South Side introduces field hockey program

Field hockey has officially made its way to the Rockville Centre School District. The junior varsity field hockey team kicked off its inaugural season on Sept. 9, with a win against Sacred Heart Academy.

“Congrats to the field hockey team,” Kelly Barry, president of the Rockville Centre school board, said. “We’re really proud of you. I’m really glad we started out with a win.”

Superintendent Matt Gaven said the district’s decision to introduce field hockey to its athletic offerings was made following a request made by one of the students.

“Students came and said ‘we have an idea for a team,’” Gaven shared at the Sept. 10 school board meeting. “We don’t necessarily want to play soccer. We don’t want to run track. Is there something else we can do?”

Hazel Drake, a freshman at South Side High School, created an online petition to show support for the formation of a junior varsity field hockey team.

She later approached the school board in March with a presentation to request the district add field hockey to its fall athletics schedule.

“The excitement of my upcoming high school journey began with my course selection and attending orientation,” she told the board. “I was eagerly looking through all the classes, clubs and athletic opportunities awaiting me next school year, and I was disappointed to see that field hockey is not offered at South Side.”

Drake said that as an enthusiastic field hockey player, she competes as part of a travel club team, and that the introduction of a JV team would be beneficial for students like herself with a passion for field hockey.

“Field Hockey is not just a sport, it is an opportunity to practice physical fitness, teamwork and leadership skills,” Drake said. “Many of the 54 high schools on Long Island offer field hockey as a fall sport including some of our biggest rivals, Garden City, Massapequa, Manhasset and Carle Place to name a few. However, high school students like myself are missing out on this opportunity.”

In response to the news that the school has added field hockey to its fall athletics programs, the school had 32 students sign-up to participate.

“We have built it and they have come,” Gaven said.

The Cyclones JV field hockey team have continued to dominate in recent weeks, with a big 2-0 win over Great Neck North High School on Sept. 18. The team’s next game will be a scrimmage against Port Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 24, after press time, followed by a game at South Side on Tuesday, Oct. 1 against Great Neck North.

For more information on upcoming games visit SSHS.DigitalSports.com.