By Lauren Pinheiro, Abby Chong and Vaishnavi Sriadibhatla, Photography Editor and Co-Sports Editors
The sound of the referee’s whistle rings loudly as overtime begins. With the timer counting down from 10 minutes, senior, co-captain and midfielder Shae Wozniak sprints down the field and receives the ball from senior and midfielder Hannah Simon. Dribbling past three defenders, Wozniak takes a step into open space before flicking the ball toward the cage and past the keeper.
The sound of the ball hitting the backboard echoes throughout the field as Wozniak falls to the ground. The stands erupt into cheers and the scoreboard flashes, marking the girls’ field hockey team as the winners of the PIAA 3A State Championships for the first time in Conestoga’s history.
“I collapsed on the ground and immediately burst into tears because I couldn’t even believe it happened,” Wozniak said. “I felt my teammates on the field first come around me. They were like, ‘We won, we won, we won. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.’ I saw them sprinting out, and (they) just piled on top of me.”
On Nov. 16, the team played in the state championship game for its first time since 1987, facing Villa Maria Academy High School. Shortly into the quarter, junior and forward Alivia first D’Ascanio scored a goal, securing an early lead for Conestoga and allowing the girls to focus on defense. Going into halftime, they maintained their 1-0 lead until Villa Maria battled back in the third quarter, tying the score 1-1. After neither team scored in the fourth quarter, the game went into overtime.
“It was really high energy. It was only like a minute and a half of overtime,” sophomore and defender Lucy Salata said. “Once Shae got the ball and started carrying it down, we all knew that she was gonna do it. Some girls even took their coats off when she was carrying the ball to the goal.”
Having been on the team for three years, senior, co-captain and defender Phoebe Ridder said that the team’s work ethic and camaraderie were key to winning the championship this year. After the final goal from Wozniak, Ridder felt proud of the team and joined the other players on the field to celebrate with a group hug.
“I just had such a rush of emotions — it was crazy. Everyone was crying. I almost don’t even know how to describe it, but you can see the pictures and in the video, so much love for each other,” Ridder said. “It was such a team effort. It wasn’t one player.”
Varsity head coach Regan Marscher has been a part of the Conestoga field hockey team since 2018, initially serving as an assistant coach before stepping into her current role in 2019. Marscher has watched the team improve and was glad that it faced Villa Maria in the state championship, as the girls previously lost to the school during the District 1 Championship game this year.
“Winning the state championship has to be the best moment. The first one in our program’s history is incredible. We really fought super hard against a tough Villa Maria team that we lost to in the district championship,” Marscher said. “To have that redemption was incredible.”
Leading up to the game, the team prepared mentally and physically. The girls hosted a dance party and played music on the bus ride to the championship, listened to pep talks and warmed up to play on the field.
“Our coach came in and gave us an amazing speech, a moment that I will remember forever and almost brought me to tears before the game even started,” Wozniak said. “What I remember she specifically said was, ‘From great opportunities arise great movements.’ I think realizing that we are at a state championship, one of the top two teams in the state of Pennsylvania, and that we belong here was just so motivating.”
The team losing to Villa Maria in the district game motivated the girls to win as they faced the school again in the state championship. Marscher felt that D’Ascanio scoring the first goal around seven minutes into the game helped instill confidence in the team.
“We scored first relatively quickly into the game. I think it was really important for us to set the tone for Villa that we weren’t messing around. Villa is a very strong team offensively, (but) our defense just completely shut them down,” Marscher said. “Watching Villa get frustrated was kind of cool, and seeing how patient and composed our players were was really awesome.”
The team developed a “man-to-man” marking strategy for the state championships after playing Villa Maria in the district championship, in which senior and midfielder Lexi Patterson face guarded junior Caitlin Connell from Villa Maria to prevent her from getting close to the ball. Sophomore and defender Lucy Salata attributes the team’s success to the tactic.
“There were some pivotal moments when Lexi would stop No. 6, Caitlin Connell, and it would give the whole team momentum forward,” Salata said. “We would have some really good offensive opportunities, and once we had a few of those good offensive opportunities, I knew we had the game in control.”
The girls utilized a “low press” strategy, a defensive method in which the team allowed Villa Maria to play, focused on counterattacks and used the sides instead of the middle of the field. When shooting the final goal, Wozniak felt that the game was neck-to-neck and was not certain that the ball went through the cage at first.
“I knew Hannah or someone would get the ball down there to me. She just sent it to space. I ran onto it. I got through two defenders. There was a third defender that I just touched the ball out,” Wozniak said. “Kind of on my back foot with the ball going right to me, I tried to get the shot off, and then it went right inside the goalkeepers’ pad, into the back of the cage.”
