These girls are my support system,” junior Kelsey Fringer explained. The girls’ varsity field hockey team has always had the reputation as being a tremendously close-knit team.

The Lady Generals are known to have theme-days where they all dress alike or have matching wacky hairstyles. A few weeks ago, the girls had a game, so they were all dressed identically in their uniforms during the school day with “space buns” in their hair to add a distinctive flare, which are just two buns on the top of the head. “It’s a cute way for us to be united and get pumped at school before the game!” Senior Olivia Morgan exclaimed.

The girls claim that the true reason why their team has gelled so well should be attributed to their coaches. The leaders of the girls’ varsity field hockey team are the wise and talented Samantha Merrick and Amy Spadanuta. Merrick brings the element of experience to the team, now having been the coach for the team for two years.

Merrick’s coaching expertise is backed by the on-field playing experience Spadanuta, which she gained while playing field hockey in college.

In addition to theme days and great coaches, the lady Generals also have traditions. One of the tradition that the ladies seem rather fond of is something the girls called the “Camp Fire.” This tradition, started by their clever coaches, is when the girls all lay their sticks down to resemble a camp fire, and they sit around them to discuss the game. They use this as the pep talk strategy to get the girls rallied to go take over the field and bring Towson home the W.

Girls’ varsity field hockey isn’t all camp fires and space buns though. These girls toil through each and every practice so they can make their school proud. Junior Hannah Connelly elaborated on what is known as “Hell Week” to the field hockey girls. Twice a week, the girls have to dash a whopping 4-6 miles during their practice.

Junior Jay Marty said she was “absolutely dead” after those practices. However, the strenuous labor the lady Generals put in this year was all worth it. The “fhockey” team, as they call themselves, proudly brought home a winning season of 8-5. Although there was a blip in the road with a heartbreaking loss to Dulaney, the team believes their season as a whole was a successful one.

A chunk of the team’s hearts will be ripped out next season as nine seniors leave the nest for college. Every team here at the brilliant Towson High School has what is a known as a senior game, which is a game dedicated to all the seniors on the team. This year, the JV sophomore “fhockey” girls all created elaborate sparkly posters for the senior game to support their girls on their last ride.

Another tradition both JV and Varsity field hockey teams have preserved and cherished for years is the “ big sister, little sister’ tradition where all the girls from both teams match up and get each other little pick-me-up treats when the other has a game. Junior Shaeleigh Lacosse says that “It is for sure a tradition that will live on for years. We all love it!”