How does a team improve upon going undefeated and not allowing an opposing team to score all season?
The answer is it can’t.
But the team can do it again and that’s exactly what the eighth grade field hockey team of William Allen Middle School did this season.
Under the direction of coach Maryellen Heeneke, the team finished with a 14–0 record for the 2014 fall season. Overall, the team finished its middle school career with an amazing record of 28–0. Even more impressive is that the team did not let up a goal in any of the 28 games played during their seventh and eighth grade seasons. This has never been accomplished before in the school’s history.
Heeneke who coaches the eighth grade team but not the seventh, was unaware of the accomplishment initially.
“I didn’t realize it but as the season went along we noticed that we hadn’t been scored upon yet and the girls said ‘we weren’t scored upon last year either.’ It’s an amazing group of girls,” Heeneke said.
The majority of the team’s roster was the same as last year’s seventh grade team and Heeneke said it’s their dedication that makes the difference.
“It’s such a love of field hockey that they have. They are so dedicated and so committed to the sport,” Heeneke said. “We have excellent feeder programs and most if not all of the girls play for travel teams.”
Even in her 31st year of coaching field hockey, this was a first for Heeneke.
“I’ve had undefeated seasons but never a season when the team wasn’t scored upon,” Heeneke said. “It’s a special group. It’s going to be interesting to follow them going forward. I’m hoping this group stays together. I can’t wait to watch them play at high school.”
