WEEDSPORT聽鈥 Weedsport field hockey suffered its first loss of the regular season in its opener Sept. 6 against Moravia.
It would be the Wolverines' last loss of the regular season as well.
After defeating Morrisville-Eaton 2-1 on Thursday at home, Weedsport now boasts a 15-1 record going into sectionals. Here are three takeaways from the latest win in the team's winning streak.
Stackings wins on top of wins
Though the Wolverines lost to the Blue Devils to start the season, head coach Kathy Holden knew right away what one of her team's adjustments needed to be.
鈥淲e did not go to the ball in that first game," Holden told the Citizen. "That, by far, was our biggest thing. And just to bring the intensity, we didn't have it for the first game.鈥
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Since then, the team has left its hesitancy behind. Ten of Weedsport's 15 ensuing victories have come by two or more goals.
The Wolverines have also been a well-balanced team since the 4-0 loss, and that dynamism has given them the opportunity to win games in a multitude of ways.聽
Holden, who is in her second year as head coach, noted how the team's camaraderie has been a key ingredient in its success as well.
"I've been using the word 'magical' with the team, so I think they feel that way. For them, it's all about just staying together and playing," she said.
"They really enjoy each other's company on the field and off the field, so they're all about just being together and doing what they do."
Dominant defense聽
Over the course of their 16 games, the Wolverines have surrendered only 12 goals. They also allowed two or more goals in just two games, and shut out their opponent in eight of their victories.聽
Even though Weedsport did not hold the Mavericks scoreless in Thursday's win, it did hold a team that was averaging four goals a game to just one score.
Like all good defensive teams, staying on the same page is what has helped Weedsport be so assertive, Holden said.
"To keep the ball in the midfield and on our offensive end," she said. "The other thing is layering communication, making sure everybody's marked up and keeping our sticks down."
The Wolverines' defense will look to continue the trend of shutting down their opponent next week when they jump into sectional play.
Scoring streak
Through nearly half of the Wolverines' 15-game winning streak, Mallory Brown has had a knack for finding the back of the net.聽
The junior has scored in eight consecutive games and totaled 11 goals during the regular season聽鈥 second to Kayla Flask at 12. Brown netted her team's first goal of the game on Thursday, which helped make the difference in a one-score win. After tallying two goals through her team's first eight games, Brown knew her demeanor had to change.
"I think confidence in just learning that I need to be aggressive on the pads and attack the pads more, because that's the way you're gonna score," she told the Citizen.
On top of her scoring, Brown has set her teammates up to contribute. She ended the regular season first on the team in assists with seven.
With the postseason now ahead of Brown and the Wolverines, they are eager to continue their winning ways.聽
"We're all super hyped about it," she said. "We're ready to just start. We've been waiting for sectionals. Our chemistry is awesome right now, so I can't wait."