The Saint Anselm Field Hockey team is off to an amazing start this season. According to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II National Coaches Poll, the Hawks will enter this season ranked number 7 in all of Division II.
The Hawks begin their season with a record of 2 and 1, with 2 overtime thriller wins. The Hawks defeated the number two and three seeds, leaving the Hawks with confidence to take on the rest of their season.
The two juniors, Chloe Kapsembelis and Ava Rayfeild have each tallied 1 goal and 1 assist, both leading the team with points.
In the most recent double overtime win against Shippensburg University, Ava Rayfeild was able to win the game by tipping in a shot by Chloe Kapsembelis to give their team their second win of the season.
The two juniors were determined to finish the game. When I asked Ava what was going through her mind during the last few minutes of the game, she explained that her confidence in her team never wavered. “We had multiple offensive opportunities on corners. I knew we had the potential to execute and end the game before the second OT was over” (Rayfeild).
Rayfeild also added that she has confidence in the team’s ability to win in shootouts as well, she was just glad that they got the win before it got to that point.
Rayfeild believes that the game was able to boost the team’s confidence as they head into the next week with three big games. “This game improved our confidence even more knowing that we can compete with anyone and have the potential to be at the very top of Division II” (Rayfeild).
Looking forward to the season, the Hawks sit at a good spot. “It was a great feeling knowing that after 79 minutes of play, we were able to seal the win. It was a great team win, and feels so good to know that all of our hard work is paying off” (Rayfield). The team has a strong group of veterans who are ready to take the NE10 by storm this season.
On top of the big win this past week, three of the Hawks were able to clinch NE10 weekly awards. Junior, Chloe Kapsembelis earned NE10 Player of the Week and had her first multipoint game as a Hawk, alongside her game-winning assist.
The second junior Hawk with a weekly accolade, Grace Michael, earned Defensive Player of the Week. She was able to make her second defensive save this season in the match against Shippensburg. Lastly, senior, Mackenzie McConnel claimed the NE10 Goaltender of the Week title. McConnel tallied a career-high saves, coming in at 18 out of 20 shots.
An important, exciting three-game week is just around the corner for the Field Hockey team. The team has already secured two wins against two, top-three programs in the state.
With the confidence from the past two wins from the Hawks, the team is looking ready to take on the rest of their season.