Girl’s varsity field hockey traveled to Saint Louis, MO for a tough start to their season, not winning until the final game of the three game tournament.
The first game played ended in a score of 2-0. “The Trevians didn’t do the best [at the tournament] this year but each game we played got a lot better and we became more of a team,” senior Amanda David said.
“We play in the St. Louis tournament because we’re invited,” senior Sheri Kuzatsky said, “It’s a chance for us to play teams we know nothing about so it’s more focused on how to improve our game than [how to] take down another team.”
The team rode down in a coach bus, the ride lasting roughly five hours.
“All the teams were well balanced based on what you saw,” girls varsity field hockey head coach Stephanie Nykaza said. “New Trier is just as skilled but you can lose when you are not focused and intense.”
The team was also outplayed in the second game, ending with a score of 1-0.
“They are a great, very skilled, athletic group but if they are not ready to win then they
will not,” Nykaza said, “Their goal is to stay consistent and stay focused.”
Trevians won the third game 1-0. They put up a good fight against Edwardsville due to the fact that they were tired of losing, Nykaza said.
In past years the field hockey team finished with a winning record, beating most teams at the St. Louis tournament. Last year, they were the IHSA state champions,
winning their 11th state championship. But with each new season comes a new team.
According to Nykaza, the turning point of their last game came from the desire to
win.
“They know they’re better and they started to realize that during the third game,”
Nykaza said. “They made the necessary changes and walked onto the field ready to play.”
“The forwards and midfielders worked hard recovering because our defense was challenged a lot last weekend,” David said. Each game was played in 100 degree weather, adding an extra obstacle to the game.
The senior players were imperative to the team’s final win. They became more vocal during the game, calling out balls and cheering on fellow teammates. Their hustle for the ball also improved throughout the game.
“The biggest play was our goal [in the third game],” Kuzatsky said. “It showed that what
Coach Nykaza had told us to work on paid off in the end. We changed our game for the better.”
The team plans to continue improving their skills. They held an all team dinner during the tournament to improve team bonds. The long bus ride also provided the team with time to get to know one another.
“Everyone has the same goal to win and we’re constantly cheering and rooting for one another,” Kuzatsky said. “Knowing teammates are there to support you can make you want to push yourself harder.”
Nykaza said the field hockey team learned what they must do in order to get better, setting goals to complete each week. They do not form a new goal until their
previous one is fulfilled.
“The team has so many skilled athletic girls,” David said. “We need to work on making sure we are all communicating and connecting on the field together. All of our practices must be focused with high intensity.”
According to David, this weekend was not only a great time to gain more  experience by playing other teams, but the girls were able to connect more. Because the team is
young, they must learn to support one another.
“The most successful teams are the ones most emotionally connected. They play hard the
entire game and  support each other,” Nykaza said.