Across the national field hockey scene, this week has stood out as one of the most exciting yet. Rivalry after rivalry game was slated, and it was impossible to choose one region that stood out from the rest. Instead, this week we will look back on just a couple of the many standout matches from this past week.
Battle in Pennsylvania
This week, national powerhouses took the field again in PA, and their games did not disappoint. The week started off with #7 Hill School ending #1 Academy of Notre Dame’s undefeated season with an overtime goal from Opal Sparling. However, Hill was later defeated by #2 Villa Maria, 3-0. Villa was unable to stay on top for long, though, as they were handed an upset defeat by #3 Episcopal, 2-0. It’s safe to say that this has been a tumultuous week for the Pennsylvania field hockey scene, and there is a lot to look forward to when tournament season comes around and these teams face off again.
NJ Powerhouses Face Off
On Tuesday, October 7, an age-old rivalry was renewed in northern New Jersey. #8 West Essex visited #5 Oak Knoll in a storied local matchup. West Essex scored first off a loose ball in the circle, but Oak Knoll quickly tied it up with a rocket shot off the stick of Maggie Rogers. The game remained tied until the end of the fourth quarter, when Oak Knoll junior Phoebe Lafferiere eliminated West Essex goalie Katie Moran to put the Royals up 2-1. The Royals held on to this scoreline and finished on top, but not without heavy testing from a strong Knights squad. Whenever these teams face off, it is always exciting, but this game will definitely be one to remember.
Mid-Atlantic Matchup
This past week, the top two teams in the Mid-Atlantic met up for a highly anticipated Virginia matchup: #11 Trinity School faced off against #16 Collegiate School. Avery Johnson shined in the cage for Trinity but could not hold on against the outstanding scoring ability of Alexandra Curtis and her Collegiate team. Final score: Collegiate 4, Trinity 2.
Undefeated Teams Hang On
Right now, only four teams remain undefeated in the national Top 25. They are #13 Phillips Academy Andover (MA), #14 Staples (CT), #16 Collegiate School (VA), and #25 Uxbridge (MA). To remain undefeated into October is already an incredible feat, but with the talent and determination these teams have already showcased, we can definitely expect them to battle to stay unbeaten until the final whistle.
