Sports
Field hockey ends best season in team history in semi - final
By Yuezhi Xie ’20
November 10, 2016
Tags sports
After a successful regular season and a victory in the quarterfinals, Hamilton headed to Tufts on Nov. 5 to take on the fourth-seed Middlebury. Unfortunately, the Continentals fell 5-2 to the Panthers. Middlebury had 38 shots with 18 on goal, while Hamilton managed 13 shots with only 6 on goal. Even though the Continentals suffered this tough loss, they never stopped fighting and left with their heads held high and several individuals posted impressive performances. Julia Booth ’19 made a season-best 11 saves during the game. Michaela Giuttari ’20, the leading scorer amongst NESCAC first-years scored her 14th of 2016 - matching Hamilton’s fourth-highest single-season total. The Panthers were relentless all game, scoring twice in the first half and adding an extra two in the last six minutes of regulation. The Continentals’ two goals were scored by Giuttari at 38:47 into the game and Margaret Revera ’18 at 66:40 in. The loss ends their path to the finals, but the team still portrayed impressive persistence and determination.
Despite falling in the NESCAC semifinal, the Hamilton field hockey team posted an impressive 2016 season and finishes the year ranked 13th in the nation. The Continentals have the highest ranking of any team that did not qualify for the NCAA tournament apart from #12 Bowdoin, whom Hamilton defeated earlier in the season. The team achieved some exciting accomplishments over the season, notably a 12-5 overall record and highest national ranking in program history (#11). The Continentals’ 12 wins this season represent a new school record. While the team lost their first two NESCAC contests, against Bates (L 4-3) and Trinity (L 4-3), they rebounded quickly, and went 7-1 in their remaining regular season NESCAC games. As the team continued to score critical wins, including over then- #3 Middlebury, the defending national champions, the girls grew more and more confident, drawing on encouragement from coaches, parents, friends and each other, which resulted in more and more wins. Hamilton notched crucial victories in conference play against then-#10 Amherst, #19 Williams, # 2 Bowdoin and Colby the following weekends. For their success in conference games during the regular season, the Continentals were rewarded with the third seed in the NESCAC tournament and a home playoff game. In that quarterfinal match, Hamilton defeated the six-seed and then-#9 Amherst 1-0 to advance to the semifinals. While their path ended there, the team has a lot to take pride in. Giuttari expressed that the players and coaches felt that their season was a success: “I think that the team played extremely well all season and everyone is proud of how well we ended up doing.’
The field hockey team has made great strides over the past few seasons to ascend to the upper tier of the NESCAC. During the 2014 season, Hamilton scored 37 goals on an average of 14.3 shots per game towards an overall record of 6-10. In 2015, the team finished the season with a 9-7 overall record, and totaled 39 goals while averaging 14.7 shots per game, while this year they finished 12-5, scored 52 total goals, and shot the ball 17.1 times per game. In 2014, Hamilton lost to many of the teams that they beat this year, such as Bowdoin, Amherst and Colby. The improved results are the product of a lot of hard work and dedication, and it is clear that the program is headed in the right direction. The girls are very satisfied with their performance on the season and credit their success to diligence in practice and over the off-season. “I think that the team has done way more than was expected of us and...everyone [is]...really proud of how far we have come,” comments Giuttari.
The Hamilton Continentals field hockey team is a united group and both teammates and coaches give 100% effort during practices and games. Giuttari described the team atmosphere as positive: “From the first day of practice, the team has been extremely welcoming and inclusive which has helped build extremely strong team chemistry. I think that the team as a whole works really hard everyday and we push each other to do the little things right. This season we have taken it one day at a time and we have focused on each practice or game without worrying about the future.”
She was especially grateful to her upperclassmen teammates for their guidance and quick acceptance of younger players to the team, saying “The seniors and all of the returning players made the transition both to the new school and to the team so easy. I just want to thank them for such a fun season and I can’t wait for next year.” The team’s strong leadership was incredibly beneficial to help young players like Guittari grow.
Emma Anderson ’17, who was selected to the 2016 NFHCA senior game roster and will play Nov.19 at William Smith College, said that, “It has been such an honor to be a part of this team for four years surrounded by incredible teammates and coaches, who all work so hard on the field, in the classroom, and in the off-season. Our success this year is a direct reflection of everyone’s efforts, and in the final game we play together, win or lose, I will be proud no matter what.”
While the season ended without a NESCAC championship or an NCAA bid, the Hamilton community and the Continentals themselves are extremely proud of the accomplishments of the field hockey team. The members of the team now look forward to the off season, in which they hope to hone their abilities in order to build on their success from this season next year.