Last year’s MIAA Division 2 field hockey champions are having yet another great start to their season and currently stand at 11-2.
After defeating the #2 seed Norwood in last year’s championship game they started off their season with a 6-0 win against Burlington Field Hockey. In their first nine games, they outscored opponents 40-3, with wins over Burlington (6-0), Melrose (7-0), Concord Carlisle (2-0), Stoneham (4-0), Belmont (2-1), Lexington (6-1), Arlington (4-0), Winchester (2-1), and Woburn (7-0). Their two losses are to Watertown and Belmont.
I talked to the players to take a dive into what it takes for Reading Field Hockey to remain a top team. I spoke to Senior Avery Conway about her team’s bond and chemistry. She said, “Our team is definitely very close knit. We do a lot of extra curricular activities like pasta parties and getting food after practice. I think that this really helps our team to have a tight bond, which makes it easier to just have that initial communication when stepping onto the field.” The Reading Field Hockey girls have a lot of trust, unity, and support among players. This enhances their team’s overall performance on the field and increases their chances of winning.
During this season the Lady Rockets have gained a new asset to the team. Delaney Yule was a former Merrimack College standout. She coached Essex Tech and got them to the playoffs. Conway said, “The new coach is a great addition to our team. She has very enthusiastic responses to the girls and has implemented a lot of new methods. Her coaching style is awesome and really helps improve our team dynamic.” The new coach seems to be contributing well to the field hockey program’s success.
