by Ruth Murai

photos courtesy Leong

In 2010, seniors Marcia Lewis, Jamie Leong, Sadie Logan and Hannah Westall-Toler watched in awe as the LGHS field hockey team won its third consecutive CCS title. Now seniors and leaders of the LGHS field hockey team, the girls are determined to end their last season together the same way they ended their first: as CCS Champions.

The field hockey team played their first season game on Sept. 24 against Monta Vista High School. The Cats came out on top, beating the Monta Vista Matadors by a score of 6-1. Goals were scored by Leong, junior Melina Moore, and sophomore Sophie Comeau.

The Cats had a slow start against Monta Vista, scoring two goals early on, but the Matadors answered with a goal of their own. In the second half, LGHS was able to pick up the pace, scoring an additional four goals by the end of the game. Varsity Captain Moore said of the first game, “I think we all came out determined and we played well as a team.”

The following week, the Cats took two more wins. On Oct. 1, they faced Los Altos at home and shut out the visitors with an 8-0 game. Two days later, the field hockey team traveled to Cupertino, where they came away with a 4-1 win.

In order to continue their winning streak Varsity Captain Logan said, “I want us to stay focused and sharp so that our success can continue into the post-season.”  Varsity Captain Lewis added, “I hope that we continue to use our teams chemistry to our advantage so we can continue to grow as a team and a sisterhood.”

For Varsity Captain junior Kaitlyn McLaren, the support of a sisterhood was imperative in preparing for this season. Early in the pre-season, she suffered a stress fracture in her right foot, forcing her to take some time off. After three weeks of rest and supporting her team on the sideline, McLaren returned in the pre-season game against Live Oak, where she scored three goals and had one assist. McLaren said of her impressive comeback, “sitting out for three weeks was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, so I was thankful to be back and I just wanted to come out as hard as possible.”

For the seniors these next few weeks represent everything they have been working towards for the past three years, ever since that last CCS title was won in 2010. Coach Reyes has complete faith in the girls’ ability to end this year as the champions they believe themselves to be. “Some people ask me if this is a rebuilding year for us,” he said after the Cats’ win against Monta Vista, “and to them I would say, “We’re not rebuilding. We’re reloading.”