As the team made its way back to Conestoga, a fire truck from the Berwyn Fire Company temporarily accompanied the girls and a crowd of supporters met them at the school. The team celebrated its championship win and newfound state title with an after-party at a player’s house.
“It was the best feeling ever. Everyone was just so excited, sprinting on the field,” forward and freshman Price Orcutt said. “On the bus, we all had a dance party.”
The season also marked the first time since 1987 that the team qualified for the state championship. Marscher invited alumni players from the original team, such as 1989 alumna Nikki Walton, to visit the girls during their Nov. 15 practice. Walton was happy to see the team return to the state championship level after 37 years.
“We went to practice and just talked to them for a minute. I just thought that was great that (Marscher) included us in the success of the team now,” Walton said. “To see them actually win it is great, just for the school and because it’s been a long time since they went.”
Girls train, build community throughout season
The team started training for the season over the summer with the aim of creating a connected team environment. Forward and freshman Reagan Herrell was originally nervous to join as a new player and had concerns about the team making up for the senior players that graduated last year.
“It was kind of hard in the beginning because a lot of the seniors graduated who were really good last year, and we were trying to figure out where everyone worked best together,” Herrell said. “But as the season went on, we started to figure out the people and how they position themselves on the field so we could pass and connect with them.”
Last year the team had an undefeated season until the playoffs. As a result, Salata felt that the girls did not share the team-building experience of losing a game and overcoming it. This year, she said that their bonds have strengthened as they encountered losses as a team.
“Having some early losses in the season really connected us and showed us that we don’t like to lose,” Salata said. “It brought us together that we have a common goal: ‘Obviously we want to win, but we know how bad it is to lose, so let’s not make it happen.’”
Throughout the regular season, the team practiced every day after school for around two hours. During the playoff season, they started having more team morning walks. Marscher said that the team strived to uphold a hard-working but enjoyable environment.
“At ’Stoga field hockey, we really try to practice the way that we want to play. Our practices are taken very seriously. The girls work really hard,” Marscher said. “I call it flipping a switch. It’s obviously really fun to hang out with your teammates once you get to practice, but there’s work that needs to be done. The players, especially the seniors on the team, know what I expect as their coach and know what the program needs to be successful.”
In order to cultivate a strong bond among players, the captains prioritized hosting a wide variety of team-building activities throughout the season. The team kicked off its summer training by hosting an Olympics-style tournament among its players. The girls hosted other events, such as a haunted house visit, pasta parties, team yoga sessions, dance parties, community service activities and player-led youth clinics.
“One of our biggest goals was connection and making sure that everyone felt welcomed. It’s hard to have a group of 30 people and for everyone to be best friends, but I think that everyone had a lot of respect for each other,” Ridder said. “Celebrating with a team was one of the greatest things I’ve ever experienced. That day was the best day of my life.”
The team ended the regular season with an overall record of 15-1 and is 24th in the nation, according to MaxPreps. In the future, Marscher wants to maintain the same approach the coaches and team had this year.
“Every year is a different cast of characters, but it is one of the beauties of a new season. It can be overwhelming at the beginning, thinking about players who have gone on and graduated, but it truly is like that every year and every season,” Marscher said. “It’s trusting the process, and it truly is team-building. I’m really excited we have a lot of very strong girls coming back next year, so I think we’re gonna do very well again.”
Team wins game 2-1, overcomes previous losses
Leading up to the game, the team prepared mentally and physically. The girls hosted a dance party and played music on the bus ride to the championship, listened to pep talks and warmed up to play on the field.
“Our coach came in and gave us an amazing speech, a moment that I will remember forever and almost brought me to tears before the game even started,” Wozniak said. “What I remember she specifically said was, ‘From great opportunities arise great movements.’ I think realizing that we are at a state championship, one of the top two teams in the state of Pennsylvania, and that we belong here was just so motivating.”
The team losing to Villa Maria in the district game motivated the girls to win as they faced the school again in the state championship. Marscher felt that D’Ascanio scoring the first goal around seven minutes into the game helped instill confidence in the team.
“We scored first relatively quickly into the game. I think it was really important for us to set the tone for Villa that we weren’t messing around. Villa is a very strong team offensively, (but) our defense just completely shut them down,” Marscher said. “Watching Villa get frustrated was kind of cool, and seeing how patient and composed our players were was really awesome.”
