The Middlesex Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey team: A force to be reckoned with

With an overall record of 65-12-2 in the last four years and four straight trips to the NEPSAC Class B finals, one might wonder what makes MXGVFH such a powerhouse team?

One of the reasons that the team is so successful is because of the culture-fostering traditions that connect the team off of the field. They host “Chapels” late on Friday nights as chances for teammates to connect with each other and, being sworn to secrecy on what occurs behind the chapel doors, bond over shared experiences that only a member of Middlesex’s Girls Varsity Field Hockey team would know about. The players also see these secret gatherings as a point to grow as a team and cultivate connection through tradition and spirit. 

Keeping in form with following tradition, at the very beginning of a new member of the Middlesex Girls Varsity Field Hockey team’s career, they are placed on a team: the Angels or the Devils. This team placement stays until the last practice of their MXGVFH career. In practices before every game, the players gather into their life-long teams and compete with and against their teammates, fostering competition and connection between the 17 players on the field. Even after their convincing 2-1 NEPSAC semifinal win against familiar ISL opponent Rivers this past season, the team and coaches stayed after the game and postponed their celebrations to play out one more Angels vs. Devils drill for the sake of tradition (and a bit of superstition). 

Similar to the Angels vs. Devils drill, during the practice before every game, the team stands in a circle on the anvil in the middle of their home turf. They gather so closely that their feet touch and hold hands to send around a “pulse” for the sole purpose of connection. One player remarked that “it’s just sort of a way for everybody to come together and just feel everybody’s presence before the game.” With this being a grounding and focusing factor of their pregame practice to prepare for their competition the next day, the team also uses this time to reflect and cultivate their own personal motivations to win. 

Beyond the physical commitment to practices, games and traditions, the team is so incredible because of their commitment to each other. Each player on the team is constantly committed to her teammates and their wellbeing on and off the field. Specifically, one player mentioned that their coaches, Katie Herter Bruch and Emma Rasmussen “are the foundation of why we are amazing because they care so much about us…I’ve never had coaches be so interested and care so much about the team.” With fearless and motivating leadership from the coaches and unparalleled commitment from every individual on the team, it is no wonder that the Middlesex Girls Varsity Field Hockey team is unmatched in their commitment, strength, heart, and play. 

Thea Salem