On Friday evening, the Bears lost in a fierce away battle against the Menlo Knights, ending 12-20.
The Bears started the first quarter strong with senior Charlotte Fisher winning the draw, and then assisting senior Shea Dekshenieks to secure the first goal for M-A. After a couple of quick shots from Menlo, the Bears increased their energy as senior Violet Riley took the lead on strengthening their defense.
Two goals by Dekshenieks from an eight-meter shot kept the Bears on their feet. Fisher then scored the Bears’ third goal, ending the first quarter down 4-3.
The Bears’ momentum continued into the second quarter as junior Elizabeth Hoffman won the draw, passing the ball to Fisher who netted another goal, making the score 5-3. Loud cheers and spirits echoed from the bench as the players spurred on their teammates in the sweltering weather.
“We came out with a lot of energy and our defense is stronger than ever. Our offense was also working well together,” freshman Lucy Gostyla said. “We were not going to let the heat get to us.”
A couple of minutes into the quarter Dekshenieks scored two more goals—her fourth and fifth of the game—in addition to Hoffman securing her second goal, reviving the Bears’ momentum. The Bears also kept their defense relentless as freshman goalkeeper Stella Mattsson made multiple stirring saves, tying it up 10-10 at halftime.
A sudden spur caught Menlo up after a tie of 11-11, but even after attempts by Dekshenieks to even the score, the Knights continued to attack. The Bears struggled to maintain their energy as Menlo capped off three more goals, putting the Bears four points behind and ending the third quarter down 11-15.
“We’re shaking off that quarter and coming into this quarter with enough intensity to win this game,” coach Hannah Shaw said, talking to the team during a timeout at the beginning of the fourth quarter. “I think the game is going great, we’re really hustling and doing our best, and putting our all into it.” Fisher added, “I’m really proud of our team for putting it all on the field and I hope we continue that in the fourth quarter.”
The Bears continued their struggle throughout the fourth quarter, heightening their defense as Mattsson blocked three more shots from Menlo. Concluding the final few minutes of the game, the Bears set themselves up for guarding the net and deflected another shot in the final ten seconds. The final score of 12-20 resulted in a heartbreaking loss for the Bears, yet they still kept their spirits strong.
The Bears united together on the field and chanted their last cheer, marking the final game of the tournament and their season. “I feel like this season has been a passionate one. It’s the most connected team I’ve been on—I think that’s why we played the way we played even if this last game didn’t end the way we wanted to,” sophomore Auden Jones said.
