Written by Emma Skelton’19
According to Coach Ashley Leblanc, this year’s field hockey team is focused on being “small but mighty.” The team consists of only twelve girls comp
ared to last year’s group of eighteen, but they are definitely no less of a team. Almost every player has prior experience on the field, both at Hebron and in earlier schools and programs. This year’s single newcomer also plays ice hockey, so she is learning the sport quickly. In fact, on the first day of preseason, the team skipped over the normal tutorials and instructions and simply scrimmaged for an hour, something that rarely happens so early in the season. Since then, the team has been honing skills such as stick work, dodging, and passing.
Coach Leblanc is also very focused on getting in shape and staying fit. Each week the girls take part in workouts affectionately dubbed “Monday, Run-day, Fun-day” and “Torture Thursday.”
The team has faced a few setbacks since the season started, however. A week before their first game they found themselves without a goalie, but Ainsley King saved the day by agreeing to step into goal herself. She has been training hard and has proven herself to be a great goalie in a short period of time. She achieved her first shutout against Kents Hill on September 20. Additionally, the team has only one sub, as eleven girls take the field at once, yet the team’s hard work training and getting fit has proved quite valuable to their stamina and energy levels during games. So far this season, they have won two out of their four games, and their spirits and morale are high. Overall, the defending MAISADS champions have a good chance of bringing home the title yet again. Their skill and perseverance have shown that they are truly small but mighty.