Fresh off of two straight heartbreaking conference overtime losses, the Lady Jays field hockey team needed their senior leadership to propel them back into playoff contention. Sitting at 3-4 in conference play, the Lady Jays were hungry to reach .500 in conference play, especially after Wednesday’s overtime loss to Dickinson College, who were just 1-6 in Centennial Conference play before the game.
Coming into Saturday’s game against a struggling, last place Bryn Mawr team (0-8 in conference play), the Jays knew they had to send a message to themselves and other teams that they were a legitimate playoff threat. Prior to the game, the Hopkins seniors were honored for their four years of relentless dedication to the program. However, with just three games left to play, these girls were not yet ready to call it quits on their collegiate careers, as the seniors would combine for six goals and a shutout in net.
Leading the way were seniors Liane Tellier at midfield and Elizabeth Peijnenburg in net. Tellier, who ranks fifth in the conference with 26 points, led with four points, by way of a hat trick and an assist. Even more impressive was the fact that all three of Tellier’s goals were unassisted.
Just as notable was Peijnenburg’s performance in net, as well as the stifling Lady Jays defense. In nearly 48 minutes of play, the senior from the Netherlands channeled her inner Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, stuffing all three shots from the opposing Owls, before conceding the net to Zoey Atabek for the final 22 minutes of action. Senior Maggie Phillips also turned in a superb effort, scoring two goals and an assist. Also joining the party was senior Meghan Kellett with a goal, freshman Elena Gresick who had a goal and an assist and freshmen Natalie Vicas and Kiana Duncan, who notched their first collegiate points.
The Lady Jays were firing on all cylinders, as great defense combined with superb ball handling in the offensive zone led to nightmares for two Bryn Mawr netminders. Facing 20 shots on goal and 37 overall, the two goalies posted a combined save percentage of just .500, allowing 10 shots to hit the twine.
Undoubtedly the victory came at the right time, as it heightened team confidence and warned other Centennial Conference foes not to count out the Lady Jays just yet. Asked about her performance and what Saturday’s victory meant to the team, Tellier remained humble yet confident, saying, “I was really proud of the team, starters and non-starters. We had the opportunity to play everyone and we still controlled the game for all 70 minutes. I think the score also sent a message to the conference that we are a threat. It also boosted morale after the loss to Haverford and Dickinson, which both ended in overtime losses.”
Overall, it was a great team effort that put the Lady Jays back in the thick of the race for the final spots in the Centennial Conference playoffs. With two games remaining on the schedule, both conference games, the Lady Jays must win both games in order to have a chance at making the playoffs. Said junior Sarah Henderson, “We have to win our next two games, and the rest of it is out of our control. If we make it in, I’m happy, because we’ll be the underdog. [To me] that’s much more exciting.”
On Tuesday, the Blue Jays hosted McDaniel on Homewood Field at 7 p.m. Sitting at 3-5 in conference play, McDaniel had been coming off of two straight losses, including a 5-2 loss at Haverford on Saturday. In yet another tightly contested match, Hopkins finally emerged victorious, pulling out a 2-1 win to remain alive in the Centennial Conference playoff hunt.
The last game of the year will be a tough one on the road against a strong Gettysburg team (6-2 in conference) fresh off of four straight low-scoring and close victories. This game seems destined to be a scrappy event, determined by the quality of play of both netminders, and will likely be won or lost through the seizing of a few opportunities by either team.
With a top-notch keeper, a terrific offense led by seniors who are not quite ready to hang up their cleats just yet and a team that has seemingly caught fire at the right time, the final week of Centennial Conference play figures to be an exciting one. While the chances of the Lady Jays making the playoffs are still far from certain, the final week of the season seems to always be a magical time where anything is possible.
