With the sun beating down on the stadium turf, a new season in field hockey unfolds, brimming with possibility and fierce competition. The UC Field Hockey Team has been quite successful in years past, with two CIF Championships, Division Two in 2022 and Division One in 2023, plus taking second place in Division One CIFs last year. Their current success hinges on their ability to execute key plays effectively on the field.
Regarding their potential success this year, Head Varsity Coach Amber Zimmermann said, “It starts with practice and raising the expectations. It’s the little details that translate into success on the field, so that means starting the season off focusing on basics and forming good habits, such as active receptions, staying low, utilizing skills to eliminate defenders, and strong passes under pressure.”
The competition is expected to be just as strong as past years. “I anticipate that we will continue to have strong competition this year. We remain in the Western City Conference League which has the top teams in San Diego. While it can make for a challenging season mentally for players, I believe it helps build their mental and physical strength to be successful in playoffs at the end of the season,”said Zimmermann.
The team seems to be expanding every year with new players trying out. “Every year brings fresh additions and perspectives. This year we are starting our varsity with a larger roster than previous years, so I look forward to the growth and development of the team. I am hoping that with strong leaders, we will develop a positive team culture which translates into cohesion on the field,” said Zimmermann.
The team seems to be preparing for the tough competition this upcoming season very well. Junior Melanie Flatt said, “There is a lot of conditioning, like running and working out, along with team bonding to strengthen the team.”
Flatt went on to talk about her goals for the season. “To be CIF Champs and to be the best I can be on and off the field, I also need to embody our team motto for this year, CHAMPS, which stands for: community, hardwork, accountability, mindset, passion, and sportsmanship.”
“I’m just super excited for this season and all the time I’ll get to spend with my friends,” said Flatt, about her third upcoming season on varsity. Upon inquiring about any standout players on the field hockey team this year, Flatt said, “Kait Dunne and Maya Basbaum have really stood out on the team as they are our senior captains and really make a difference on the team. They are very encouraging and determined on the field.”
Senior Captain Maya Basbaum said, “It’s a pretty fun, exciting, and inviting environment where we work hard and play hard.” It is important to have a good environment when playing a team sport so that everyone can connect well on the field.
All in all, the field hockey program appears to be getting well prepared for this upcoming season and all their ambitious goals, one of which is to do well in CIFs. Be sure to pop out to any games you can and cheer on our Cents!