Looking to recover from a rocky 2013 season, the field hockey team faces this year with strong hopes. Even before the season had started, tryouts cast a bright air: the team began with the knowledge that the number of players who tried out—over fifty—was larger than it had been in many years. This led to high expectations for the season.

Tryouts were extended to determine who was serious about the sport. In the end, no cuts were made on the varsity team, which is now composed of 22 players, ten of them seniors, instead of the sixteen players from the previous year. Because of this, players are anticipating a different style of rotation this season, saying that playing time will be based mostly on level of skill.

“I think that being able to play with more of a variety of kids… [helps] you for future playings, so you understand the different styles,” senior Emily Webb said. “[Also] on really hot days, it gives you time to breathe and get yourself together.”

The deep roster brings with it both benefits and challenges, but ultimately, the team sees the change as a positive one.

“Sometimes the constant subbing [can] disrupt the flow of play, but it [is] nice to sub some of the players who [get] tired,” co-captain senior Nicole Atkins said.

One aspect of the larger team is the number of substitutes and how it affects the team’s play by allowing the starters more breaks and a change to sub in fresh players.

“Last year we had only three substitutes and that definitely contributed to the rough season,” senior Mehr Singh said.

This ability to mesh playing styles together and work as one unit is a strength of the team. Many of the varsity players have been teammates for three or four years and know how to work with each other well. This is essential for a winning team.

“We as teammates…know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so we’re able to build off of each other and help each other out,” Nicole said.

One task for the season will be to mesh the existing players with the ones who have newly moved up from the junior varsity team. Though the team has ten seniors who are accustomed to each other’s style of play, it is key that everyone has a part in the game strategy.

Though the season has barely started, field hockey had a 1-3 record in the preseason, as well as finishing third in the Leigh Round Up Tournament, where they went 2-1-1. They have started their league play with a loss against Monta Vista on September 24 by a 2-1 score.

“We are all playing really well together and I think we should just keep that synergy up.” Mehr said.