Field hockey starts off the year strong

Gloucester field hockey kicked off the year with a win against Marblehead in their season opener. This is the first time in half a decade that Gloucester has beat Marblehead.

Last year, Marblehead was a co-champion of the Northeast Conference with Danvers. Both games last year ended in defeat for Gloucester with scores of 3-0 and 2-1.

This year, however, the game ended in a 1-0 win. Rachel Alexander scored the lone goal of the game halfway through the second half and Nicole Tocco had the assist. Goalie Jenna Taormina saved ten shots from entering the net.

“It was really exciting because last year they were co-champions of the conference,” said senior captain Matilda Grow. “It was a really nice feeling to beat them.”

Along with Gloucester’s win, the team won both of their scrimmages during the preseason. The first scrimmage against Rockport ended with a score of 3-1. The goals were scored by Alexander and Grow.

The scrimmage against Ipswich had a score of 1-0 with the only goal scored by junior Lila Monell. Last year, Gloucester scrimmaged both of these teams in the preseason and lost both of them.

The girls’ field hockey team is stronger than ever before and hoping to become champions of the Northeast Conference and claim a spot in the state tournament.