It’s all very familiar, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.
Two years ago, the Manchester Essex field hockey team played in the Div. 4 State Final. In 2023, the Hornets made it to the final four of the tournament. It’s 2024, and once again, the Hornets just finished up a near-dominant regular season, earned a high seed (fifth overall in a field of 32) in the Div. 4 tournament bracket.
Therefore, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise – if not a foregone conclusion – that the Hornets began this year’s tournament run with a 6-0 victory over 28-seed Sturgis Charter East on November 28. Judging by recent history, this means that more tourney wins likely to come in the near future.
“Dare I say it’s an expectation?” asks ME field hockey coach Courtney Brown regarding her team’s consistent success in the tournament year after year. “It’s all those things—relieving to move forward, exciting to get a big team win in, and yes, it’s an expectation for ME field hockey to land high in the power rankings and dominate early in the playoffs. We’re all about playing one game at a time, but long term we have big goals of going as far as possible in the tournament.”
The win was the sixth shutout in a row for the Hornets, going back to the regular season.
“It’s our entire team defense,” explains Brown. “We’re able to stop nearly all of their offensive momentum because our press is so strong. We’ve worked hard to have patient and sharp sticks on defense.
She adds: “I also attribute it to our team’s energy and attitudes. They are highly motivated and play hard, especially in playoffs because our season is at stake.”
Kiernan Day scored a pair of goals in the win, with five different players scoring goals. Also of note was the play of some Hornet team members getting their first-ever taste of tournament action.
“I want to shout out Kiernan Day for earning two goals; also, Logan Rushing, Katie Crompton, Emma Hickey, Maeve McCardle and Cordelia Riggs for seeing time in their first playoff games and staying confident and strong,” says Brown.
Fittingly, the Hornets’ next playoff opponent will also seem very familiar: Manchester Essex was slated to face fellow Cape Ann League member Ipswich on Nov. 6 (Manchester Essex Regional High School, 7 p.m.) in the Sweet 16. The Hornets swept their regular season series with the Tigers, beating Ipswich by twin 1-0 scores in both home and away contests.
“Playing – and beating – a team for the third time is going to be a challenge, but one we’re up for,” explains Brown. “Ipswich’s strength is their goalie, and we’re focused on moving her and peppering her with diverse shots. We need to be relentless on net and tight all over the rest of the field. Emotions will definitely be high against Ipswich as they’re our local rival. We’re focused on playing poised and with high energy to get it done.”
