By: Margo Rawlings

News Editor 

After extending their CCS championship record to 17 last fall, the Los Gatos High School field hockey team is preparing for another successful season. For those who survived Double Days or “Hell Week” — the two weeks of difficult training before the beginning of school — the intensity of daily practice culminated in a pre-season game with St. Stephens, one of the best teams in Austin, Texas. The team came to the Bay Area over Labor Day Weekend to play the top teams in our division: St. Francis, Archbishop Mitty, St. Ignatius, and Los Gatos. 

Due to the graduation of many key players last spring, the team had to reorganize its starting lineup for the coming season. Starting over the summer and during Double Days, the team continued learning new plays, refining fundamentals, and getting in better physical shape. Part of this conditioning is running the infamous dam. The players endure a grueling four-mile trek to Lexington Reservoir and back through St. Joseph’s Preserve. Normally, running the dam is the final stretch of Double Days before a celebration, which includes a team dinner and sleepover on the field. 

Following the conclusion of Double Days, Los Gatos field hockey players worked hard in order to host St. Stephens. On Sept. 3, at 10:00 AM, the field hockey field was lit by the Cats’ white uniforms. Under already warm temperatures, the Cats maintained control of the ball in the opponents’ half for almost the entirety of the first period and started the second quarter strong with a 1-0 lead after senior co-captain Jiwoo Hong’s reverse sweep goal. St. Stephens’ scored their first goal, tying the game, but Los Gatos quickly regained their lead, scoring another goal at the end of the third period. During the second half of the game, reversals of play were common in both directions, dotted by short corners that led to the Cats 4-1 win. Senior co-captain Sam Eliott scored a goal and Hong scored her third goal of the game. After the game, a friendly brunch with the St. Stephens athletes was an opportunity for the Los Gatos players to meet them and appreciate their kindness and dedication to the sport. They had played against St. Francis and St. Ignatius the day before and went on to play Archbishop Mitty on the Los Gatos field at 2:00 pm that afternoon. 

Los Gatos’ season will officially start Sept. 13 with an away game at Palo Alto. Their first home game will be Thursday, Sept. 20, against St. Ignatius; Varsity will play at 4:00 PM, and Junior Varsity will follow. Come support your Wildcats!