The Ranger varsity field hockey team has had one of the best years in school history this season, and it’s not over yet. Leading the division in goals scored and least goals allowed, 82-3, they are bound for their best finish ever. Graduating 3 senior captains last season had the team feeling like it was a rebuilding year, but it has been anything but that. They are a junior and senior heavy team and junior Madison Bruno has high praise for their senior leadership.

“Elysee Gerondale went to futures this summer and improved a lot since last season,” Madison said. “Kirsten Fentske stepped up a lot this year. Her mindset is really positive and she has been a great leader. She’s also played really well at her position.”

Madison had high expectations for the year after having a good season last year as well.

“Coming into the season we knew we were going to be really good,” Madison said. “We did lose a lot of really good players but we also replaced them. None of us are surprised we got as far as we did but we are really happy we did.”

Fellow junior Emma Dodson wasn’t expecting as much after losing a few key players, and was looking to have a rebuilding year.

“We went into the season thinking we weren’t going to be the number one team,” Emma said. “We thought it would be a struggle, and maybe a building year.”

It hasn’t been that, as they recently got a huge win over previous number one team in the division, St. Catherine. A few of their other big wins have come recently as they shut out Clarkston and Oakland on October 7th. Emma gives credit to a few of her junior teammates for stepping up and having big years in advanced roles.

“Madison Bruno and Madison Bunke have been a few of our best players,” Emma said. “After losing captains Josie David and Caitlin Murphy we thought we were going to have a struggle for leadership but our captains have been great.”

The Ranger field hockey team has their first playoff game next Tuesday, at 6pm in their home stadium.