10
This is a more recent matchup, but I think that anyone who watched would agree that it was on another level from start to finish. For Maryland, the sister duo of Josie and Jordyn Hollamon shined. On the Hawkeyes side, junior and top Dionne van Aalsum was up to the test. Iowa scored first off of a corner, but Maryland stayed strong and rallied for the win, 2-1. This matchup showcased the skill and strength expected of a Big 10 matchup, but the intensity of the players exceeded expectations. Even watching from home, I was holding my breath on each shot, and on the edge of my seat during each corner. This match was definitely one of my favorites to watch this fall.
3. UNC vs Wake Forest, September 26
I might be a little biased, but this game was definitely my favorite so far this season. The play was even between the Tar Heels and the Deacs, and the quick transitions between defense and attack kept me on the edge of my seat. Freshman Rea Phume was a lockdown on defense for the Deacs, holding off Tar Heel powerhouses Daniella Mendez, Ryleigh Heck, and Charley Bruder. Not to mention Deacon goalkeeper Ellie Todd, who was on fire with 11 saves. This game was also made that much sweeter when Wake Forest came from 1-0 down in the last five minutes to win 2-1 in overtime. There’s definitely nothing better than watching your future team succeed, except for maybe being on the field yourself!
There have been so many outstanding matchups this year, each one with its own story and highlights. As tournament season approaches, I definitely plan to watch as many games as possible, not just to enjoy the games and support my future team, but to learn as much as I can from the high-level hockey at my disposal.
