The Varsity Field Hockey team earned its first win of the season with a score of 5-1 against Salinas High School on Sept. 8. Losing 0-1 at the end of the first quarter, captain and senior Ashley Twu scored a penalty stroke, marking the team’s comeback, which was followed by four more goals throughout the remainder of the game.

Twu recalls that the heat — which reached a peak of 91 degrees — prompted a slow start for the team; however, by the second half of the game, the team’s overall performance progressed, with the score reaching 3-1 by the third quarter. Captain and junior Gwyneth To also recognizes the team’s perseverance through the hot weather and commends the team for “[keeping] the energy going.”

Having lost the first three games of the season, To mentions feeling uneasy prior to this game’s pass-back, the play that begins the game. However, in witnessing the team’s successes throughout the game, she believes the players were able to be “more agile,” which she attributes to their efforts during practice drills.

Despite seeing improvements in the team’s gameplay, both To and Twu emphasize the importance of communication in maximizing its potential to succeed. 

“For everyone, that was our team goal: talking,” Twu said. “When we lack in communication, we lack unity on the field.”

Gallery • 6 Photos

Matthew Yoshimoto

Captains senior Charlotte Dingli, junior Gwyneth To and senior Ashley Twu wait for the opposing team to call “heads” or “tails” before the game begins to decide which team starts with the ball.