She can’t miss. Field hockey Head Coach Tori Karsten has won back-to-back titles since she joined the team last year. In her first season, she brought Creek to the first field hockey state title since 2007. Now the two-time title-winning coach, as of Nov 5, credits the team.
“Back-to-back state titles just show the resilience, effort, skill, and coachability of this team,” Karsten said.
While Karsten gives credit to the team for the season’s success, the players believe it was a complete team effort.
“[Karsten] believes in us,” junior forward Hazel McDonnell (#21) said. “[She] knows how to get the best out of everyone.”
With a coach bringing out the best in each player, it helps put each player in the right spot to achieve success. Going into a first goal wins or golden goal overtime, McDonnell and junior middle Finley Katz (#14) found themselves right in the perfect spot within 25 seconds of overtime to win the game.
McDonnell scored the game-winning goal from a pass from Katz to end this shootout of a game. Katz also ended with both regulation goals, earning three points on the day.
While Katz’s exceptional work in the field helped bring the team the title, the goal of winning is shared.
“We’ve worked every day since Aug. to achieve the two-peat,” Katz said. “The whole team wanted the same goal, so it was easy to lock in.”
Being ready as a team and playing as one helps everyone. The team, being prepared to go into the state title game, cooled down nerves and helped make the game fun.
“Everyone was very hyped up, which makes it easier to go into a game excited and ready to win,” Katz said.
Being a team and having fun is the point of high school sports. But the moment of winning brings purpose to working hard.
“As soon as it went in, everything just hit me, all the work we’ve put in,” McDonnell said. “Celebrating with my team was the best feeling ever.”
Closing out the state title game with an excellent overtime goal, Karsten looks to hold on to the team’s newfound streak.
“We’re now getting ready to three-peat,” Karsten said.
