This year, I had the luxury of being the starting varsity field hockey goalie for the fourth year. This season was a bit different from my three prior ones as it was my senior year, which means that it would not only be my last time playing with this wonderful group of girls and under two incredible coaches, Coach Osborne and Coach Bettinelli. It would also be the last time I ever played the sport I loved, the sport in which I saw myself not only grow as a player but also as a person, the sport in which I’ve had so many ups and downs, laughs, tears, and everything in between.
After having our first game canceled due to rain that never ended up coming, our season-opener doubled as Homecoming, where we played Lexington Christian Academy. Both teams were very even as we battled it out on McCarthy field, but in the end, Montrose’s lone goal by Josie Marcucci ‘25 was the decider, and we took the win at Homecoming, 1-0. After losing 4-0 at our prior Homecoming, I can say that I truly celebrated this win, since not only was it our season opener, but it was also my final Homecoming.
After a second game got canceled due to rain (this time, the rain actually came in the form of torrential downpours), we had our first big test of the season: Dana Hall. We played them at home, giving us an advantage, as they play on turf, which is much smoother and faster than grass, which is what we play on. Playing on a terrain that wasn’t normal for Dana Hall was to our advantage, and not only did we win 2-0, but we also secured the first win versus Dana Hall in Montrose Field Hockey history. In prior years, Dana Hall often completely overpowered Montrose. However, as the years have gone on, the losses against them became slimmer and slimmer, culminating in our win against them this year.
Our next game was a make-up of one of the games that were rained out, and it was our first away game of the season against Ursuline Academy. For me, this was a must-win, as not only is Ursuline an unwritten rival of Montrose, but I also have multiple friends from my club field hockey team who play there, and one of my club coaches is their coach, too. Losing while playing against close friends, at least in my opinion, is awkward. We were able to grab a 2-1 win while also securing the first win against Ursuline on their home field in Montrose Field Hockey history.
Our next game was a first as well – not because of the score or who we were playing against, but when the game was taking place. This was the first time that we played at another school’s Homecoming, with that school being Lexington Christian Academy. Playing at someone else’s Homecoming was very intimidating because of the number of people cheering for the opposing team. Despite that, the game was back and forth – it was on one end of the field at one moment and the other end of the field at the next. Both teams took plenty of shots, but at the end of regulation, the game was 0-0, and due to Montrose’s lack of players present at the game (this game took place at the same time as the Madrid and Paris trips were happening), we kept it as a tie.
Another game against Ursuline (which was a 1-1 tie) later, it was time for our senior game, for which we were playing Cambridge School of Weston. We ended up getting a HUGE 8-0 win, before we celebrated our seniors: Maddy Grigg, Kenzie Cassler, Eliza Glaeser, and myself. Shoutout to Josie Marcucci for taking time out of her day to make cards and have all of our teammates sign them!
The next day was one of our biggest tests of the season: Concord Academy. When I played Concord Academy for the first time as a sophomore (during freshman year, we didn’t have any games due to Covid-19), we lost to them 3-0 and 4-1. Then last year, both of our losses to them were 2-0, so this year, I truly wanted to put my best foot forward. Just like at LCA’s Homecoming, the game was back and forth. However, for this one, we played a ten-minute overtime period. For most of overtime, no one shot, but then, there was a highly controversial call by the referees, rewarding Concord Academy with a penalty stroke. A penalty stroke is the field hockey equivalent of a penalty shot in soccer, with an opposing field player going one-on-one with the goalie from a very close spot, giving Concord Academy the win and handing us our first loss of the season.
Two days later, we got a second chance against Concord Academy and this time, it was on their home field. Originally, we weren’t supposed to play them twice in three days, but this was a make-up game from one of the ones that was canceled due to rain earlier in the season. After fighting the traffic of I-95 and Route 2-East, we made it to Concord Academy’s athletic campus. Just like two days earlier, the game was back and forth. Both teams had to battle immense heat which reached around eighty degrees, even at the very end of an October evening. This game ended up being cut short due to a serious injury of one of our teammates, who got hit in the throat with an opposing player’s stick and an ambulance was called. The final score of the game was a 0-0 tie.
The next Tuesday was Halloween. On this day, we had practice before school, so we could practice on the hardwood floor of the A&A in preparation for our game on Beaver Country Day’s turf. After practice, we got to have Dunkin’, courtesy of our lovely coaches!
The next day was our big turf game. After a little fiasco including losing my car keys on the campus, a Beaver Country Day coach picking them up, carrying them for over thirty minutes before turning them in at the front desk, and my mom chasing the AirTag that was connected to the key ring, it was time to play. At the end of regulation and the ten-minute overtime period, the score was 1-1. Shoutout to Maddy Grigg ‘24, who scored a goal for the first time in her field hockey career during this game!
Our final game of the regular season was a home game against Wheeler. Despite taking shot after shot, the goalie continued to save them, until Josie Marcucci ‘25, was able to tip it into the net behind the goalie during the first quarter. Montrose continued to dominate for the entire game. Towards the end, Wheeler had pulled their goalie in order to put an extra forward in and had their entire team surrounding our net. As time ran out, the Montrose defense was able to get the ball away from our net. In the end, we finished with a 1-0 win and also got the first win against Wheeler in Montrose field hockey history.
Reflecting on my final Montrose field hockey season and on my final time playing field hockey, I can say that being the starting varsity field hockey goalie for four full years has been one of the highlights of my high school career. This year has been a year in which we’ve made history, from beating Dana Hall to beating Wheeler and Ursuline on their home field and even playing at another school’s homecoming. This was also the first year in which we had a winning final record, ending with six wins, one loss, and four ties, which put us in contention for a NEPSAC Class C bid, which unfortunately didn’t work out. With that, I proudly hand off my goalie position to Bea White ‘27, and I can’t wait to see what Montrose Varsity Field Hockey continues to do!
By Kristina Klauzinski ‘24, Sports Editor
24kklauzinski@montroseschool.org
