Tribe hockey leaves PAC-10  opponents scoreless in first three games.

        The Upper Perk field hockey team is playing hard this season and racking up the wins needed in their pursuit of postseason action. 

        The girls had a very successful week, getting three shut-out games under their belts and leading the PAC-10, 3-0.

        Their most recent game on Monday resulted in a win at an away game against Pope John Paul II with an end score of 6-0.

        Leading the attack was Casey Umstead and Aubrey Wilcox with two apiece; Sam Dingler and Maddie Fox contributed one each. Defending the goal were Hannah Mack with five saves and Rachel Felbinger with one.

Last Friday the team traveled to Pottsgrove and brought home another win with an 8-0 shutout. Umstead led the way with five scores, followed by Mackenzie Leaderer with two and  Jenna Caciola and Dingler with one each.

        In a home game Sept. 4 against Pottstown, the Tribe demolished the Trojans in a 9-0 win. Umstead was tops, getting six in the net, Caciola, Anna Duemler and Lederer chipped in with one each.

        “We have 12 seniors,” senior Lederer said. “We all have different qualities that are useful to the team."

        The girls lost five seniors this season, but made up for it with the gain of 10 freshmen, and hope to continue to increase in size and skill.

         “I think our strength this year comes from having such a tight knit team,” said senior Erika Maximuck. “Since many of us have been playing together for almost six years, we have developed effective communication and chemistry.”

        On the off-days they are working hard, practicing every day after school. In the pre-season the girls held two practices a day, which helped to bring the team together.  They are once again under the guidance of Head Coach Jamie Warren and assistant Coach Ashley Heckard.

        “She knows what she’s doing,” Lederer said about Warren. “She trusts us to know what we’re doing. She’s always striving for the best team and I feel we have that to offer for her.”

        A typical practice for the team involves stick work and shooting drills, as well as practicing strategies to incorporate into their next game.

        The girls set goals for their team at the beginning of each season, usually to win the PAC-10championship and to make it further in states.  Last season, the team made it into the first round of states.

        “We have hit the ground running this season,” Maximuck said. “Judging by our past three shut out games and the passion our field hockey team has, I don’t doubt our team’s ability to reach our goals at all.”

        The girls go into the rest of their season optimistic and ready to win.

        “As a team,” Leaderer said, “I feel that if we continue working hard and as a team, we will make it far.”