For the second consecutive year, the McGill Women’s Field Hockey team made their home debut, marking a major step in the team’s efforts to re-establish their presence on campus. On Oct. 11 and 12, the Martlets played their only home games of the season, facing off against the University of Toronto’s Varsity Blues. While the Martlets were unable to secure wins in either match against the second-ranked team—losing 4-0 and 7-0—the games were a reminder of the team’s ongoing improvement and determination. 

The team’s opening match at Forbes Field on Oct. 11 set the tone for the weekend, showcasing their defensive skills and growing their on-field chemistry.

Goalie Gabriella Fourkas, U2 Arts, and midfielder Sara Prins, U2 Arts, spoke to The Tribune about the importance of maintaining focus and composure on the pitch, which the team has majorly improved upon this year.

“We were all able to stay calm the whole time,” Fourkas reflected. “We didn’t let the excitement or the stress of it being a home game get to us too much.” 

Prins echoed that sentiment. 

“The first half definitely started off with extreme jitters,” she said. “But after the second whistle blew, every girl was in it.”

As Prins noted, the Martlets had a slow start in the first half, with the opening quarter ending in a scoreless 0-0 tie. The Varsity Blues ramped up their offensive pressure in the second quarter, pulling ahead 3-0, though Fourkas ended the half with a crucial save to deny another goal.

McGill began to settle into the ebb and flow of the game in the second half, using their strong defensive pressure and working to find open spaces to pass up the field. While the Martlets were unable to score, they stayed composed, hustling to every ball and supporting their goalkeeper. Fourkas’ relentless performance and spectacular saves earned her ‘Player of the Game,’ with special mentions by the team’s assistant and head coaches to defenders such as captain Clara Smyrski, U3 Arts and Science, and Jenna Payette, U3 Science, for greatly strengthening the defensive line.

Head Coach Sharan Gill praised the team’s determination in an interview with The Tribune. 

“The girls are really good. They are one of the hardest-working groups I’ve ever coached,” Gill said.

The game also sparked a broader conversation around the future of McGill’s Field Hockey program. The Martlets currently face the threat of being cut in the upcoming varsity review. Midfielder, assistant captain, and U3 Arts student Grace Hodges emphasized the necessity of hosting home games in building awareness and visibility for the team.

“Having home games builds the sport in the province,” she reflected, in an interview with The Tribune. “[If the program gets cut], it’s a shame not only for women’s sports, […] but also for the future of this sport within the province, growing different types of games, and not just the ones that have had support from McGill.”

Hodges’ sentiment that the sport is growing was echoed by the stands, where the crowd’s presence and cheers created a buzzing atmosphere. 

The Martlets carried the momentum of their home play into their Oct. 19 matches against the Queen’s University Gaels in Kingston. Though the Martlets lost their first game 2-1, Smyrski scored the first goal of the season; in their second match, the Martlets won 1-0, with a goal from U1 Arts and Science student and forward Avery Berry. Prins assisted both goals.

Quotable: “It makes a big difference for the girls to have the chance to play with their families [watching]. A lot of us are from out of province, and our families have flown in and have driven hours to be here. There’s the field hockey community in Montreal that shows up for it. So, it’s not only meaningful for us to be able to play on a home field, but it’s meaningful for the sport at large in Quebec.”—Hodges, on the importance of celebrating Women’s Field Hockey at McGill.

Stat corner: There were 112 fans in attendance, marking a major increase from the previous year’s home game attendance of 75.

Sports Editor Clara Smyrski and Sports Staff Writer Jenna Payette are members of the McGill Women’s Field Hockey team. Neither were involved in the writing, editing, or publication of this article.