The team developed a “man-to-man” marking strategy for the state championships after playing Villa Maria in the district championship, in which senior and midfielder Lexi Patterson face guarded junior Caitlin Connell from Villa Maria to prevent her from getting close to the ball. Sophomore and defender Lucy Salata attributes the team’s success to the tactic.
“There were some pivotal moments when Lexi would stop No. 6, Caitlin Connell, and it would give the whole team momentum forward,” Salata said. “We would have some really good offensive opportunities, and once we had a few of those good offensive opportunities, I knew we had the game in control.”
The girls utilized a “low press” strategy, a defensive method in which the team allowed Villa Maria to play, focused on counterattacks and used the sides instead of the middle of the field. When shooting the final goal, Wozniak felt that the game was neck-to-neck and was not certain that the ball went through the cage at first.
“I knew Hannah or someone would get the ball down there to me. She just sent it to space. I ran onto it. I got through two defenders. There was a third defender that I just touched the ball out,” Wozniak said. “Kind of on my back foot with the ball going right to me, I tried to get the shot off, and then it went right inside the goalkeepers’ pad, into the back of the cage.”
As the team made its way back to Conestoga, a fire truck from the Berwyn Fire Company temporarily accompanied the girls and a crowd of supporters met them at the school. The team celebrated its championship win and newfound state title with an after-party at a player’s house.
“It was the best feeling ever. Everyone was just so excited, sprinting on the field,” forward and freshman Price Orcutt said. “On the bus, we all had a dance party.”
The season also marked the first time since 1987 that the team qualified for the state championship. Marscher invited alumni players from the original team, such as 1989 alumna Nikki Walton, to visit the girls during their Nov. 15 practice. Walton was happy to see the team return to the state championship level after 37 years.
“We went to practice and just talked to them for a minute. I just thought that was great that (Marscher) included us in the success of the team now,” Walton said. “To see them actually win it is great, just for the school and because it’s been a long time since they went.”
Girls train, build community throughout season
The team started training for the season over the summer with the aim of creating a connected team environment. Forward and freshman Reagan Herrell was originally nervous to join as a new player and had concerns about the team making up for the senior players that graduated last year.
“It was kind of hard in the beginning because a lot of the seniors graduated who were really good last year, and we were trying to figure out where everyone worked best together,” Herrell said. “But as the season went on, we started to figure out the people and how they position themselves on the field so we could pass and connect with them.”
Last year the team had an undefeated season until the playoffs. As a result, Salata felt that the girls did not share the team-building experience of losing a game and overcoming it. This year, she said that their bonds have strengthened as they encountered losses as a team.
“Having some early losses in the season really connected us and showed us that we don’t like to lose,” Salata said. “It brought us together that we have a common goal: ‘Obviously we want to win, but we know how bad it is to lose, so let’s not make it happen.’”
Throughout the regular season, the team practiced every day after school for around two hours. During the playoff season, they started having more team morning walks. Marscher said that the team strived to uphold a hard-working but enjoyable environment.
“At ’Stoga field hockey, we really try to practice the way that we want to play. Our practices are taken very seriously. The girls work really hard,” Marscher said. “I call it flipping a switch. It’s obviously really fun to hang out with your teammates once you get to practice, but there’s work that needs to be done. The players, especially the seniors on the team, know what I expect as their coach and know what the program needs to be successful.”
In order to cultivate a strong bond among players, the captains prioritized hosting a wide variety of team-building activities throughout the season. The team kicked off its summer training by hosting an Olympics-style tournament among its players. The girls hosted other events, such as a haunted house visit, pasta parties, team yoga sessions, dance parties, community service activities and player-led youth clinics.
“One of our biggest goals was connection and making sure that everyone felt welcomed. It’s hard to have a group of 30 people and for everyone to be best friends, but I think that everyone had a lot of respect for each other,” Ridder said. “Celebrating with a team was one of the greatest things I’ve ever experienced. That day was the best day of my life.”
The team ended the regular season with an overall record of 15-1 and is 24th in the nation, according to MaxPreps. In the future, Marscher wants to maintain the same approach the coaches and team had this year.
“Every year is a different cast of characters, but it is one of the beauties of a new season. It can be overwhelming at the beginning, thinking about players who have gone on and graduated, but it truly is like that every year and every season,” Marscher said. “It’s trusting the process, and it truly is team-building. I’m really excited we have a lot of very strong girls coming back next year, so I think we’re gonna do very well again.”
Lauren Pinheiro can be reached at [email protected].
Abby Chong can be reached at [email protected].
Vaishnavi Sriadibhatla can be reached at [email protected].
