“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Heather and I at the beginning of the year passed out notes with these words and the Hendrix Field Hockey team has been the epitome of this phrase for the entire season, especially during the Conference tournament.
We were excited and ready to head to DePauw for conference. At the beginning of the last bus ride of the season we revealed our secret sisters. This was actually our most successful year for secret sisters because not everyone knew who their secret sister was. I’m not bragging, but my secret sister was Katie and for my final gift she purchased me a giant container of cheese balls. So wonderful!
We made it to DePauw and hopped off the bus right onto the field to get a little playing time in on the grass field. It was a little colder and darker than we were used to, but it definitely helped prepare us for the weekend.
Game # 1: Hendrix vs. Sewanee
The game started off at a high level of intensity and continued at that level for the rest of the game. We took an early lead when Kelly scored within the first five minutes of the game and we held that lead into halftime. However Sewanee came out of the half ready to play and scored three quick goals. With our team down 3-1 Ellie called a timeout and in the huddle told us that it wasn’t our time to go home and the team really took that to heart. Kelly scored her second goal of the game soon after the timeout and Heather put in the tying goal minutes after. The game was tied 3-3 with just a few minutes left and we had a corner. Abby launched a perfect shot that bounced off the goalie pads and Taylor deflected into the goal. The winning goal we all thought, but not so fast. The goal was called back because the referee said Abby didn’t pull the ball past the circle. So once again the Hendrix field hockey team was headed into overtime.
We have been in overtime before, but had yet to get a win. However, we knew that this time it would be different. The game went back and forth for a few minutes before Kelly scored the winning goal off a deflection. The team went nuts and those who were on the field playing overtime just hugged at the top of the circle and cried. We did it. We made Hendrix Field Hockey history and got farther in the SCAC tournament then any team before us.
The next day we lost to Rhodes 2-0 in another brutally tough game where we played out hardest. On the bus ride home, there was a sense of pride among the team. We had worked incredibly hard throughout the season and our hard work paid off. We were so proud of ourselves and excited to head back to campus and celebrate.
The season is over, but we couldn’t be prouder. To our seniors, Thank you for your leadership and for starting the Hendrix field hockey program, we couldn’t have done it without you. To the rest of team, Let’s get ready for next year!
Love,
The Hendrix Field Hockey Team
(Maggie)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Senior Weekend
Senior weekend. Enough said. There are so many emotions packed into those two words. For seniors it means playing their last home games at Hendrix. For underclassmen it means showing how much we have cherished our role-models and friends. Last weekend the seniors played their last two home games at Warrior field. Accompanied by friends, family, cafeteria ladies, and a special warm-up mix, we took the field and defeated Sewanee 1-0. Tay scored our lone goal within six minutes of the first half assisted by Kay Shay (who, according to Brian “Sent a rocket off the keeper’s pad”). The majority of the game was spent on their half of the field in the circle. The fourth in a series of wins, we moved to Sunday excited and prepared to play.
After our game we had a small shindig with our families catered by Zaza’s, (which was delicious, in case you were wondering) complete with presents for the seniors and cake. We had scrapbooks printed for each senior that included pictures from their freshman through their senior years: part one of the senior gifts. Following the soirée Liz, Mags, Mamma DesPain, my mom, and I went over to the locker room to decorate. The next morning the seniors were met with pictures, balloons, streamers, and puzzle-piece bracelets. Pumped and ready to go we walked out to the field to meet a fence decked out with cups spelling “senior day” and bleachers full of friends and family members.
Senior day was finally here. So much stress but it was worth every second to see the girls we care for like sisters smile. I choked back tears as Brian read. I was doing really well until I looked down the line of seven girls standing beside me, our team for next year. We have been blessed to play with an amazing team; an unstoppable, beautiful team. I have played next to my best friends, fought with every fiber of my being and win or lose I have felt fingers grasp the empty spaces between mine and I have experienced tears, laughter, encouragement, and friendship. The last three years have been an incredible ride.
Going into the second half down a goal has been a challenge for our team in the past, demonstrated by the second goal DePauw put in the cage. However, the real proof that we are moving forward as a team came about ten minutes into the half. In an exciting game-turner Heather tied the game, off of a corner, lighting a spark that led to another goal by Lexy not three minutes later. The remainder of the game was a fight to the finish, ending with two 7 v 7 sudden-death overtimes. Unfortunately in the 93rd minute DePauw slipped one into the cage, ending the game with a final score of 3-2. As we walked off the field we held our heads high, knowing that our team had left everything they had on the turf.
Love,
The Hendrix Field Hockey Team
(Lauren)
After our game we had a small shindig with our families catered by Zaza’s, (which was delicious, in case you were wondering) complete with presents for the seniors and cake. We had scrapbooks printed for each senior that included pictures from their freshman through their senior years: part one of the senior gifts. Following the soirée Liz, Mags, Mamma DesPain, my mom, and I went over to the locker room to decorate. The next morning the seniors were met with pictures, balloons, streamers, and puzzle-piece bracelets. Pumped and ready to go we walked out to the field to meet a fence decked out with cups spelling “senior day” and bleachers full of friends and family members.
Senior day was finally here. So much stress but it was worth every second to see the girls we care for like sisters smile. I choked back tears as Brian read. I was doing really well until I looked down the line of seven girls standing beside me, our team for next year. We have been blessed to play with an amazing team; an unstoppable, beautiful team. I have played next to my best friends, fought with every fiber of my being and win or lose I have felt fingers grasp the empty spaces between mine and I have experienced tears, laughter, encouragement, and friendship. The last three years have been an incredible ride.
Going into the second half down a goal has been a challenge for our team in the past, demonstrated by the second goal DePauw put in the cage. However, the real proof that we are moving forward as a team came about ten minutes into the half. In an exciting game-turner Heather tied the game, off of a corner, lighting a spark that led to another goal by Lexy not three minutes later. The remainder of the game was a fight to the finish, ending with two 7 v 7 sudden-death overtimes. Unfortunately in the 93rd minute DePauw slipped one into the cage, ending the game with a final score of 3-2. As we walked off the field we held our heads high, knowing that our team had left everything they had on the turf.
Love,
The Hendrix Field Hockey Team
(Lauren)
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