By Avery Maslowsky, Co-Editor in Chief, photos by Claire Guo, Opinion Editor 

The Conestoga field hockey team lost to long-time rival Downingtown West for its home opener on Sept. 4 with a end score of 1-4.

The first goal of the night was scored by senior Charlotte De Vries, but within the following two minutes, Downingtown West’s senior Tatum Johnson tied the game with a shot to right side of the cage. Before the end of the first half, the Whippets scored again making the score 1-2 going into halftime. And by the end of the night, the Pioneers couldn’t break the goal line while Downingtown West scored twice more before the final buzzer.

While this was the first official game for the team, it also was the first game for the new coaching staff. Hired in the spring of 2018 for the head coach position, Team USA player and WC Eagles staff member Jaja Kuntwell made his first appearance out on the turf Tuesday.

The Conestoga field hockey team next plays Harriton on Sept. 7.

Check the photo gallery below!