The Pioneer women’s Field Hockey team capped off an extraordinary season with a hard-fought victory over Saline at the State Championships on Saturday, Oct 26. Held at East Grand Rapids High School, the game marked the Pioneers’ chance to clinch their third consecutive state title, following a nearly undefeated season.
During the opening minutes, Saline scored, putting the Pioneers down 0-1. They quickly answered with two back-to-back goals by sophomore Lily Boardman and senior Lily Soldan. The team held strong in their defense throughout the second, third, and fourth quarters and ended the game 3-1.
Community High School sophomore Zoe Shuchman was part of the three-time state-winning team. She joined varsity this year and has built incredible relationships with her teammates, especially the seniors.
“I’ve known the seniors for a really long time, even outside of Pioneer, and then, once I got onto the Pioneer team, it’s cool to see that half of their life,” Shuchman said. “It’s really fun to have the high school sports relationship.”
Shuchman isn’t just tight with her field hockey teammates, also having multiple close friendships with the swimmers as well. As she watched the swimmers arrive in the stands, the field hockey team was thrilled that they had so much support.
“I was so happy when I saw them walk in,” Shuchman said. “Everybody started cheering, and we were just so happy to see them.”
The swim and dive team has been attending the field hockey state championships for three years now, and they love supporting the team.
Swim Captain Ursula Ott has enjoyed their annual trips to the game. It’s become a tradition for her, and the game has been marked on their team calendar since August.
“I thought it was great,” Ott said. “It’s super fun to go every year and support other women at their state championships. We just love that we cheer for them, and it’s also just a great team bonding experience for us too.”
For Shuchman, this season wasn’t just about the victories but also about the lifelong friendships formed and the memories created with her teammates. With this win, the Pioneer women’s field hockey team not only added to their legacy on the field but also strengthened the bonds that make their team so special. They had the perfect end to a wonderful season and are excited for next year.
