Eastern Tech Field Hockey Begins Year with Overtime Win

2015 was a dream season for Eastern Tech field hockey. The team went 11-0 in regular season play, registering wins over North County, Carver and Aberdeen in the process.

The Mavericks earned the number one overall rank in the team's section of the MPSSAA 2A North region for the playoffs, where it fell in its first contest against Hereford, which would go on to win the state title.

"My first year we were 1-11, so above and beyond expectations," head coach Phyllis Hemmes said of the 2015 season. "We did not allow a goal until the Hereford game."

In its first game of 2016, Eastern Tech stuck to the formula that gave it so much success last year by shutting out its opponents. The Mavericks were tested as the game went to overtime, but Eastern Tech didn't break, beating Lansdowne 1-0. The winning goal was scored with 4:37 left in overtime when Remie Conroy latched onto a pass from Alexis Liberman and slotted it past Lansdowne's goalie to tally the game's lone score.

While Hemmes hopes her team does a better job of looking for better passing opportunities as the season goes on, it's certainly encouraging to see how much grit her team has in pulling out an overtime win on opening day. That grit comes from experience- the team is a blend of 11 returning players and a solid group from the JV level.

As it was in 2016, the team's defense is expected to be one of its main strengths. Liberman will be key to that unit's success, along with Riley Jackson and Grace Middlestadt. Alyssa Wilkerson-Dietz is expected to have a big year in defense, while Janie Kressman will be a spark for the offense.

For Hemmes, she hopes the year is a memorable one for her and her players. After spending 45 years at Bel Air High School, she's enjoyed the transition of now coaching at Eastern Tech and hopes to see her players continue to gravitate towards playing field hockey.

"I want the girls to enjoy playing the game, to want to continue to keep playing it either at college or on a club team for the fun relationships they make," Hemmes said.