Cedars Field Hockey: A Team To Be Remembered
BY IRIS KROUSE — Staff Writer
Emily Boger’s teammate streaks across the fields and steals the ball, running down to McCaskey’s goal as Emily follows not far away keeping up; she’s ready for an assist. Her teammate scores without the help of Emily. On previous autumn evening practices, Emily would have been angered that her teammate stole the ball and made the play when it could have been her. Today is different because it is the riveting Lebanon versus McCaskey field hockey game. The ball that was just stolen was the same that scored the winning point for the Cedars Field Hockey team. Today, Emily and every other player on the Cedars team celebrate their victory.
This year, Lebanon Field Hockey has won many of its games. This shows the success, strong relationships, and growth they experienced as a team. The team goal this year is to “Embrace The Growth” of the players individually and as a whole.
Senior Emily Boger sheds light on this topic: “So, our goal this year is to ‘Embrace The Growth’ which is pretty much saying that as we move forward and new comes in and the old moves out, that we’re embracing everything and continuing to grow.”
Coach Sanchez talks more in-depth about the team’s goal this year. She added, “As a coaching staff, we have established a theme at the beginning of the season titled, ‘Embrace The Growth’ that accompanies the growth in many aspects throughout our hockey program. Our theme/goal ‘Embracing The Growth’, encompasses our numbers, our skill development, the increased positive culture in our program, and our overall success as a team.”
The Cedars began their 2021 season with a showdown against Wyomissing, and although they lost, they didn’t let the early setback define their season.
It’s obvious that many players have taken the team-building mindset to heart. Freshman Zuju Figueroa said, “My favorite thing about field hockey is the team and the sportsmanship. The way the whole team works, our relationship is really nice. Field hockey is just really fun.” She also explains her responsibilities as a player, “I have to try really hard to keep my grades up so I can be eligible and I have to be very responsible because I am representing the team.”
Of course, as with every team, Cedar’s Hockey has plenty of improving to do in their team building. Zuju says, “I think the bond of the team is really well. There are some loose ends, like, some people don’t know each other very well. I think we should get to know each other better because, at the end of the day, we are going to be stuck with each other for a while.”
Jayden Koehler, another freshman player says, “The team bond is really strong, and I just love how we all get along. We just work as a team and everybody gets along with each other. Field hockey is just really fun to play.” Emily Boger agrees with this when she says, “So, I have gained not only a personal strength, in knowing myself better, but I’ve also made a lot of friends, and a whole new family, and people I know I can go back to no matter what…and a group of people that will forever be known as my family and my friends.” The field hockey team’s main goal is to focus on their skill play and their growth as a team. They want to get better by working as a team instead of individually.
Emily Boger also said, “Something that makes this year’s field hockey team unique is the number of people that we have. We have nine seniors that are leaving, and we have nine incoming freshmen.” This year, the field hockey team is not letting the large number of girls lose without a fight. The team has exceeded the expectations of Coach Sanchez. She explained, “Our field hockey team has increased our numbers with the addition of a junior varsity team for the first time in over ten years and we have increased the wins this season as well.”
Coach Sanchez speaks about the effect of a positive mindset on the team. This year's scores and the relationships of the girls are solid proof of that statement. “Establishing a positive culture where teammates and coaches support one another on every aspect on and off the field has led to our overall success this season. Our team has become more like a family and it has driven us to have a positive competitive mindset. Go Cedars.”
The relationship, athletic performance, and positive aura the field hockey team has shown and used to represent Lebanon are both inspiring and touching. LHS is so proud of the girls this year and how far they have come. If this team’s spirit is contagious, then Lebanon High will experience a tidal wave of success. GO CEDARS!
To support our field hockey team here at LHS, come to the girls’ home game on October 11 at 4:00 playing Lancaster Country Day.
