Starting the season with only 11 players, the varsity field hockey team has to play smarter and be in top condition to win games without substitutions.

Early on, the Falcons have defeated St. Francis 1-0 on Sept. 3 and St. Ignatius 3-1 on Sept. 14 and Davis 1-0 on Sept. 18 with one fewer player.

“Our coaches focus on fitness, and we're all excited to play the full game so we haven't run into too many problems,” said senior defender Sabrina Clark.

The size of the team, though, has allowed the girls to strengthen their bond with one another. Led by captains Clark, senior midfielder Erin Norris and junior forward Tina Miller, the team is working toward its goal of finishing first in the Santa Clara Valley Athletics League and making it to Central Coast Section (CCS) finals.

“We always have to have each other’s backs,” Clark said. “We count on one another and it brings us closer.”

In the game against Davis High School, the teams remained scoreless until the final seven minutes when junior defender Maxine Parr scored off a short corner, assisted by junior midfielder Emily Chen. The 1-0 victory shutout can also be credited to sophomore goalie Maya Gupta’s four saves as well a defensive save from Parr.

In the win against St. Ignatius, the girls had to contend with the foggy and wet conditions in South San Francisco. Junior defender Rachel Davey scored the first goal of the game, assisted by junior midfielder Hannah Leonard, but St. Ignatius caught up by the end of the first half to tie the score at 1-1. The Falcons reclaimed their lead in the second half with goals from senior forward Corinne Bryan and Miller and assists from junior forward Kelsey Kinoshita and Norris, along with a defensive save from junior defender Sophie Parr and three saves from Gupta.

On Sept. 11, the team, playing with one less player, took on Mitty in their second non-league game held their own against the Monarchs, ending the game with a 1-1 tie. Saratoga’s lone goal was scored by Maxine Parr in the first half.

The second half ended in a tie, and the match went into a seven vs. seven 7-minute sudden death overtime. In the end, neither team scored before time ran out, and the match ended in a tie.

In their non-league game against St. Francis on Sept. 3, the Falcons pulled ahead of the Lancers in the first half with a goal scored by Chen, assisted by Miller and Kinoshita. With nine saves from Gupta and strong play from the whole team, the Falcons held onto the 1-0 shutout.

Due to printing deadlines, the team’s game against Cupertino on Sept. 22 and Homestead on Sept. 24 could not be covered.