The Bryn Mawr Field Hockey Team has plenty of past seasons to look back on with pride since Bryn Mawr student Constance Applebee first introduced field hockey to the United States in 1904. Their 2022 season is already unique compared to prior years, thanks to a new milestone: On September 17th, the BMC Field Hockey Team defeated a nationally ranked team — Christopher Newport University (CNU) — for the first time in history. This was followed by another win, the day after, against University of Mary Washington, another nationally ranked school in Virginia. Bryn Mawr also shut out Haverford 1-0 in a tight match on September 28th.
In addition to those accomplishments, Goalkeeper Maggie Titus, ’22 and Midfielder Hazel Miller, ’25 were named Defensive and Offensive Player of the week respectively (for the week of September 12-18) by the Centennial Conference. Both players expressed their gratitude for recognition of their hard work, demonstrating their humility and dedication to the team.
Sophomore Hazel Miller spoke about her appreciation of her fellow players, saying, “We all uplift each other, we all help each other grow, we are all always the first people to congratulate each other for anything field-hockey related or academics related. [On the team] we are all here to help each other grow and succeed.”
It is clear that on the Bryn Mawr Field Hockey team, prioritizing morale is essential to their success. Senior Maggie Titus believes that this season, her playing style could be described as “high-energy,” a quality that blends well with the rest of the team. The team’s spirit and harmony reflects their hard work and practice.
When asked about any challenges faced during the season, Titus recognized that the beginning of the academic year was a difficult period. Players had to adapt to the rigorous demands of their classes while continuing to meet the same expectations for the sport, which is a strenuous adjustment for most athletes. Practices during this time could be difficult, but she recalled that during one practice, the players decided they weren’t leaving until they successfully completed a drill, an example of the team’s relentlessness and unity.
Even though September brought special recognition for some players, there is no hierarchy on the team based on performance or experience. Field Hockey Coach Victor Brady appreciates that the older players on the team are welcoming to newer players, emphasizing that everyone is on equal footing. He has been coaching the team for six seasons (seven years including the missed season during the pandemic), and is proud of everyone for consistently bringing joy and energy. He says they’re good at working as a cohesive unit during a matches and practice, or singing together on the way to a game. Looking back, Brady thinks that this season has been a whirlwind, but it’s clear the team is capitalizing on its potential.
Currently, the team has defeated 10 out of 11 schools. This includes a 6-0 win against Gettysburg on September 24th, which was also BMC’s homecoming game. Miller spoke about how this year’s homecoming game was particularly meaningful, saying, “That was I think so far, the peak performance I’ve seen from the team: We played a full 60 minutes with us setting the energy, setting the tone, and playing what Bryn Mawr Field Hockey is fully capable of, it kind of blew me out of the water.”
When questioned about aspirations for the team, Coach Brady said he preferred to keep everyone focused on present tasks and goals, taking it one game at a time rather than getting caught up in future rankings and potential accomplishments. For both the coach and the team, it’s most valuable to “be where [their] feet are.”
