Fall Sports Review

By Aden Sievert

The field hockey and women’s soccer teams are wrapping up their preseason practices in preparation for the start of their respective seasons.

Carley Shannon is entering her third season as head coach of the field hockey team. Similarly, Molly Kovarik is entering her third season as head coach of the women’s soccer team.

Field Hockey

During the 2021 season, the field hockey team ended with a record of 6-12. This was a step in the right direction for the program, as their last full season of competition in 2019 ended with the team sitting at 1-18.

“The first year we were here we were allowed to play four scrimmages that spring season, but it was kind of a whole year of development and building and that was, I think, why now we’re going to be so successful, and why we have started really changing the program,” Shannon said.

The field hockey team brought in 10 freshmen and 14 returning players to their roster this fall. Considering nearly half the team is first-year college athletes, Shannon is very proud with how the new athletes handled the twice-a-day practices, as well as juggling freshman orientation.

“During preseason, freshman orientation is happening, you know the freshmen are having two practices a day… they’re waking up at like 5 a.m. and then they’re going to freshman orientation for the rest of the day, and they can barely find the time to sleep and eat, so I think that the freshmen balanced it very well,” Shannon said.

The field hockey team kicked off their season against McDaniel College on Sept. 1 at home, where they were shut out 4-0. Despite the loss, they’re looking to find their first conference win in program history this year.

Women’s soccer

Last season the women’s soccer team ended with a record of 5-12-1.

This season, Kovarik said she wants the team to improve upon the inconsistencies of last year’s season. While the team had a lot of key pieces last year, the team struggled to navigate between the highs and lows from game to game.

“We have to learn to turn around if we have a tough loss and come back ready to go the next game,” Kovarik said. “I think with our returners and upperclassmen we’re looking for a little bit more maturity, and seeing if we can start to navigate that and be a little bit more even-keeled in some of those high-pressure situations.”

Kovarik is looking forward to the match against Stevenson University on Oct. 12  because of the history between the Mustangs and Hood’s women’s soccer program. Last season, Hood lost 2-1. Kovarik believes that, with the preparation done this offseason, they can swing that score in Hood’s favor this fall.