Field hockey adjusts to new coach as the season progresses

Senior Emma Green fights for the ball in a game against Presentation on Sept. 27.

With a new coach, the captains of the girls’ field hockey team have taken on an important role this season.

After a 0-2 loss to Presentation on Sept. 27, the field hockey team is focused on connecting as a team for defense, midfield and forwards in future contests. The team’s record is currently 3-3 in the El Camino league.

“We need to execute more on opportunities when they arise during games,” senior captain Zinneerah Ahmed said. “We also need to work on getting more short corners and just having quicker passes.”

So far, the team’s main weakness has been on defense. At practice, they primarily do drills for short, accurate passes throughout the field and exercises avoiding short corners, which is a penalty shot awarded to the offense. They have also been working to secure free hits, which are awarded when they get fouls. The team has their sights set on making CCS again and making it past the first round this time.

The team is also adjusting to their new coach, Sam Ng, who replaced former coach Jatin Sharma.

“It’s been a hard adjustment to our new coach because he’s a little older and not especially vocal,” Ahmed said. “But it’s really taught us to be responsible for each other and for ourselves.”

The captains have also taken on even more responsibilities this season as a result of having a new coach, including running warmups and stretches at the beginning of practice, setting up drills and talking to refs during games.

Ahmed, alongside senior right-sided center back Emma Green and left midfield senior Lexi Cleland, has made it his primary focus to target these weaknesses through drills. They are also trying to support the new underclassmen such as freshman Giselle Adams and Evelyn Williams and encourage them whenever they make mistakes.

“This season has definitely been a challenge so far since we have a new coach and we lost so many players from last year,” junior Margaret Huesby said. “But I think the seniors are able to take authority and organize us well during practice which has made it a lot easier to adjust.”