After a five-year absence, the McGill Women’s Field Hockey team finally returned to their home pitch: Percival Molson Stadium. On Oct. 12, the Martlets hosted their only home games of the season against the Queen’s Gaels. Despite narrowly falling short in both matches (2-0 and 3-2), the team displayed unwavering passion. The Martlets put in the hard yards as they were bolstered by the energy in the stands, showcasing their skills against a strong Queen’s opposition in front of a supportive home crowd.
Head Coach Casey Brennan-Raab commented on pre-game morale in an interview with //The Tribune//.
“[There were] definitely some nerves,” he said. “[As] we progressed through the week, the team started to realize: ‘Yes, this is our game’, and things settled down. The nervousness turned to excitement, and that excitement translated to the intensity that you guys saw on the field today.”
The Martlets have travelled to Ontario every weekend since Sept. 21 to compete against experienced opponents like the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Defender Clara Smyrski, U2 Arts and Science, told //The Tribune// that this gruelling schedule has had physical and mental impacts on the athletes.
“It is exhausting to travel 20 hours every weekend,” Smyrski said. “It’s hard to succeed when you’re coming off an eight-hour bus ride, but this weekend was different. We were comfortable, unified, and really excited to show out in front of our family and friends.”
From the first whistle of game one, the Martlets quickly settled into a rhythm. With flurries of well-executed passes, grandiose sweep shots, concrete defensive blocks, and intense sprinting across the turf, there was talent on display everywhere the supporters looked. The first game against Queen’s was a tightly contested affair. Both teams battled fiercely, creating numerous opportunities. While the Gaels found the back of the net twice, the Martlets put up a stalwart defensive effort and ran the Gaels all over the park. Sara Prins, U1 Arts, was awarded player of the game for her insatiable energy holding the team together in the midfield.
The second game was even more dramatic with the Martlets using their momentum and undying fight from game one to lead 2-1 going into the third period of game two. Impressive goals from forward Natalie Doehla, U3 Science, and midfielder Avery Berry, U1 Science, made for a ferocious fight going into the third. However, the Gaels bit back in the 28th minute, tying the game at 2-2. The Martlets didn’t let up, stopping chances and creating more of their own, but the Gaels clinched the game in the 54th minute, securing a nail-biting victory in the fourth period. While the results may not have been in their favour, the Martlets fought tirelessly and left it all on the field.
“The field hockey we played today was the best we’ve played all season and it is no doubt because of our mindset and support,” Smyrski said. “It makes a huge difference!”
The return to Molson Stadium was a significant milestone for McGill Field Hockey. It marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with optimism about team success and playing more games on the gleaming home turf.
Moment of the game:
Natalie Doehla scored the first goal in game two following a whirlwind of shots and blocks, with the Martlets pummelling the Queen’s defence. Doehla rifled the ball into the goal, cracking into the backboard with a powerful shot to end in elation for the Martlets. The goal released all the pent up tension on the field and gave a sense that the floodgates had opened. It allowed them to ultimately take the lead in the second period and battle until the last minute.
Quotable:
“I’m feeling very motivated because we were so intense in that game, we just have to continue our system, which has worked really well [….] Away days are definitely hard for us but after the games we played this weekend, I think we can really take it to them and finish our season with some high-quality field hockey. We love our sport and each other so we hope to take our momentum from this weekend away to Toronto!” — Defender Jenna Payette, U2 Science.
Stat corner:
The Martlets have won two home games and two away games against Queen’s with a conference record of 4–23–5 against them since their first game in 2003.
