Only seconds into the second overtime, sophomore midfielder Charlotte Haggerty lines up her shot and scores the game winning goal to put the varsity field hockey team ahead 2-1.

These Lady Patriots decided this would be their year. They earned the No. 2 seed in the IAAM B Conference playoffs. They had the top defense, allowing only 18 goals in 15 games, the fewest allowed in their conference.

The defense was highlighted by junior right defensive back Sam Carey, junior left defensive back Claire Grunewald, sophomore sweeper Allie Taylor, and sophomore goalie Emma Gromacki.

“We have all worked so hard this year and have pushed ourselves to become the best in the conference,” junior center midfielder Carly Lyon said.

This statement was echoed elsewhere on the team. “[This] is the best team I have played on for any sport at JC,” senior captain Chantae Simms said. “The team gets along so well, so we have a lot of fun but [we] all work hard to win.”

They followed up on a 11-1-1 in conference regular season record with a 3-0 win over the Institute of Notre Dame on Oct. 27 in the first round of the playoffs to propel the Patriots into the semi finals.

On Oct. 29, they beat rival Indian Creek 2-1 in the last game ever to be played on the grass field before the installation of the turf fields. This victory sent them into the championship against Maryvale on Nov. 1.

The 2005 championship hosted the same contenders but ended in a tie after two scoreless overtime periods, 3-3. That game was the last time the team competed in the championships, until this year.

“It’s a very similar team to that 2005 team,” varsity head coach Gary Scholl said. “They have the same chemistry and it’s another great group of natural student athletes.”

Scholl believes that the unique traditions he practices with the team helps them to bond more on and off of the field.

“He tells us that four is the sacred number and hawks are good omens,” Gromacki said. “We do lulus, vision quests, and other Cheyenne Indian stuff.”

Maryvale was the only team to tie JC this year, their game stalled at a draw after one overtime period without a score. At the championships, however, things would change for the Patriots.

As if there wasn’t enough anticipation built up for this year’s championship game after the tie earlier in the season, a victor could only be decided after a regulation and overtime.

According to Scholl, the team planned a dinner for after the championship, win or lose, because that’s how much dedication these girls had to each other. At the dinner, each player was requested to speak about the season. The majority of parents and players were in tears following the dinner because they were upset the season ended, but still elated that they won.

“It was incredible to see how dedicated not only the girls were, but the families too. [I mean] travelling to Stevenson for the championship game, that shows commitment,” Scholl said.

Will Bolton is an Opinion Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.

Eric Johnson is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.