A Marathon Not a Sprint

Every new season undoubtedly brings a new feel for a team, as chemistry is different and players come and go. The freshman have to be acclimated to the collegiate level and - depending on the number of seniors graduating - there are holes that need to be filled. The signs of a great program point to the perseverance and persistence the players and coaches have to continue to be great, year in and year out.

The Messiah College Field Hockey team has been one of the most consistent programs at this school over recent years due to the fact that the team has won the MAC Commonwealth conference every year for the past 11 seasons. Having been four years removed from a Division-III National Championship, the Field Hockey program had lost only three games since the 2016 season before heading into this year. So, when the Falcons were seen losing four of their first seven games of the season, it was certainly uncommon and uncanny. 

Surely, any one of us could have wondered why the Falcons’ had gotten off to a slow start, but when discussing the season with several players on this 2019 squad, there were senses of clarity and confidence in their responses. Senior goalkeeper Megan Bomba, Junior defender Mackenzie Brubaker, Senior midfielder Kristen Musser, and Junior defender Claire Myers all sounded off on why the team felt that there was no need to panic at all after going three and four in their first seven games.

When asked how different this year’s team is compared to past years - in terms of leadership, how many Seniors graduated, and the Freshman class - both Bomba and Brubaker discussed the type of chemistry and leadership in this year’s team. “We lost six players (and starters) to graduation last year, which left a lot of unknown in the starting lineup. At the same time, we had a strong freshman class coming in to fill those gaps where necessary,” Bomba commented, referring to the personnel of the team. When chiming in on chemistry, Brubaker added that “every team is different. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses. Overall, it is always good.”

As mentioned before, the Falcons’ first stretch of games consisted of seven non-conference games against teams that were nationally ranked, including opponents such as the number one ranked team in the nation, The College of New Jersey, number three ranked Salisbury, and even eighth-ranked Johns Hopkins. The Senior leader, Musser adamantly spoke on how it is so important to continue to improve as the season goes on, and how perfection is not what the program is solely focused on. “I think records can be misleading. The teams we lost to were top-ranked teams, and we hung in there in each of the games. People have it in their minds that they expect perfection from us or any team, and it’s very rare that a team goes undefeated all season. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. The season is a marathon, not a sprint.” Claire Myers also touched on how Coach Good emphasizes the importance of peaking at the right time: “Coach always says that she doesn’t want us to peak until the post season. She wants us to keep building and growing throughout the season.”

The Falcons began conference play back on September 28, when they hosted Alvernia. Since then, the girls have rattled off nine wins in a row as well as going 7-0 in the conference. In regards to the momentum the team has built on the past month of conference play, Bomba stated that, “(we) have found out mojo through a lineup that works for us and a game plan that sees positive results.” Myers added that the team has “really strong reserves that can step on the field and make a difference,” and that their condition and fitness allows them to outlast opponents in crunch time.

The Messiah Field Hockey is yet again making a run for another MAC Commonwealth title and a top seed in the NCAA tournament with only a few days left before the postseason. With the assumption that the Falcons will be hosting their conference tournament and an NCAA tournament game or two, it is vital that the team continues to adapt and adjust to each opponent accordingly as well as carry the momentum on. When commenting on the various gameplans the coaches and team instills, Brubaker said that: “We’ve made some changes in tactics and strategies. We’ve learned to adapt to different surfaces, different formations and even different potential players who pose a threat.” It is more often than not that postseason play brings games have different atmospheres and different situations, which Musser and Bomba specifically brought up. “We’ve learned the necessity to realize what changes need to be made faster as we are in the game (Musser).” “We’ve been preparing for the different situations that may come out of the postseason (like overtime and shootouts), so that we are ready when they present themselves (Bomba).”

Just as Musser quoted, it is a marathon not a sprint when it comes to a new and full season for the Messiah Field Hockey team and the entire program is very aware of that as it is showing in their win streak prior to the postseason. Although it may not be as “perfect” as fans want it to be, the Falcons are only worried about being the best team they can be when it matters the most. Certainly once again, the Falcons’ are poised for another conference championship and an at-large NCAA bid in a few weeks.