Bryn Mawr Field Hockey: Defeating the Undefeated

Last Sunday, a disappointingly small, but dedicated group of fans got to witness a spectacular comeback, a miracle victory for the field hockey team. They became conference champions, as they took down the two-time defending champions, the team who was as of yet undefeated, and to whom they had lost twice. By all accounts, this season should have been a transitional year for our team. With few upperclassmen and numerous freshmen joining the Varsity squad, none, except perhaps the members of the actual team, expected such success. To be sure, very few members of the team ever envisioned taking back the crown come November 1.

But proving that hard work pays off, the girls did just that. With a rejuvenated student section in attendance at big games, capes, gold paint, and creative cheers to boot, field hockey charged into Sunday's finals, and then, quite literally, stole the title from under their opponents' noses, knocking in a goal during a climactic second overtime period. All season, the team drilled hard, staying for late practices, running, thinking about the playoffs. Senior captains worked to welcome and include the freshmen, and these youngsters fast became an integral part of the team. Numerous underclassmen racked up goals, steals, and saves, and experienced seniors helped make them even smarter players.

The parents coordinated team dinners and the players decorated shirts for one another, put notes in players' mailboxes, made inside jokes. The team became a family. Furthermore, the team was hungry to prove local newspapers, college recruiters, and conference administrators wrong. Inspired by a former players' severe illness, the team came together and played for her, literally throwing themselves this way and that. Countless bruises, injuries to the mouth, two broken thumbs, a black eye, and 12 stitches later, the team emerged- not beaten.

As they dogpiled at in front of the goal, girls collapsed to the ground sobbing with disbelief at what they had accomplished. The only ones more disbelieving than these champions were the runners-up, who perhaps had underestimated the talent and persistence, but also the intangible strengths, of the team they had just lost to. It was a happy ending, then, one brought about by a miraculous string of goal-line stands, skillful stickwork, and timely luck. Mostly, however, this team proved that Dumbledore is always right; love is always the most powerful force. The girls harnessed this love and converted it into an unforgettable championship that will be remembered long after the dust accumulates on the crystal trophy.