By Josh Wagner//
For the first time in program history, the Hood College field hockey team has opened conference play with a 3-0 record, including the program’s first-ever win over Widener University.
The Blazers began their conference run by defeating Eastern University on the road in overtime, 3-2, and then followed up with a shutout win over Albright, 2-0.
The Blazers followed with their biggest test of the season, hosting Widener in a high-scoring battle. Hood’s offense broke through, earning a 4-3 win, the program’s first-ever victory against the Pride.
Head Coach Carley Kessler reflected on the team’s early success, noting that their wins were part of a bigger vision set in motion last season.
“Yeah, we’re really excited,” Kessler said. “I actually get the conference schedule a year in advance, so even last year I knew exactly which games would be must-wins and what we’d needed to do to reach the postseason.
“I shared that with the team at the end of last season. We put some targets up on the board and said, These are the ones we’re going after next year. These were three of the four, so we’re thrilled about that.
“A couple of weeks ago, before the conference play started, I told the girls, ‘We have to win the first three.”
The Blazers’ most recent conference win marked a milestone for the program.
Hood defeated Widener 4-3 for the first time in the program’s history.
Kessler reflected on the defining win over the Pride.
“It was really exciting,” Kessler said. “It was a 7 p.m. game, which we normally don’t play, but it was President Debbie’s inauguration, so we had to move it back.”
“I think the girls were just itching to get out there. They actually started their warm-ups about 10 minutes early; that’s how ready they were. We’ve been ready since last fall to play Widener, so there was a lot of energy going in. Honestly, we could tell during warm-ups that we were probably going to win that game. Everyone was locked in,” Kessler said.
As of press time, the Blazers hold an 8-6 record and sit atop the MAC standings with a perfect 3-0 conference record.
The Blazers are part of a three-way first-place tie in the MAC standings with York College and Messiah College.
Although the Blazers remain undefeated, their conference schedule only gets tougher with upcoming matchups against three ranked opponents – Messiah, York, and Stevenson College.
As the Blazers approach the challenging stretch, the team’s approach hasn’t changed, keeping the focus on themselves, rather than on upcoming opponents.
“We are worried about us,” Kessler said. “That’s been the biggest, I would say, coaching point over the past couple of games. We’re not worried about the team we’re playing; we’re worried about Hood College field hockey.”
She added, “How we play, the press we’re running, how we’re doing things. So no matter who we’re playing against, we’re worried about us.”
The Blazers are on the verge of qualifying for the MAC postseason and need one more win to clinch and secure a spot in the conference tournament.
Kessler said, “Four guarantees you in. So that’s the goal, to win at least one more.”
Hood College’s field hockey program has made significant strides this season.
With a strong, experienced senior class and a talented group of upperclassmen, the Hood College field hockey program has become one of the most exciting teams to watch on campus.
“Why not us?” Kessler said. The Blazers will look to carry that mindset into the final stretch of conference play.
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