London ON - The Western Mustangs Field Hockey team wrapped up their Ontario University Athletics' season in October, after losing a close game in the playoffs to the Guelph Gryphons.
The season was filled with
highs and lows but Assistant Coaches Gaurav Chahal and Sehajpal Rosha are both very proud of the team and how they have balanced everything this year. "Several players have been balancing field hockey alongside school and extra-curricular activities. They continue to be successful in all that they do", said Assistant Coach Sehajpal Rosha.
"[We are] proud of the resilience the team has shown; we were having trouble capitalizing on the many opportunities we had in games early on through the season, but [the team] did not let up. They stayed tenacious, and we earned ourselves a spot in the playoffs", added Assistant Coach Gaurav Chahal.
The coaching staff, spearheaded by Head Coach Jeff Pacheco, a past OUA and U SPORTS Coach of the Year, believe that goal-setting and open communication are important contributors to building a successful Field Hockey program. "At the start of the season, we ask players for 3 individual and 3 team goals. We use this information to work with players to achieve their individual goals. In terms of the team goals, we often see a lot of overlap between players, we take the main themes and visualize them with a Word Cloud which is shared with the team to communicate our common objectives. Knowing that your teammates are on the same page as you can help build trust which leads to high performance", said Coach Rosha. "We encourage players to voice their opinions, by allowing for this we hope to build trust within the team which can allow for players to perform to the best of their abilities", he added.
So far, this system has shown some success and helped players like Anna Costanzo and Alyssa Evans step up and become leaders on the team.
Anna Costanzo, a first-year forward from Burlington, Ontario, began playing field hockey in the ninth grade. "I started playing field hockey because my parents thought it would be a good idea for us to get involved in High school sports. I loved it, started playing outside of school and haven't stopped since", said Costanzo.
This season, Costanzo was most proud of how the team united in tough situations and battled back in the last half of the season. "We won really crucial games when we needed to in the latter half of the season, and we took a big win off of Waterloo, which was definitely the highlight of the season. Off the field I'm really proud of how us as a group came together and built a strong community at all supporting one another. if we had injuries or if someone was just having a bad day we would pick each other up. Everyone was so supportive, it was great", she said.
The unconditional support is also one of her favorite parts about being a Mustang. "The team was just such a great group of girls, with a great coaching staff. We just have fun every day; we train hard and play tough games, but we make it so that it's always a good time and we leave the pitch smiling", said Costanzo.
In her five years playing for the Mustangs, fifth-year goal-keeper Alyssa Evans also echoed the same sense of community as her favorite part of being on the team. "I have been fortunate to have met so many amazing young women over the last five years who I can call my mentors and best friends. Being around such inspiring young women has motivated me to continue to improve everyday. The memories that have been made not only on the field but off the field at bonding events, away trips, or early morning walks to the field are ones that I will cherish for the rest of my life", said Evans.
Forming bonds with her teammates is also the thing she is most proud of. "I am so proud of the connection that my team has made with one another. The environment at practice is always light hearted and supportive. This year we have a wide range of ages on the team spanning from 1st years to 7th years, however, when on the field we are one big family and everyone is included! We use the age range to our advantage, and the more senior players help mentor younger players with areas in their life on and off the field. This environment was created during training camp, where we emphasized team bonding outside of regular practice times. This connection has translated onto the field, in our communication and ability to motivate each other."
"Moreover, I am proud of my team's mental resilience." Evans added. "This year we started off the season with a couple tough losses. However, we did not let them get the better of us, and fought back to win our games in the last two weeks and earn our spot in the OUA playoffs!".
As one of the most experienced players on the team, Evans believes that being approachable and listening to others are some of the most important leadership qualities. "Being approachable and making the effort to reach out to other players on the team has allowed us to gel together as one unit. Additionally, being an attentive listener ensures that others feel heard and allows for more effective communication and problem identification to ensure success and improvement".
Evans has relied on these leadership qualities to help support her teammates as well as the sport of field hockey generally in New Brunswick. She is currently very busy as the Mustangs Care President, Co-President of Field Hockey New Brunswick, and Co-Chair of Ivey Sports Leadership Conference. "Something I would recommend to student athletes is to get involved in the community. In my third year, I joined the athlete student council (MASC) and have had the opportunity to meet and work with student athletes from various different teams. This has strengthened my community at Western and has given me the opportunity to volunteer and give back to the London community", said Evans.
Balancing academics and extra-curricular activities is no easy feat, especially when you are as involved as Alyssa Evans. And she urges everyone who is balancing competing demands to use the support of their teammates, friends and the university. "The best part about a team sport is having the support of your teammates! I would recommend talking to them and using them as a means to help de-stress. No one knows what you are going through as well as they do. My key to success over the last five years has been planning ahead. This means making a detailed calendar before the school year starts with dates of games and major assignments, so you are able to see if there are any conflicts and map out studying timelines. Furthermore, I make weekly and daily schedules/checklists. Having these lists prepared in advance enables me to use the time I have effectively. As such, I am able to fit in my school work, practices, and time to relax and recharge. Little tasks such as packing your bag and laying out your clothes the night before an early morning practice reduces stress and allows for a good start to your day. Finally, I would recommend using Western's resources to seek help when needed. If you are feeling like you are falling behind in classes, there are study hubs for varsity athletes where you can get help or receive tips on how to study more effectively. Being open and reaching out enables you to stay on top of your work and perform to the best of your ability in the classroom and on the field".
To finish off a great year, two of the Mustangs Field Hockey team were also named 2023 OUA All-Stars: Madison Fisher and Anna Costanzo. Congratulations to both for this amazing achievement!
The season may not have ended quite the way the Mustangs field hockey team wanted, but make no mistake - this team has made their coaches proud, and they are only more determined going into next year.
