On Saturday, October 1, students from St. Joseph’s Academy and Villa Duchesne High School gathered together at Condie Field for their annual rivalry field hockey game. Every year, students gather together for this exciting event newly nicknamed, “Thrilla Villa.”

This year, the event was hosted at Villa Duchesne. However, this did not affect St. Joseph’s Academy students’ attendance. To spectators, it seemed that St. Joseph’s Academy’s student section was even larger than the home team’s. Walking in from the parking lot onto the field, the thunderous cheers from both of the competing student sections were easily heard. Located on the hill overlooking Condie Field, the St. Joe student section was on the right, and Villa’s on the left. 

The game started with the playing of the National Anthem, followed by each of the seniors being announced over the loudspeaker. Then, the game began. 

To students, the atmosphere was electric. Eva Matyiko, a St. Joseph’s Academy sophomore and member of the Varsity field hockey team, enjoyed the game immensely. 

“Warming up and playing during the game was so fun because of how big and loud our student section was. Our school spirit really encouraged me,” Eva said. 

Throughout the game, St. Joe Spirit Club officers led students through various cheers and chants trying to overpower the cheers of the Villa student section to their right. St. Joe’s theme for the spirit game was “Sleepover at the Castle.” Students were seen wearing silk pajama sets, flannel pajama pants, eye masks, and slippers. Villa’s student section featured the theme “Rumble in the Jungle.” Villa students were seen wearing blow-up animal costumes and other animal prints. 

Villa Duschene scored two unanswered goals in each of the first two quarters, leaving the score at 2-0 going into halftime. However, St. Joe never let up and their pressure on the Villa defense soon led to a goal by senior Ainsley Horstman early in the third quarter. When this goal was scored, St. Joseph’s Academy sophomore Megan Schoemehl was getting a snow cone on the opposite end of the field, behind the concession stand. 

“I was busy picking between the blue raspberry and Tigers Blood flavoring when our student section went wild and I knew we must have scored,” Megan said. 

Villa responded with another goal in the fourth quarter, leaving the final score Villa Duschene- 3, St. Joseph’s Academy- 1. 

Although this was not the outcome St. Joe was hoping for, students still enjoyed the game and cheering on their school at one of the biggest spirit events of the year.