Following an impressive 10-2 regular season record and playoff victories over Northwest and Wootton, the field hockey team lost in the regional finals to B-CC Nov. 2.
The appearance was the deepest the Bulldogs have advanced in the playoffs since 2007, when they also lost in the regional finals.
“It was an amazing season,” junior defensive midfielder Alyssa Weiss said. “I have never been so proud after a loss.”
The Bulldogs and Barons traded goals in the first half, with B-CC scoring right out of the gate with a goal just four minutes into the game. CHS fired back when senior Alex Fox assisted senior Mairin Hall with a goal just two minutes later. B-CC would later retake the lead in the first half, but CHS tied it again before halftime when junior Jenn Shim converted a penalty shot into a goal.
“B-CC was good at transitioning, and they were fast getting down the field, so when they had fast breaks it was hard beating them to the ball,” senior defender Emma Barnett said.
The Barons scored just three minutes into the second half, taking a 3-2 lead. Despite tough pressure from the CHS offense, the Bulldogs were not able to score again. B-CC sealed the game with a final goal with just four minutes left, winning the game 4-2.
“They finished really well,” Weiss said. “They always had a girl down circle in the post. They did a good job catching us on our heels.”
To reach the regional finals, CHS defeated rival Wootton Oct. 31. After allowing a first half goal, the Bulldogs trailed the Patriots 1-0 going into halftime. However, the deficit would not last long as Hall tied the game early in the second half with a goal.
CHS scored again when junior Chrissy Michaels found the back of the net to put the Bulldogs up 2-1. Senior Maddy Flax later clinched the victory with a snipe to give the Bulldogs a two-goal lead.
Coach Catherine Miller credited the comeback to the team’s improved passing in the second half and its support of each other. Miller also noted strong performances by Barnett and Fox.
“Alex had really good sends,” Barnett said. “She had really good opportunities for scoring in the circle.”
In the Bulldogs’ opening playoff matchup, they handily defeated Northwest 9-1 Oct. 27. The mismatch was evident as the Bulldogs jumped out with a quick lead and kept up the relentless attack. At halftime, the team led 7-0 before shifting its focus to playing a stifling defense that shut out the notably attractive Northwest team until the final few minutes when Northwest finally broke through and scored.
“We were able to dominate Northwest because we had a lot of confidence, and we all stepped it up because we wanted to go far in playoffs,” Barnett said. “Northwest got us pumped up for our next playoff, which was Wootton. We had great momentum going into the game and kept it up to beat Wootton.”
The team will now look towards next season, which will be a difficult task as this year the team only sported three non-senior starters.
“We had really talented players on the team, so it helped get us this far in playoffs and have such a good record,” Barnett said. “I will never forget the great memories I had on the team and the wonderful friendships I have with all the players.”
