The excitement among the Oakdale Field Hockey team isn’t just because they’re back on the field, but because they’re back with their team. The isolation due to the pandemic divided everyone, so getting to reunite with their team on their field is truly a refreshing experience.

When it was confirmed that sports would go back to “normal” seasons in the fall, our Bears were excited for the chance to get back to business. Senior Riley Austin surely felt it, saying, “I’m super excited to get back to a normal game schedule and not the half schedule.”

When asked about her favorite part of being on the team, senior Tess Schlicting said that, “My favorite part about being on the team is the bond we have with our teammates.”

Junior Izzy Poyrazoff seemed to share Schlicting’s sentiment, expressing, “I love the team bonding we do, and the feeling of being with my team after finishing harder practices with like lots of running with my team, it brings us closer together.”

It’s clear that this team has a bond, one that, like every team, will be tested as the season goes on. There are plenty of tough matchups this year; however, it’s clear that our Bears are up for the challenge.

Poyrazoff was excited for one game in particular, “I’m looking forward to the Urbana game because they are always a challenging team to play,,” she commented

When Austin was asked about what game she was looking forward to the most, she answered, “I’m looking forward to all the games, any reason to be on the field.”

That seems to be the rallying point of the team this season. Facing a long season after being apart for so long, under a new coach, these girls are itching to get on the field and make their mark on this program’s history.

Now, every great team needs a great leader, and new head coach, Muzammal Malik, a Pakistani Olympian, is ready to bring his players’ skills to a new level. Schlicting assured, “I’m really excited about our new coaching staff, I think they’re pushing Oakdale field hockey up to another level.”

The girls next game is September 20 against rival Linganore here at Oakdale, so show out and support our Bears field hockey!