As the number one team in California, the Bishop’s Girls’ Field Hockey Team is better than ever. But this success did not transpire overnight.

When asked what makes the team so strong, Coach Paula Conway, Director of Athletics and the Varsity Field Hockey Coach, said, “Leadership…We have five amazing seniors who are totally invested in the program.” 

This year’s field hockey captains are Alex Pfister (’25), Natalie Marvin (’25), Gabby Gaspar (’25), Adelaide Kessler (’25), and Laine Jeffery (’25). After working together since freshman year, the girls have created a strong foundation for the team. 

Laine said, “I played with these girls outside of Bishop’s for club, which is super fun…I have loved being with these girls and coaches for years.” 

Two captains, Adelaide and Natalie, make the defensive unit. Adelaide said, “The center back is Nat and me, and I feel like we’re just a really good duo because we’ve played with each other for so long, and we know each other super well.” Natalie added, “Addie is super fun to work with. I think having two captains in the backfilled helps give voice because the defense are the people that see the most on the field.”

The girls’ bonds add to the team’s connection and create a positive atmosphere for the younger girls. 

Sabrina Feldman (‘26) said, “You’ll see a captain talking to a younger girl during the school day. I think that kind of camaraderie is what fosters comfort on the field. It allows the younger girls to feel comfortable asking the captains a question about where they should be on the field or what they should be doing at that moment.”

Friendships building off the field have stemmed from returning traditions from past years. The girls have continued the buddy system, a tradition started by former Head Varsity Girls Field Hockey Coach Megan Carr many years ago. Upperclassmen are paired with underclassmen as a buddy, mentor, and hype woman. Before games, they exchange letters or little gifts for each other. This goes beyond the field as the younger girls have an older teammate to talk to, get advice from, and simply have as a friend. 

The team  also has some lunches together at school and dinners before games. 

Laine said, “We also hang out with our underclassmen during and after school. The relationships between the upper and underclassmen have been something super special about the field hockey team.” 

Natalie added, “Bonding makes the team stronger off the field and, therefore, stronger on the field.”

Though, stamina is needed to have a strong team.

The field hockey team calls themselves “a third-quarter team,” meaning they shine in the third quarter. Many of the girls say this is all due to the stamina they have gotten through the intense training they have been doing. Monday through Friday, the girls have regular two-hour practice followed by weightlifting and running 2-3 times a week. Coach Conway added that the girls have one practice a week where they start later at 4:30 and go until 6:30 to get the field for a full-field scrimmage. 

Kali Mahone (‘26) commented on the new workout regime, saying, “I think that at first it was a bit scary because we didn’t know what to expect. But then we realized that it’s only been beneficial for us and allows us to perform so well.”

Natalie said, “I think that the strength training has really helped us perform throughout the entire game and has been fundamental to our success this year…We’ve become a lot mentally stronger as well as physically.”

The winning goals against La Jolla High (number two in San Diego) were in the third quarter. In close games like this, stamina is crucial for success, which comes from intense training.

Cece added, “It also creates a closer bond as teammates when we can be strong for each other in our weakest points.”

Kali added, “We have been working on communicating well and working as a team. And it’s been really fundamental against the tough teams that we can play against.”

This year, the team has set goals for themselves that have kept them motivated. 

Adelaide said, “The captains met at the beginning of last year. We had a meeting, set our goals, and decided we wanted to win Open Division Championships…I think that the culture shifted, and we all really have a fire under us to get it done.”

Sabrina said, “By talking about winning the Open Division, I think that we got in the mindset that we were going to be able to achieve it…We are also very team-oriented. Even if a certain player on another team has a better stick skill than you or is more fluid with the ball, our goals are as a team, not just all on one person.”

The girls have not only set incredibly high goals for themselves, but they charted out how to achieve them.

The Girls Field Hockey Team has come out not running, but sprinting, this year. Their success is undeniable and will hopefully lead to winning Open Division Championships.