As the fall sports season continues, we recognize one specific sport. Field hockey is a popular sport among the students here at St. Joseph’s Academy. There are freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity teams, all full of girls who have a passion for this sport. The field hockey program at St. Joe is like no other, with girls who love to play and always do their best. You can rarely find a group of girls with this kind of work ethic and passion, but at St. Joe, it is abundant in the field hockey program.

The varsity team consists of girls with experience and skill, the girls on the junior varsity team are passionate hard workers, and the girls on the freshmen team are determined and athletic, so it is no surprise that all of them have done well this season. The field hockey players here at St. Joseph’s Academy are hard workers not only on the field but off the field as well. They train consistently, yet they still maintain academic distinction.

Coached by Claire Aubel and Anne Genovese, the girls on the varsity field hockey team are at the top of their game. They work unbelievably hard at practices so that, at games, they can showcase their abilities. Both coaches are graduates of St. Joe who played field hockey. Junior varsity coaches Hayley Wright and Joni Halliday enjoyed playing field hockey throughout their lives and just could not keep away from the coaching environment here at St. Joe. These coaches work very hard to prepare their girls to be the best. Freshmen team coach Aynie Linneman is experienced, having coached lots of field hockey and lacrosse in her past. With all her experience on the field, Linneman knows how to train her girls to be the best.

The Field Hockey program here at St. Joseph’s Academy is one of the best. It is a known powerhouse, as well as a fierce competitor to its opponents. With numerous State Championships achieved, St. Joseph’s Academy field hockey is absolutely a top-tier program. It’s a fact that St. Joe’s field hockey program is known for creating great players, as well as girls who go on to play at the college and professional levels.

Every team has its rivals, and Villa is a known rival of St. Joe’s. It’s tradition that every year, the girls of the field hockey program play in a game known as “Thrilla Villa.” In this game, they face Villa and compete to win. Villa is a fierce competitor, but so is St. Joe. The SJA Spirit is consistently proven every year when this game occurs. Students dress up, cheer, and root for their team. The players also really appreciate the spirit and cheer brought to them every year. This year, the game took place on October 5th at Villa Duchesne High School, and the theme was “Step into the Ring.”

Many girls try out to make friends or play the sport they love and end up creating lifelong bonds and lifetime memories. Varsity player Lucy Morrison ‘28 described her love for the team.

“I just love the team, ” Lucy said.

How could anybody not love it? Junior Varsity player Kate Hughes ‘28 described her love for the program’s community.

“Field hockey is completely new to me this year. I love the sport and even more, I love the people I got to meet and get close with through this season,” Kate said.

It’s obvious to see that all the girls that take part in this program love and enjoy it. The friendships made through this program are created to last a lifetime, as well as establish a sense of teamwork and community in these girls for the rest of their lives. We continue to support our field hockey program and are so excited to see what the rest of this season brings for them.