By Kasey Cohan
Staff Writer

This fall, five freshmen made the varsity field hockey team. Those five freshmen are Erica Mattila, Allison Avery, Hailey MacDonald, Jenna Klinka, and Allia Connoly.

Klinka says of her reaction to making the varsity team, “It was amazing. I didn’t think that I would make it at all.” Mattila says, “I was shocked and so excited!”

These five girls are the only freshmen that play up.

Klinka says, “At first it was [a challenge] but it was easy to get used to.”

The girls practice every day of the week and sometimes on weekends.

MacDonald says of the commitment, “I thought it would be a lot harder but it feels like middle school field hockey except you run faster.”

Another expected challenge for the freshmen is juggling homework with the busy schedule varsity field hockey entails.

“With a spag you have less time, if it’s an away game you do it on the bus or during the JV game” said MacDonald about the girls’ method of getting their work done with the new schedule they’ve taken on.

The girls seem to be very accepted among the upperclassmen.

“I like them because they’re really nice to me and they make me feel very included,” says MacDonald. 

When asked what she thought about having five freshmen on the team, junior Steph Arno said, “I remember being a freshman and playing field hockey and it was a big deal. They’re doing great, I’m really impressed with them!”

The girls agree they don’t feel too much pressure playing on the varsity team.

Avery, a freshman and the only goalie for the team has had six shut out games this season.