The Salisbury field hockey team faced a number of challenges this fall season. On the field, the Lady Falcons’ schedule was a grueling one. Out of their 11 league games, six of them were against teams that qualified for the Colonial League playoffs.

The tough schedule resulted in a 3-8 record. And while everyone wants to win when taking the field, Salisbury’s biggest achievement may have come by how it handled itself off the field.

“I learned that this group of girls is completely unselfish and kind,” Falcon head coach Jane Brennan said. “They kept their masks on, stayed six feet apart, and sat alone in their seats on the bus. Not only protect themselves, but their entire team. Arriving early to every practice and all games to be screened to play, they truly understood the severity of a global pandemic.”

During a season that wasn’t even promised a few months ago, the Lady Falcons showed how selfless they could be in order to make this campaign happen, especially for their seniors.

“This season was about having a positive mindset,” Brennan said. “Staying healthy, getting together and having the opportunity to play was our true focus. We were thankful for the wins, but we won because our team was able to stay healthy throughout the course of the season without any disruptions.”

All six of the Colonial League playoff teams found themselves on Salisbury’s schedule a month ago. Any games before September 22 were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines.

The Lady Falcons did remain competitive in most of their games, and defeated Catasauqua (3-2), Northern Lehigh (3-1) and Pen Argyl (2-0). It’s early season start of 0-5, however, was too big of a hole to climb out of, and Brennan sought new ways of adapting to challenges in this shortened season.

“Without a typical preseason - including summer league, tournaments, camps and scrimmages - and then going right into playing strong teams, the girls found it challenging to evaluate their play and make adjustments accordingly,” Brennan said. “Not having preseason game scenarios to try different combinations, I found myself as a coach trying to adjust before a game or midgame to be successful.”

While a league playoff spot is already out of the question - the six-team Colonial League tournament started on Tuesday - a district berth might still be a possibility depending how seeding pans out. Whether or not the Lady Falcons get to play any more games in 2020 is uncertain, but it’s clear they’ve shown themselves as winners this season.