Although Forest Hills Field Hockey defeated Grosse Pointe North 2-0 Tuesday to advance to the Division II field hockey semifinals, the score did not reflect how much they dominated the game. Going into halftime the score was 1-0, despite the fact that Forest Hills controlled play throughout and did not allow a shot on goal. With ten minutes to go in the game, Mallory Jacobs scored to add an insurance goal for the win.

The team has experience in this part of the playoffs because they have been there before, reaching the state finals the for past 3 years. Senior Hannah Gavle believes this is their year.

“This year I think our team meshes really well,” Gavle said. “There is definitely a lot of chemistry. I know what it takes to get to a state championship because we’ve been there before and I really believe we have that so as long as we play our game and play our hearts out, there is no team in Michigan that can stop us.”

Those same feelings are echoed by senior Emily Laage, who explained that they have 8 returning seniors along with many strong sophomores and juniors and three really great freshman. Despite their grade differences and school differences, Laage says they all work extremely well together.

According to Gavle, the fact that they have been so close to a state championship in the past has shown them how hard it is to achieve that feat and prove how much they want it.

“It’s hard to be so close so many times to our ultimate goal- being state champions,” Gavle said. “However I think it gives us a taste of how good it feels to win and what it takes to win it all. I do feel that our team has what it takes to win because our team is so talented and we have been practicing and preparing for the state championship since our season ended last year. The team wants more than anything to win and determination alone will significantly improve our chances of winning.”

The team went 13-2-1 this year, with their only loss being to a Division 1 school. One of their ties was to Detroit Country Day, who they are set to play in the semifinals at 4:30pm on Thursday at Dearborn High School. Saline and Grosse Pointe University Liggett will play each other in the second semifinal. The winners will play for the State Championship Saturday at noon at Ann Arbor Skyline.