Antoine Alce also contributed to the article.
On a windy Friday afternoon at Pine Banks, Malden High’s varsity field hockey team clashed with the Methuen Rangers on September 25. Before Methuen arrived, Malden laced up and began their usual warm-ups of a light jog around the inside of the field and quick dynamic stretching.
Malden started the season with a bumpy start, falling short in the past three games. With only one goal scored this season, the team has struggled to find momentum, especially as Malden has conceded 6.67 goals per game so far.
In preparation for the Greater Boston League (GBL), Senior Captain Frankie Marenghi-Pellino shared how the team tries “hard at practice” and “communicates with each other.”
Head Coach Tiffany Cane expressed that “one of the biggest weaknesses” for the team is their defensive play. “We definitely need to improve on communication and strong passing. The players have the basic skills, but we are not quite up to par with larger varsity teams, like Methuen,” explained Cane.
After both teams warmed up, the game commenced. As the Tornados attempted to stay on the defensive side, the Rangers still snuck in a goal. Despite rising tensions, Malden continued to use short, quick-thinking communication between the players.
By the end of the second quarter, Methuen was gaining by four points. During halftime, both teams went to their respective sides and strategized on their next game plan.
With the start of the third quarter, Malden and Methuen swapped sides on the field. The referee blew the whistle, and Malden’s offense took charge. Senior Captain Cathen Fontanilla reflected that she was “less afraid this time of facing a new team” and believed her performance improved.
Despite the change in offense, the Rangers continued to gain the high ground and score two more goals. With only one quarter left, Malden took their last two-minute break to hydrate and plan out their last game plan.
The Tornados tried to keep up with Methuen’s offence; however, the Rangers still managed to score three more goals in the fourth quarter, ending the game in Methuen’s favor.
After the match, Malden and Methuen lined up to high-five one another, demonstrating good sportsmanship and appreciation for each other’s efforts.
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