Southwick junior Sydney Rogers, right, battles Frontier Regional’s Celia Speth during the first half of the 2014 West Division 2 Field Hockey Final in West Springfield. Rogers, who is expected back for the 2015 season, went on to score the Rams’ only goal of the game. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – During the 2014 regular season, only one team was better than the Southwick High School field hockey team. In the postseason, the Rams were nearly unbeatable.
Southwick completed its best season in nearly a decade, going 13-1-2 before falling to Frontier in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 finals.
In that game, freshman forward Mckenzie Patterson notched one goal and one assist to lead Frontier, which used short passes and a reverse stick to silence the Rams.
Southwick senior Morgan Harriman said after the game that she likened Frontier to Division 1 regular season opponents Agawam and Westfield.
This year’s Rams will be tested early as they travel to the Whip City for a Sept. 8 opening day contest against the Bombers.
It will not be the same Westfield team, though, as the Bombers will be led by new head coach Linda Rowbotham, who steps up from the JV unit to replace departed Karen Gomez. Gomez is now the new head coach of Agawam.
Also, on Tuesday, September 8, the Southwick girls’ soccer team hosts Agawam, and Rams’ golf takes on Easthampton at Pine Grove Golf Course. The boys’ soccer team opens at Hampshire Sept. 9, and the girls’ volleyball team hosts Smith Voke that same day.
