Sydney Garvin and Rachel Saxton
Staff Writers
It has been a historic season for the New Hope-Solebury Field Hockey team with a claim on the BAL title, District One championship, and a first ever win in PIAA states tournament in school history.
It started out as an unexpected season for the lions, going with a shutout season until the 4-1 win over Jenkintown High School. Their undefeated season continued until the regional finals game against Gwynedd Mercy with a tough 2-1 loss. “They got a goal on a quick transition we were not ready for,” senior Claudia Koeppen explained. “They were out for revenge and they got it, but we came back stronger and wound up getting farther in states. We won what really counted.”
Like Koeppen said, the Lions continued onto the state quarter-finals where their season came to an end with a 3-1 loss over Wyoming Seminary whereas their past opponent, Gwynedd Mercy, lost in the first round of states.
The field hockey team ended with nineteen wins and two losses, outscoring their opponents 148-6. Senior Sarah Wilson also beat the Bicentennial Athletic League’s career goal record in the final game against Wyoming Seminary. Former Christopher Dock player, Jill Bolton, had claimed the title with 111 goals, Wilson scoring her 112th goal in her final career game.
“In past years, we have all been intimidated by Jill. It feels really good to show that she can be beat, and even though we weren’t able to beat her team last year, I got my revenge this year,” Wilson explains.
The Lady Lions look forward to finishing their season with the annual parent-player game and the first ever field hockey/ soccer game versing the New Hope-Solebury Girls Soccer team. It has been a memorable season for the girls, and they cannot wait to see their first ever District One Championship banner hanging in the school gym.
