With five games remaining in the regular season, the Hamilton College field hockey team is focused on making a spirited run at the postseason. After finishing their 2018 campaign with a record of 10–6, the Continentals had high hopes that they would be able to achieve a similar — if not better — record during the 2019 season.
After winning three of their first six games, they now sit at 3–6 overall, but this record is not truly indicative of how the season has played out. Four of those six losses have come in either overtime or double overtime against tough NESCAC opponents. With five games left, however, the team remains hopeful and looks to return to their winning ways.
The team got off to a great start in their home opener at Goodfriend Field on Wednesday, Sept. 4, defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in a 7–0 blowout. During the game, Sarah Pierpoint ’21 scored two goals, Michaela Giuttari ’20 and Maddie Beitler ’21 both scored a goal apiece, and Kathryn Craine ’21, Ellie Arnold ’22, and Cat Donahue ’21 all scored their first career goals.
Though they lost the following two games against Bates College (OT 3–2) and Skidmore College (3–1), the Continentals were then able to record another victory at home against #17 Amherst College, winning 4–1. Goalie Maggie Reville ’22 made a career-high six saves during the game, while Beitler, Donahue, Tracey Stafford ’23, and Maura Holden ’23 all found the back of the cage for their fourth, second, first, and second goals of the season, respectively. The team earned their third win against William Smith on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 3–0, as the dynamic Beitler scored two goals, with Holden adding another. Reville made three saves and, in the process, recorded her first shutout as a Continental.
The win against William Smith marked the last of the team’s league game before playing six NESCAC conference games in a row. In the first three against №19 Colby College, №11 Williams College, and №8 Bowdoin College, the Continentals competed in a series of nail biters that all went into overtime. Unfortunately, however, they came out just short of victories in each game.
“We’ve gone into overtime every NESCAC loss except against Middlebury, so we know we can compete against any nationally-ranked team. It’s just a matter of finishing, which is something we need to work on,” said Donahue, who scored one of the team’s two goals in the 3–2 loss against Bowdoin. “We are pretty young this year with only six upperclassmen, but the team is super energetic and excited. We are ready to take on any opponent and finish the season as strong as possible.”
“Our team has been through some ups and downs this year as our record definitely does not reflect our playing ability or individual play,” Molly Banks ’22 added. “We work hard each day and have great camaraderie within the team. Although we’ve had some tough battles, we know we’re a strong team and have improved great amounts since the beginning of the season.”
As both Donahue and Banks noted, team morale remains high as they double down on their focus and determination with playoffs just around the corner. Now that the Continentals are halfway through their NESCAC conference six-game streak, they are looking forward to finishing strong against play Trinity College, №7 Tufts University, and Wesleyan University.
This coming weekend, the team will play two games, one against Trinity on the road on Saturday, Oct. 12, and the other against Tufts at home on Sunday, Oct. 13. After that, they will play Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 19, Utica College on Wednesday, Oct. 23, Connecticut College on Saturday, Oct. 26 ( their last NESCAC match of the regular season), and finally the University of Rochester on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
“We are looking forward to our upcoming games and playoffs where we hope the scores will begin to swing in our favor,” Banks said. “We want to show everyone how hard we’ve been working and prove to others that we are as strong and capable as the rest.”
