By Pat Mariboe
Senior Writer
The Shorewomen solidified their spot in the Centennial Conference Playoffs for the first time since 2014 after a dominating 3-0 run last week.
Prior to the team’s successful October so far, the Shorewomen closed out a tough stretch of games in September with a decisive 7-1 win over the McDaniel Green Terror. Senior Liza Slavin scored her first collegiate goal and was named Shorewoman of the Week. Slavin missed the 2015 season while undergoing treatment for a brain tumor and recorded this memorable tally nearly two years after her diagnosis.
“Scoring my first goal was obviously a huge personal victory for me and my teammates and frankly the whole athletic department has been so supportive,” Slavin said. “I’m just glad to be back on the field and playing in games again after having to take almost two seasons off. McDaniel was a great team win for us, everyone was so excited after the game and it was our biggest win thus far which is super exciting. I think it gave some confidence as we’re heading into the bulk of our Conference play.”
After the McDaniel game, Slavin remained hopeful of CC success and knew what the team had to do to get there.
“We are super excited about our standings right now and how the Conference is playing out,” Slavin said. “I think at this point we want to go all the way. We haven’t made the playoffs since my freshman year so it would definitely be cool to make them again as a senior. I think that we have the ability to do very well in our post season and I couldn’t think of a better or more determined group of girls to do it with.”
Slavin’s hopes came true, as the Shorewomen defeated CC powerhouses Swarthmore, Dickinson, and Haverford to clinch their spot. Freshman standout Grace Steele scored twice in her team’s 5-0 thrashing over Swarthmore.
“I owe a lot of my confidence and success to my teammates,” Steele said. “Every game is different and each opponent brings out different strengths and weaknesses both individually and as a team. Field hockey is not an individual sport and a team can’t rely on one person so the teamwork and connections we have on the field helps us move forward. To prepare for upcoming games we are staying really focused at practices and working on what will make us successful. We are playing each game as it comes.”
Steele scored again in the team’s 3-2 overtime win against Dickinson, but it was junior Olivia Auer who broke the deadlock and scored the goal in the comeback victory for the Shorewomen.
It was a similar tale for the Shorewomen in their third CC game of the week against Haverford, in which the team fought to another 3-2 win in overtime, thanks to the game winner by junior Nicole Schroyer. Washington College started off the scoring with a highlight reel goal by freshman Kailyn Brandt. She sprinted down the length of the field past a defender to collect a long pass from her own defensive end. She then dribbled her way past the defense and rocketed a goal to give the Shorewomen a 1-0 lead off a phenomenal effort.
“Moving forward in the season our confidence levels are high considering we know what we can accomplish when we stay focused, work hard, and play as a team,” Brandt said. “I’m so fortunate to be playing with such a talented group of girls that have enabled me to have such an incredible season so far. However, it’s not my individual performance that gives our team its strength; it’s the fact that each and every one of us has the same goal and wants to see each other succeed.”
Brandt knows the team’s expectations and spirits are at an all-time high, but knows the team has to remain levelheaded and take every game as it comes in order to succeed in the upcoming CC tournament.
“As we approach the rest of the season we’re preparing by continuing to play our game,” Brandt said. “Our focus is to ‘be in the moment’ as our coach would say. This means we keep the end goal in mind but we can’t lose sight of what’s important here and now. Our success comes from taking it one game at a time and concentrating on what we need to do in order to get the win. We know we have what it takes and this is our time to prove it.”
Up next for WC field hockey is a nonconference home game vs. Roanoke at 1 p.m. This game marks the Shorewomens’ senior game.