“Never in a million years did I think that we were going to be this good,” said goalie Ellie Smith ’28 of her first season as an Eph. For No. 3 field hockey (13-2, 9-1 NESCAC), “this good” has meant just two regular season losses and a record-breaking season for head coach Alix Barrale ’93. The Ephs added a 4-1 win to that record this past weekend in a match against the Connecticut College Camels (6-8, 3-6 NESCAC) but fell to the No. 1 Middlebury Panthers (14-1, 9-1 NESCAC) last night.
Although the Ephs’ performance was suboptimal in the first quarter of their game against Camels on Saturday, they were able to regroup and score three goals in seven minutes during the second quarter.
In an interview with the Record, defender Pilar Torres ’26 credited the team’s comeback to its flexibility and its ability to shift its mindset when faced with tough competition.
The first half of last night’s game remained scoreless until the Panthers were able to bury two shots in the third quarter, followed by another goal in the fourth quarter.
The team’s stellar play started the minute the players hit the field for their first game in September, besting Union College (11-4) in a 4-0 shutout on Sept. 4. The team brought the same victorious spirit to its next two games — against No. 4 Tufts (12-2, 7-2 NESCAC) and No. 7 Babson (14-3) several days later.
“I think it showed what we’re capable of,” Torres said of the team’s back-to-back early-season wins. “But we didn’t, after that weekend, think we would be in the top four for the rest of the season.”
Barrale credited the team’s success to the players’ resilience, grit, and humility. “We talk a lot about benching your ego, and I think it’s easier said than done, but I do think everybody’s done that,” she said. “They’re like, ‘It’s not about me. It’s about us.’”
The Ephs’ 4-0 win against the Trinity Bantams (5-9, 1-8 NESCAC) on Sept. 21 marked Barrale’s 300th career win — including her time as a coach at Denison. And with the team’s 2-1 victory against No. 11 Bates on Oct. 5, Barrale overtook former head coach of men’s lacrosse, women’s squash, and assistant coach of football Renzie Lamb for the most wins as a head coach at the College.
“[Lamb] was a coach when I was a student here,” Barrale said, adding that she now coaches his granddaughter, Margot Bernardo ’25. “It means a lot, but it’s even more meaningful to share it with my team.”
When Barrale first started coaching at the College 25 years ago, the team advanced to the NCAA tournament for seven years straight. But her initial hot streak was followed by what she called a “lull,” which she said has informed her outlook on the team’s victories ever since.
“I promised myself once we got back in a position where we’ve had success, we would celebrate every little thing,” she said. “So that’s what we do now.”
This outlook is also reflected in her coaching philosophy, which she said prioritizes building trust with her players, getting to know them as people, and creating an environment that is both fun and competitive.
“[Barrale] always makes sure everyone has what they need, whether that’s on the field during practice or off the field,” Smith said. “She really respects everyone’s mental and physical health.”
Co-captain Meaghan Boehm ’25 attributed the team’s success to its number of experienced players. “A lot of the people who’ve been on the field have had that experience and know what our gameplay is,” she said, adding that the older players have cultivated a supportive environment for the newer members of the team.
Saturday’s game against Connecticut College was also senior day, during which the team honored its five seniors: Boehm, Bernardo, Linda Bibeau ’25, Charlotte Hassenforder ’25, and Kaela Smith ’25. “The seniors are so easy to celebrate,” Torres said. “They do so much for us, and we’re so grateful all the time.”
Boehm emphasized that throughout the season, the team has focused on just one game at a time. “But I think we’re also very excited for postseason,” she added. “We’ve been looking forward to some of the matchups that we could get.”
The Ephs will next compete at the NESCAC quarterfinals on Nov. 2.
