This season marks the first for the fledgling Faith Christian field hockey team.
It’s been an impressive debut.
The Lions topped host Bicentennial Athletic League rival Plumstead Christian on Monday, 3-1.
Faith got on the board in the second quarter with a goal by Amaly Klock with 11:28 to go in the second quarter.
The lead didn’t last long. Two minute’s later, Plumstead’s Elena Rivera found the net and the teams entered the intermission tied, 1-1.
“It was very exciting when we scored,” said Plumstead senior Jessa Read, a team captain. “We didn’t win the game but I see this as a victory for us because we really worked so well together.”
The second half began with a bang for Faith Christian, as Gracie Lynde scored right away, and the scored stood at 2-1 for most of the rest of the game.
With 2:37 to go, Plumstead was awarded a penalty stroke. Courtney Walbridge took the shot for the Panthers, but it was saved by Faith goaltender Rylie Hetherington.
“I was really scared,” said Hetherington, a freshman. “In practice I’ve only done about 10 of them, and I never had one in a game. I was so nervous. I didn’t think I was going to save it, but I did. Hearing my teammates encouraging me and telling me I could do it made me think that I could.
“I think it was a huge momentum swing for us. There wasn’t that much time left, but they could have tied it up and then who knows what could have happened.”
Hetherington was previously a sweeper but the team needed a goaltender.
“I just jumped in,” she said. “I like it a lot. It was a good decision for me.”
Greta Peper put the exclamation point on the game with the final goal of the day for the Lions with 53 seconds remaining.
Peper is an exchange student from Germany with previous playing experience.
“It’s so exciting to play on an American team,” she said. “It’s been a really fun season. I made so many friends on the team, and I can’t believe how we’re growing. Aug. 13 was our first practice and for some people it was the first time they had a stick in their hands. It’s totally incredible that we’re where we are right now.
“This was an important win because now we want to finish strong. This is the first year for the team and we want to show people we can do it.”
The Lions finished off the regular season with a 5-1 win over Jenkintown. Peper and Klock each scored a pair of goals, and Lynde had a single tally for Faith (9-4 overall, 9-3 in the BAL).
The District One Class A tournament will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and the Lions can expect to be seeded third out of a draw of six.
“Our team is getting better with each game,” Hetherington said. “It’s so exciting to make the playoffs and I’m really looking forward to it. This is a wonderful foundation for us to continue to build the program on. No one expected us to have this much success in our first year.”
The game was the season finale for Plumstead Christian, which closes out the year with a record of 7-11 (6-6 BAL).
“I am extremely proud of every girl on the team,” said Read, who also plays softball for Plumstead. “We played together and we played as a team. I think that’s what really matters.”
Read is likely going to Liberty University, where she plans to major in health and physical education.
The Panthers had a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the team.
“I see a good future for them,” said Plumstead senior captain Susana Gisondi. “I have never been on a team that is so encouraging. That makes every practice and every game so wonderful. It was just a joy to play with them. Everyone is so uplifting.
“It’s hard to see it end. It was a great experience and it’s been the best part of high school for me.”
Gisondi also plays softball for the Panthers, and hopes to become a dermatologist.
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