As Flint Hill’s Girls Varsity team geared up for their game against Georgetown Visitation, the number one ranked team for the Independent School League’s (ISL) Field Hockey division, anxieties were high. Although the girl’s varsity team has had a great season, the stakes were higher than ever: not only had they never beaten Georgetown Visitation, if they did not win this would be their final game for the season. “It was definitely hard to go into the game with a good mindset because we knew the team we were up against. As the goalie, though, I was personally excited for the challenge,” said Senior Keira P. Stout.
On the day of the match, spirits were held high by a fleet of huskies (students and parents alike) who came out to show their support for the team. In true husky spirit, the feeling of determination remained palpable despite the challenge up ahead. In the first quarter, the team’s defensive strategy shined, with no goals scored and few attempts making it past the first line of defense. Part of this defensive teamwork could be in part due to the tight-knit relationships on the team: Sisters Senior Kieran Snow and Junior Callie Snow both played on the defensive line for almost the whole game, alongside their childhood friend and goalie Kiera Stout. “It’s nice to have someone who I know is looking out for me, and I think getting to talk to Callie after games helps us improve our communication and teamwork,” shared Snow. After Flint Hill continued to hold down the fort almost all the way through quarter two, Georgetown Visitation scored in the final minutes before halftime. Not letting their confidence waiver, the Huskies continued to hold their head high in quarter three. While Georgetown Visitation scored their second goal, the Huskies in the crowd only became more enthusiastic in cheering on their team. After persisting through almost all of quarter four, Georgetown Visitation scored their third and final goal in the last seconds of the game. “It felt unfortunate that they got in that last shot because we wanted to end on a positive note, but I’m still really proud of the progress we’ve made. In my freshman year, they won by 10 points, 7 points my sophomore year, 4 points last year, and now they’ve only won by 3 points,” added Stout. While the Huskies might not have won, they certainly didn’t lose; the fleet of Husky support, the team’s hard work, and the progress they made are proof of that.
