The Eagles Get to Work

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College field hockey team returned to campus on Tuesday with the excited of a full season ahead of them. The Eagles, coming off a 10-10 season and a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, had a full first day on The Heights team building and bonding before getting to work on Wednesday.

The first day on campus, the Eagles reunited with third-year head coach Kelly Doton and met new assistant coaches Mark Foster and Nicole Cordero. After the first team meeting of the season, they participated in team building activities in Conte Forum before a family barbecue at the Alumni House on Newton Campus, where the Eagles will play their home games.

On Wednesday, the team started early, beginning the day with a running test, which all team members passed, before the first practice of the day.

The Eagles had a little fun at the Boston College Athletics Department's Photo Day before returning the meeting room and heading out for a two-hour practice.

The final practice of the day included stick and pass work, three-on-two's and 75-yard scrimmages. Doton was pleased with the way the team entered the preseason workouts and attitude of the team. She noticed improvement in just one day of work.

"On the first day of preseason there are nerves and anxiety but there is also eagerness. This group has an aura about them that as a coach, I have not felt before," Doton said. "It's almost uncontrollable. They worked their butts off in the summer and came in fit. They want to learn. The progression from where we started from the first couple of hours of practice from where we finished today after the second session – we've already made a huge leap. It's encouraging as a coach."

Junior captains Ymke Rose Gote and Frederique Haverhals echoed the same sentiments as their coach. Gote was impressed with how well the newcomers fit the Eagles' mold.

"The freshmen are doing an amazing job coming into a team that has already been practicing with each other for some time," Gote said.

She went on to note that the passing of the run test proved how hard the team worked in the off season and is looking to improve for 2017.

"That everyone passed the run test is such a great start," the midfielder said. "I am surprised but also not surprised because this is the feeling that we had last spring and into the summer. We knew this would be a good year but I think it shows it's going to be a special year."

Haverhals added, "I think we are off to a great start. Everyone is working hard getting back into it. Everyone is showing great progress during practice itself. That is really good. I think we are only going to get better and better as we go along. We are excited for the rest of the season."

Boston College Athletics

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