Photo by: John Quackenbos
"We can compete with anyone and win"
October 13, 2016 | Field Hockey, #ForBoston Files
When a stretch run forces a team to bring it every game.
When a season is two-thirds complete, there are very few surprises left for a coach.
The excitement and anticipation of the beginning of the year is gone, replaced by the midseason grind. Made up of hallmark wins and the occasional disappointing loss, that grind exists mostly in the past, though there's still some present to it.
Surprising wins or disappointing losses are tempered by disappointing losses or tempered wins. Every piece has a yin offset by a yang, and it's all broken down in the pages of notes and hours of film studied throughout long days in the office.
That present, though, will soon give way to another type of excitement, one that comes only with the end of the year. Nothing beats the excitement of playing games with postseason implications, something the Boston College field hockey team is about to realize. With 12 games complete of their 18 game schedule, the midseason grind is almost at the point where every game takes on a postseason feel on the pitch.
"We've learned that we can compete with any team and win," said head coach Kelly Doton. "We do have some losses, but they showed us that we have to show up to play every day. When we have lost, we got away from our identity. When we want to compete and we do so with our team game, we are really good. At the same time, we're doing it in the hardest field hockey conference in the nation and against regional opponents that will bring their A game against us every time."
Entering this weekend at 6-6, the Eagles remain on the national radar with a No. 13 ranking. With 18 teams making the national tournament, that puts them into a crucial stretch where each game matters. Of their final six games, three are against currently-ranked teams, including the season finale against the nation's current No. 1 team, Connecticut. If it holds, it would mark BC's second game against a No. 1 ranked team, having lost, 3-1, to Syracuse in September on the road.
For the Eagles, it's a season where they've defined an identity as one of the nation's toughest outs. They're out-scoring teams by a +4 margin in the second half alone despite having 22 fewer penalty corners, illustrating their ability to create for their teammates. Sophomore Lucy Lytle has a goal in each of the last six games, tying her with Brittany Sheenan for the team lead. With the McCoy tandem of Eryn and Emily, along with midfielder Ymke Rose Gote, they've formed the core of a team that can very quickly put a defense on its heels.
"Our ball movement is great," said Doton. "We can move with great speed, and our team can really run. We're capable of attacking any defense and putting pressure on our opponents. We're capable of stringing seven or eight passes together, which we can do because we have some really elite athletes."
It's a long road defined by the team's ability to improve. "As a coach, I try to stress fundamentals and executing really well in those fundamentals," said Doton. "We've been able to improve (in that area) throughout the season. We do the simple things really, really well, and you can see it when you see the execution of the game plan. It's been fun to look back over the film and see that improvement."
As for the last six games, BC has the added benefit of playing locally. They'll leave Massachusetts only once for a road game at Providence later in the month, playing only one other road game at Harvard.
But their schedule remains brutal; it currently stands as the third-toughest in the nation. Their remaining schedule is the sixth-toughest remaining, with games left against a crosstown rival (No. 14 Boston University), their coach's alma mater (No. 17 Wake Forest), and the aforementioned Huskies. If it holds, they'll finish with 11 games against ranked teams - well more than half of their schedule.
"Wins are great, and losses teach character," said Doton, "But it's a short season and we want to achieve postseason aspirations. We know as a team that we're not going to be perfect, but right now, we're sitting pretty good. We're in a good position to play (meaningful games) in these last six games."
The Eagles take on New Hampshire at the Newton Field Hockey Complex Friday at 6 p.m. They will don pink accessories, including socks, tape and warm-ups to show their support for breast cancer research in their annual Stick It to Cancer Night.
The excitement and anticipation of the beginning of the year is gone, replaced by the midseason grind. Made up of hallmark wins and the occasional disappointing loss, that grind exists mostly in the past, though there's still some present to it.
Surprising wins or disappointing losses are tempered by disappointing losses or tempered wins. Every piece has a yin offset by a yang, and it's all broken down in the pages of notes and hours of film studied throughout long days in the office.
That present, though, will soon give way to another type of excitement, one that comes only with the end of the year. Nothing beats the excitement of playing games with postseason implications, something the Boston College field hockey team is about to realize. With 12 games complete of their 18 game schedule, the midseason grind is almost at the point where every game takes on a postseason feel on the pitch.
"We've learned that we can compete with any team and win," said head coach Kelly Doton. "We do have some losses, but they showed us that we have to show up to play every day. When we have lost, we got away from our identity. When we want to compete and we do so with our team game, we are really good. At the same time, we're doing it in the hardest field hockey conference in the nation and against regional opponents that will bring their A game against us every time."
Entering this weekend at 6-6, the Eagles remain on the national radar with a No. 13 ranking. With 18 teams making the national tournament, that puts them into a crucial stretch where each game matters. Of their final six games, three are against currently-ranked teams, including the season finale against the nation's current No. 1 team, Connecticut. If it holds, it would mark BC's second game against a No. 1 ranked team, having lost, 3-1, to Syracuse in September on the road.
For the Eagles, it's a season where they've defined an identity as one of the nation's toughest outs. They're out-scoring teams by a +4 margin in the second half alone despite having 22 fewer penalty corners, illustrating their ability to create for their teammates. Sophomore Lucy Lytle has a goal in each of the last six games, tying her with Brittany Sheenan for the team lead. With the McCoy tandem of Eryn and Emily, along with midfielder Ymke Rose Gote, they've formed the core of a team that can very quickly put a defense on its heels.
"Our ball movement is great," said Doton. "We can move with great speed, and our team can really run. We're capable of attacking any defense and putting pressure on our opponents. We're capable of stringing seven or eight passes together, which we can do because we have some really elite athletes."
It's a long road defined by the team's ability to improve. "As a coach, I try to stress fundamentals and executing really well in those fundamentals," said Doton. "We've been able to improve (in that area) throughout the season. We do the simple things really, really well, and you can see it when you see the execution of the game plan. It's been fun to look back over the film and see that improvement."
As for the last six games, BC has the added benefit of playing locally. They'll leave Massachusetts only once for a road game at Providence later in the month, playing only one other road game at Harvard.
But their schedule remains brutal; it currently stands as the third-toughest in the nation. Their remaining schedule is the sixth-toughest remaining, with games left against a crosstown rival (No. 14 Boston University), their coach's alma mater (No. 17 Wake Forest), and the aforementioned Huskies. If it holds, they'll finish with 11 games against ranked teams - well more than half of their schedule.
"Wins are great, and losses teach character," said Doton, "But it's a short season and we want to achieve postseason aspirations. We know as a team that we're not going to be perfect, but right now, we're sitting pretty good. We're in a good position to play (meaningful games) in these last six games."
The Eagles take on New Hampshire at the Newton Field Hockey Complex Friday at 6 p.m. They will don pink accessories, including socks, tape and warm-ups to show their support for breast cancer research in their annual Stick It to Cancer Night.
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