Chesapeake Field Hockey Is State Runner-Up As Seniors Cap Proud Careers

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Of course the Chesapeake field hockey team wanted to win a third straight state championship this fall.

But as the Cougars strode across the field after the 3A state final ended in a 3-0 loss to C. Milton Wright on November 10 at Washington College, their tears of disappointment were mixed with smiles of pride and appreciation, and they received a full ovation from the crowd of Cougar faithful.

And why not? The Cougars (12-7) had just finished yet another stellar season in an unforgivingly competitive county, region and state with their third straight state-final appearance, and they capped a peerless four-year run in which they’ve risen to prominence as one of the best programs in Maryland.

Standout Rachel Fleig, a senior whose graduating class aligned with Chesapeake’s rise to the top of the state, spoke proudly of the team and program despite the state-final defeat.

“The success my teammates and I accomplished on the field with earning two state championships and one runner-up is something that our school can always be proud of,” Fleig said. “All of the hard work and the time we have spent together on and off the field helped the school develop the winning Chesapeake field hockey program, and the program is one that I am truly blessed to ever be a part of.”

The careers of the seniors ran concurrently with the ongoing golden age of Chesapeake field hockey, which has a combined 43-19-1 record since the beginning of 2015. As the most decorated class in Chesapeake field hockey history, their list of accomplishments is impressive:

  • • Two state championships (2016, 2017)
  • • Four region championships (2015-2018)
  • • Two regular-season county championships (2015, 2017)

For a program that annually battles small turnout — the varsity and JV teams combined carried just 29 girls this fall — sustaining high levels of success is even more admirable, and the Cougars have done it.

Senior Hannah McKeon said the program didn’t have lofty expectations when she came in as a freshman, and there was concern each ensuing season as the previous year’s seniors departed.

But every fall they returned to campus with renewed commitment and belief.

“I am very proud of us for never giving up,” said McKeon. “Every year since freshman year, the mentality at the beginning is, it’s gonna be a hard year, since the seniors have left. Many of us didn’t think we would ever go to states or have a chance at states any of the years. When we made it to the first one, we were all so shocked. Then when we lost those seniors we all thought we had no chance again, but we went for another year.”

Losing a huge chunk of the 2017 defense to graduation and two coaches who left right before the start of the year was also a blow to the team, but they forged ahead, battling through the season and into the state final once again.

“We persisted and didn’t let that get to us,” said McKeon. “Our legacy at Chesapeake will be, even if it looks impossible, with hard work you can achieve it, and that’s what I’m proud of.”

The team of seniors Fleig, McKeon, Leah Evans, Tatum Schatt and Mason Frechtel; juniors Shelby Bennoit, Mariana Donohue, Jenna Latham, Caitlyn Johnson, Madison Billing and goalkeeper Eve Vickery; sophomores Megan Mayo, Georgia Spangler, Abby McFarland, Avery Sesney, Madison Hoyer, Abigayle Dunn and Emily Kilgore; and freshmen Charlotte Alexander, Alyssa Krueger, Phoebe Lee, Erin Bock and Stephenie Brown put together another memorable season. This fall’s highlights included a 3-2 win over South River — which went on to win its third straight 4A state championship — in which Fleig scored three second-half goals to lead the team to victory in the pouring rain on the Seahawks’ senior night.

That was one of the many comeback wins in recent years for the Cougars, who were never deterred by a deficit and always relied on superior fitness to see them through close games. In addition to wins over Severna Park in 2015 and 2017, both McKeon and Fleig noted a 2017 win over Arundel, in which the Cougars came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in overtime, as exemplary of Chesapeake’s resilience and never-say-die attitude.

“It was an important victory that allowed us to see that even when you’re down, you’re not out of it,” said McKeon. “We used that mentality this year to stay focused and keep our composure.”

The mentality proved useful late this season on October 31, when the Cougars trailed 1-0 and were less than 15 minutes away from falling in the region final to Mount Hebron but rallied for a 2-1 win and a return trip to the state tournament.

After defeating Westminster 4-0 in this year’s state semifinals, Chesapeake met C. Milton Wright in a rematch of last year’s state final, and the Mustangs made good on their own promise by wresting the crown from Chesapeake.

But the standards are forever raised for the program. It was only six years ago, in 2012, that the Cougars won only five games. Head coach Joan Johnson arrived at the helm in 2013, marking the start of the Cougars’ ascent.

“We have established a great winning tradition, and I am so very proud of this program,” said Johnson, who coaches the team with assistant coaches Sara Gannon, Stephanie Campbell, Lyndsay Mayo and strength and conditioning coach Kyle Flynn. Johnson noted the impact of Flynn, a newcomer to the program this season who “helped the players maintain their fitness and brought out the best of our athletes.”

Replacing the exiting seniors will be tough, but the returning group is strong, and Johnson says there are big incoming classes poised to keep the fire burning hot.

Fleig, who amassed 72 goals and 52 assists in her career and is the program’s all-time leader in both categories, said Chesapeake field hockey has made an enormous impact on her life.

“I have never met a greater group of girls, and it’s a bittersweet thought of leaving them,” said Fleig. “I’ve created friends that I never would have met if it wasn’t for this team, and I am truly grateful for everything it has done for me.”

She said Chesapeake field hockey is here to stay as a perennial state contender.

“I have no doubt that the program will continue to excel,” Fleig said. “Some of the younger girls show more heart for the game than I’ve ever seen.”

Have a news tip? Contact Colin Murphy at colin@pasadenavoice.com.

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