Senior Sarah Rowse clears the ball. (Photo by Christina Perini)
As the regular season draws to a close, Bromfield field hockey players prepare for districts, hoping to advance far in the competition not only to succeed as a team but also to hold on to their beloved seniors for as long as possible.
The last game of the regular field hockey season against Littleton took place on Friday, Oct. 25. Despite the rivalry between the two teams, Littleton and Bromfield have always shared a sense of camaraderie. Juniors Casey Russell and Colby Newsham agree that if they had to choose any team to lose to on senior day, it would be Littleton. Newsham told the Press, “We have a healthy sense of competition.” And although Littleton won 4-1, Bromfield players were satisfied with the game. Moments before the starting whistle blew, captain Gabrielle Doben told the team, “I don’t care about the score or if we win or lose. I just want us to play our hardest.” And that’s what they did.
Honoring the departing seniors
Each year, Bromfield Varsity Field Hockey (BVFH) dedicates the last home game to its departing seniors. With an unusual starting lineup that consisted entirely of seniors plus junior Colby Newsham, the team clicked immediately, and its intensity was palpable from the get-go. Senior captain Jillian Nelson reflects, “We kept our intensity up. We didn’t let them break our spirits. Even though Littleton may have beaten us, they pushed us to become better as a team and as individuals.”
Bromfield’s season record is 9-6-2: nine wins, six losses, and two ties. Last week, Doben scored Bromfield’s only goal, on an assist from senior Alexandra Dutkewych. Bromfield is seeded fourth among the six teams in the league that qualified for districts. Though its placement may not be ideal, Bromfield always manages to rise to the challenge. Last year, seeded 14th in districts, Bromfield triumphed over Uxbridge, which was seeded fourth.
‘Districts are going to be hard’
“Districts are going to be hard for us, but I have no doubt that our team will go far,” Newsham predicts. “With such a supportive group, it makes it that much harder for us to accept defeat. We are going to come into districts knowing that we all have to play our best every single minute in every game.”
Though Bromfield’s intensity leaves nothing to be desired, there are, of course, areas for improvement. Newsham says, “The intensity was there throughout the Littleton game, but unfortunately we weren’t able to execute our plays well. We’ve always played intensely against Littleton, but this game was really high on energy.” Indeed, Coach Silver continually stresses the fact that if BVFH hopes to go far in districts, players must complete their plays and double back for the ball when they are beaten. Senior captain Sarah Rowse affirms: “I think we just need to push ourselves in every game and keep on going. We need to stay focused.”
A bittersweet time
The general atmosphere surrounding the players following the game can only be described as bittersweet. Underclassmen field hockey players formed a tunnel with their sticks through which the seniors passed, with Coach Silver calling their names one by one. Applause and laughter abounded, but no one could miss the sense of melancholy shared by all the players, especially those on varsity who know the seniors well. Junior Kathryn Hodskins describes the day as “nostalgic,” noting, “It was especially bittersweet to see Gabby, Sarah, and Jillian playing their last home game. Colby and I have been on the team with them since the end of our freshman year, so we’ve gotten to see them grow into wonderful players and wonderful people.”
More than a few seniors describe the experience as “surreal.” Senior captain Sarah Rowse told the Press, “It was exciting, but it hasn’t hit me yet that I’m a senior and that my field hockey career at Bromfield is almost over.” When asked when she thinks it will finally hit her, she responds with a laugh, “Next fall when I’m not going to Jumpstart [preseason training].” All in all, this year’s senior game brought a mix of emotions for the entire Bromfield field hockey community. “It was incredible to have the opportunity to play with these girls throughout high school,” says Newsham. “Every practice and game brought amazing new memories. Realizing that the season with them is coming to a close is truly bittersweet.”
Lily Eissenberg-Moore is a sophomore at the Bromfield School.
