Kevin Prum, Afif Alakoum, Adam El Fatihi, and William Yu also contributed to this article.
Field hockey is a game best known for its quick-paced matches of batting a hooked stick against a ball on grass or turf. The local Malden team is fortunate to have a group so diverse and welcoming, consisting of a co-ed team for all genders, as well as being open to interested seventh and eighth graders.
Last year, Malden High School’s Field Hockey team faced difficulty with repopulating the team after the loss of many seniors and teammates overall, all while integrating new teammates. This put them in a particularly rough spot, with a 1-15-0 record. In their upcoming 2026-2027 season, the team hopes to come back from their defeats.
Senior Captain Yawen Zuo wants to initiate the revolution for the new, young team. “My future goals for the rest of the season are to keep improving, along with the rest of the team. I want to see a win this year, maybe a chance at the GBL championship again as we work towards our goals,” she declared.
However, Zuo is not the only captain and won’t be alone on this mission, as she is accompanied by seniors Cathen Fontanilla, Frankie Marenghi-Pellino, and Junior Captain Anna Bui, who is also the Head of Sports for The Blue and Gold.
This year, the team’s home opener took place on September 14th at Pine Banks, additionally marking their first game against Bishop Fenwick, who is known for being highly competitive and, overall, a threat.
The first quarter ended in a huge jump for Bishop Fenwick, beginning at a score of 5-0. By the second quarter, Bishop Fenwick would score one more point, leaving Malden down by 6-0. Following the third quarter, the scores remained stagnant, which displayed a better defense and left Malden with hopes of scoring. However, despite the efforts of the Tornados, the fourth quarter, and ultimately, the match, would end in a loss of 8-0.
With a farewell to their opponents, both teams formed a line, running down and clapping the opposing team’s members while applauding “good game,” down the line.
“Bishop Fenwick played a really good game; we did our best. We came out, we played, so I’m really proud of my team. I don’t care if we lost,” senior Karllens Petion reflected. Similarly, senior Kamani Gomes stated that “they’re one of the top teams in the state, and we stood our ground,” facing the loss with positivity, acknowledging their triumph in doing their best.
Although positive vibes radiated from many players, Zuo stated she felt “disappointed about losing,” but knew the game was a learning moment for all players. She hopes that as the season continues, the team will advance their skills, build momentum for further games, and hone in on specific roles.
With their long-term goals in mind, the team’s current goals are to “improve on positioning and communication,” to be “confident in making moves,” and to properly integrate newer players into the team, Zuo expressed.
With clear goals set for the rest of the autumn, the Malden Field Hockey team is determined to fight for a better season, disallowing one setback from defining their season’s career.
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