The quote they wore on the back of their shirts: “Individuals play the game, but teams beat the odds.”, proved to be the definition of the Minutemaids Field Hockey team.

The Maids were initially intimidated to take a challenge this season. They posted record  17-3 record with their only losses coming to the number one team in the country, Eastern.

“I would have never guessed that Eastern would be the only team better than us.” The head coach Ms. Jeanine O’Conner said.

There were numerous examples of the Maids willingness to put everything they had on the field. When they were tied with Shawnee 2-2, the Maids went into overtime and came out victorious. And they more than just kept Eastern on their toes by keeping them in single scoring digits every time they played Eastern (first game 1-4, second game 2-3).

They also rose from the number six seed to the number three seed in the South Jersey Group Four tournament this season. They were able to defeat Southern, the team that ended their 2014 season, and advanced to the finals where they fell to Eastern.  8-1. But that loss is not what defined their season.

Going back to their shirts, they had to first be a team to become the team that could be the odds. There were many things that went into becoming that team. There were team bonding events such as pool

parties, pasta parties, wing nights, movie nights, selfie scavenger hunts, themed practices, and sister group activities. All these activities really brought the team together and contributed to the team’s success.

“Field hockey brought out my best potential,” first time player, Nisha Patel’17 said.

Not only did the team bonding events contribute to the team’s success, the ten seniors also had a big part in bringing the team together. The seniors where light-hearted and worked hard throughout the season. The seniors where honored with a Hollywood themed locker room on what they dubbed The Super Spooktacular Sad Senior Saturday on October 31, against Timber Creek. They defeated Timber Creek 6-1.

The leadership of senior captains Jenna Patrone, Iris Schuck, Kate Schuck, and Colleen McAninley were an important part of the team. Iris Schuck led the team in the most goals scored, with freshman Julia Patrone right behind her. Iris Schuck also won first team all-conference forward, while McAninley was named first team all-conference midfield and Kate Schuck won first team all-conference defender.

Though the seniors  will surely be missed next season, underclassman Shannon Coghlan’17, Alyssa Sciorillo’17, Julia Patrone’19, Jess Hatch’19, and Natalie Ricevuto’17 all stepped up into the roles of varsity starters for the first time. For all her efforts, Julia Patrone was named second team all-conference forward. On the defensive side, Ricevuto has now played goalie for two years and had 99 saves in her first varsity year.

“All the parts came together to make the whole stronger” O’Conner said.

At the beginning of the season, the Maids did not know how the season would turn out. They lost thirteen seniors to graduation in 2015, twelve of whom playing time had been substantial.

Many would not have expected a program to rebound so quickly from such a drastic change in personnel.

However, as their shirts said, this was a group that would pull together to beat the odds.

“The team preformed beyond expectations.” O’Conner said