BY DAN MCCARTY
VILLANOVA, PA--Another field hockey season is underway. The Academy of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the William Penn Charter Quakers opened up Inter-Ac League action on Thursday, September 14th, on Academy of Notre Dame's Burns Field.
The whole team working together helped the Irish sweep the Quakers in a 10-0 shutout. Having veteran players as well as novices working together on the field gave the Irish a chance to enhance team communication and skill set.
“We were able to have starters as well as substitutes come in,” said senior quad-captain Maeve Seeger. “They’re athletic enough to be playing in a varsity level game.”
Academy of Notre Dame vs. William Penn Charter. (video/ Dan McCarty for PSD)
It has already been quite the season for senior quad-captain Saylor Milone who reached triple digits scoring her 100th career goal in a 4-3 loss to the Conestoga Pioneers just the day before. Going into it she knew this milestone was well within reach. Nevertheless, she simply played her game and got the job done.
“I’m so grateful for my teammates’ support and really helping me to achieve that goal,” said Milone. “It was really something special.”
ND senior captain Saylor Milone already having scored her 100th goal this season talks about her team's strengths and looking forward to the season. (video/ Dan McCarty for PSD)
Seeger registered the first goal of the afternoon five and a half minutes into the action. Milone found the net nearly five minutes later to make it a 2-0 game at the end of the first quarter.
ND senior captain Maeve Seeger talks about team dynamics in win vs. PC and goals. (Video/ Dan McCarty)
ND Sophomore Kiera Sack emphasized team culture for a successful season. (video/ Dan McCarty)
The Irish tripled its lead in the second quarter. Freshman Casey McCormick scored off of an assist by freshman Maeve McGinley. Milone went on a 2-0 sprint. McGinley secured her first goal of the afternoon with 1:42 to play in the half and Notre Dame held a 6-0 halftime advantage.
The Quakers managed to silence the Irish for almost the entire third quarter but Academy of Notre Dame sophomore Mimi Giangiulio got the ball in to the net in the final seconds. That was not all for the Irish. Freshman Carina Demchyk came in and scored. Milone finished with another 2-0 run accounting for a total of five goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Aliyah Leonard kept Penn Charter’s defense in the game with seven saves. She could not have done it without her defending teammates behind her.
“I was just trying my best,” said Leonard. “We were focusing on communicating.”
Inter-Ac League action resumes Tuesday, September 19 with Penn Charter hosting Episcopal Academy (EA) at 3:30 p.m.
“We’re doing really well seeing each other,” said Penn Charter senior Zady Hasse. “Looking forward, we can hope for a chance for some corners.”
Penn Charter senior Centerback Zady Hasse discusses the positives of her team this season and looking ahead. (Video/ Dan McCarty)
Notre Dame travels to take on Germantown Academy on September 19 at 3:30 p.m.
“I’m looking forward to spending time with my teammates because I really love these girls,” said Notre Dame senior quad-captain Reese Czajkowski. “I’m looking to make connections with them.”
