By Josh Wagner\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s first-ever win over Widener University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers followed with their biggest test of the season, hosting Widener in a high-scoring battle. Hood\u2019s offense broke through, earning a 4-3 win, the program\u2019s first-ever victory against the Pride. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head Coach Carley Kessler reflected on the team\u2019s early success, noting that their wins were part of a bigger vision set in motion last season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, we\u2019re really excited,\u201d Kessler said. \u201cI 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\u2019d needed to do to reach the postseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI 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\u2019re going after next year. These were three of the four, so we\u2019re thrilled about that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA couple of weeks ago, before the conference play started, I told the girls, \u2018We have to win the first three.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers’ most recent conference win marked a milestone for the program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood defeated Widener 4-3 for the first time in the program\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kessler reflected on the defining win over the Pride. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was really exciting,\u201d Kessler said. \u201cIt was a 7 p.m. game, which we normally don\u2019t play, but it was President Debbie\u2019s inauguration, so we had to move it back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think the girls were just itching to get out there. They actually started their warm-ups about 10 minutes early; that\u2019s how ready they were. We\u2019ve 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,\u201d Kessler said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of press time, the Blazers hold an 8-6 record and sit atop the MAC standings with a perfect 3-0 conference record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers are part of a three-way first-place tie in the MAC standings with York College and Messiah College. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the Blazers remain undefeated, their conference schedule only gets tougher with upcoming matchups against three ranked opponents \u2013 Messiah, York, and Stevenson College. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the Blazers approach the challenging stretch, the team\u2019s approach hasn\u2019t changed, keeping the focus on themselves, rather than on upcoming opponents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are worried about us,” Kessler said. “That\u2019s been the biggest, I would say, coaching point over the past couple of games. We\u2019re not worried about the team we\u2019re playing; we\u2019re worried about Hood College field hockey.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added, \u201cHow we play, the press we\u2019re running, how we\u2019re doing things. So no matter who we\u2019re playing against, we\u2019re worried about us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kessler said, \u201cFour guarantees you in. So that\u2019s the goal, to win at least one more.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood College’s field hockey program has made significant strides this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy not us?\u201d Kessler said. The Blazers will look to carry that mindset into the final stretch of conference play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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