MATTAPOISETT — As a new season begins for the Old Rochester Regional High School Varsity Girls Field Hockey team, junior and co-captain Addison Roy states that the “good community” is what keeps players coming back.

“Everyone is so nice and uplifting, from the referees to the opponents,” she said.

Head coach Aislynn Quinn said that preseason went “really well” for the experienced team, which currently has 15 junior athletes and two seniors.

“The players had a detailed summer program and they put in the work. The team also played in a summer league hosted by Bishop Stang High School that really helped us hit the ground running August 18th,” she noted.

Co-captain and senior Caroline Houdelette emphasized that while the team always looks to “prioritize our time on the field,” they also value cultivating a team bond.

“We are really working on team bonding and spending time together,” she said.

Roy adds that, “We want to create a team where we lift each other up.”

Quinn affirms that creating a “healthy and supportive environment for all players” is key for their success.

“We are competitive, but we also build in a lot of team bonding and fun activities throughout the season. There’s more to being part of a team than just competing,” she stated.

Old Rochester bounced back and defeated Dighton-Rohoboth Regional High School in a 6-1 victory on Thursday, Sept. 4., following a loss against Somerset Berkley Regional High School on Tuesday, Sept. 2 during their first game of the season.

According to Roy, the team is focusing on “mental toughness” when they approach practice and game days.

“We do team meditation, we prepare, we visualize, because we think a big part of field hockey is the mental game,” she said.

This year, Quinn aims for the team to “make it further into post-season play.”

“I would also like to score more frequently. More wins, less ties,” she noted.

Houdelette emphasized that field hockey fosters a close-knit community among the players, no matter what team you play for.

“You really make friends everywhere you go, whether it’s from the school team or if you do outside [teams]. You know people from every team and every town who plays,” she said.