Triumphs through teamwork: Blair’s girls’ varsity field hockey season in review

The 2024 fall season for Blair’s girls’ varsity field hockey team has been one of growth, determination, and remarkable cohesion. Under the guidance of head coach Holly Stofa, the team has achieved much more than just wins and losses — they’ve established themselves as a cohesive unit, with a clear focus on both individual and team progress. Let’s take a look at the Blazers’ 2024 fall season. 

Preseason 

Last season, the girls’ varsity field hockey team finished with a 50 percent win record — an outcome that captain and senior goalie Keelin Pegg felt didn’t fully meet their potential. “I think there was definitely a lot of room for improvement from last year,” Pegg explained. “We won about half our games and lost half of them, which wasn’t ideal.” 

However, the girls were hopeful and excited for a reset with the new season. “I think we have a lot of passion, and we’re encouraging a lot of positivity for this year,” said captain and senior forward Carmella Beach. 

This preseason was a crucial time, with the team focusing heavily on conditioning and building consistency before the actual season began. “Our coaches are really passionate about field hockey, and making sure we’re coming into the season in really good shape fitness-wise,” explained Beach. Throughout the summer months, the team had optional practices to develop players and prepare them for the rigorous season ahead. 

Meanwhile, the coaches focused on filling the gaps in the team’s roster left by seniors from the prior year. “The thing with a team is that if you change even one player, the entire dynamics of the whole team changes as well,” Stofa remarked. Despite the changes, she felt comfortable with the new lineup after seeing the team come together during preseason training. "We had a lot of areas to improve on, but having Keelin in goal really helped stabilize our defense," Stofa noted. “It gave the whole team confidence knowing we had a dedicated goalie who could make those big saves.” With a refreshed lineup and a new school year, the team was ready to take on the challenges ahead. 

Opening game

After a few preseason scrimmages, the Blazers’ season began with a tight match - a close 1-0 loss to Whitman. As one of the top teams in the county, facing Whitman was no small challenge. The game’s only goal came in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, but rather than being discouraged by the loss, the team focused on the positives of the game. “Whitman called a timeout in the first five minutes of the game," Stofa explained. "Coaches only get one timeout for the entire game, and most try to save it for a potential overtime. So, when they called that timeout early, it showed our girls that they were doing something right."

Despite the narrow loss, the game was a major confidence booster for the Blazers, as it proved they could hold their own against one of the strongest teams in the county. "It really showed us we were in it and could compete at a high level," Pegg said. 

Similarly, Beach described it as one of their proudest moments as a team. “Even though the game was our loss, I feel like it was one of our biggest wins in the season.”

Winning Streak 

That confidence carried the team through their next few games, where they absolutely dominated their competition. Blair went on an extraordinary run, leaving their opponents scoreless in seven consecutive games. Blowout wins, such as their 7-0 victory over Paint Branch, demonstrated their ability to control the game from start to finish. Against Paint Branch, the Blazers made a whopping 17 attempts on goal, keeping relentless pressure on their opponent’s defense. “That was when we started really connecting as a team and getting that chemistry flowing from defense to offense and getting the passes in,” explained Beach. 

Likewise, other games like the “Battle of the Boulevard” against Northwood left the Blazers’ opponents struggling to keep pace. The girls attempted 11 shots on the goal and earned ten offensive corners, ultimately shutting out Northwood with a commanding 6-0 win. 

Stofa credited much of the team’s success to their improved coordination and teamwork. “This group of girls really is one of the most connected teams I’ve ever coached,” Stofa said. “They trust each other on and off the field, which makes a world of difference." 

Pegg saw this trust translate directly into field performance, as the team’s ability to work as a unit improved. “I think we all connect well, and I think our passing shows that,” she explained. “Our team chemistry is definitely really good this year. We’ve been able to do these passing plays that create opportunities and, hopefully, end up in a goal.”

Blair's undefeated streak eventually hit a roadblock in a 2-0 loss on Oct. 11, to Bethesda-Chevy Chase (BCC). Though the Blazers managed three solid shots on goal and Pegg made six impressive saves, they were unable to penetrate BCC’s tough defense and secure a win.

Season Closure 

However, the girls didn’t dwell on the loss for too long. Their next match was the highly anticipated Senior Night against Walter Johnson, where they rallied to win in a tight, hard-fought game. The defense shone through, led by Pegg in goal, keeping the game scoreless until the fourth quarter when Blair finally broke through to score the game’s only goal. The 1-0 win was a memorable one, especially for the nine seniors on the team. “It was a really good game,” explained senior forward ÁnhTâm Pham. “We came in expecting a hard fight, and we gave it our all.” 

The Blair team kept up their momentum heading into a game against Churchill, where they faced another tough opponent. Despite scoring two goals and earning 13 defensive corners, the Blazers were unable to overcome the Bulldogs' strong offense. Churchill managed to score five times, despite Blair's defense putting up a valiant effort. Pegg made eight crucial saves to prevent additional goals, though the team ultimately fell short against the relentless Churchill attack in a 2-5 game. 

Looking Forward 

As the regular season came to a close with an impressive 9-3 record, the Blazers are shifting their focus to the playoffs. However, both Stofa and the players are keeping their outlook grounded and balanced. “We’re just focused on having fun in general, and really taking the season one game at a time,” Stofa emphasized.

A phrase the team has embraced throughout the season is "Blazer heart from the start," a motto that has grown to symbolize their resilience and dedication. “It’s really about managing our positivity and passion to get out there and score goals, which is really important,” explained Pegg. In prior seasons, the girls had struggled with starting games on a strong note; however, they found that this season they were able to immediately apply pressure and keep the momentum going through the whole game. “It might sound kind of silly, but it’s also really important,” Beach added with a smile.

As the Blazers head into the playoffs, they carry with them the lessons learned and the bonds built throughout the season. With a strong sense of teamwork, trust, and determination, they’re ready to tackle the next challenge, one game at a time—Blazer heart from the start.