Field hockey finishes strong

The 16-player field hockey squad gathered in a tight huddle just before the beginning of the match. They talked strategy, they cheered, and they got pumped up. At the conclusion of the game, two 30-minute periods later, the energy hadn't dissolved as the Blazers walked off of the field, triumphant over Rockville 2-1 in their last home game of the regular season.

The Blazers took an early lead when junior Caitlin Garlow scored a goal off of a penalty corner. However, by halftime, Rockville countered with a goal. The game appeared to be in a deadlock until well into the second half, when junior Julia Penn led a breakaway down the field, passing the ball to sophomore Julie-Anne Spatz for the game-winning goal. Spatz is the lead scorer for the Blazers this year with six goals.

Blair's defense excelled in the game and has been a solid force since the beginning of the season. Seniors Emily Savner, Leah Passman and Catt Edgley and junior Alexa Gabriel played important roles in the victory against Rockville and have had a similar impact on many other close matches. The four were often able to steal the ball from the opposing team and made strong drives into Rockville's defensive side.

Obstacles throughout the season have plagued the Blazers. Most notably, junior starting forward Christina Do suffered a head injury early in the season against Damascus, ending her season and shortening Blair's already-small roster. The team adjusted, though, as younger players stepped up to play larger roles on the team.

The team looked its best in the game against Rockville, observed senior co-captain Kamala Smith. "We were passing a lot, and we were getting to the ball and getting it past their defense. These have been our problems all year, and we tackled them today," she said.