The Parkland field hockey team fell one win shy of a District 11 championship last season and looks to get back to that stage and bring it home in 2021. With an experienced roster returning that includes 15 seniors, head coach Julie Sikorsky and her staff have the leadership necessary to rack up wins this season.

The Trojans took care of business in their first game, taking down Easton 5-4 last Friday afternoon at Parkland High School in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference season opener.

“It’s always helpful to start out the season with a win,” said Sikorsky. “Our girls’ confidence is high and we are ready to take this season game-by-game. The beginning of the game was nerve-racking because our starting goalie (Tess Garchinsky) got injured in warm up. So, it was a huge success to win without her in the goal cage.”

Like any good team would, it was next player in mentality for Parkland as they didn’t let losing their starting goalie before the game started affect their psyche.

“Our girls stayed patient throughout the whole game and never got down,” Sikorsky said. “They were always aiming for another goal throughout the entirety of the game. I didn’t utilize many subs because the players on the field were working so hard. So, I would say it was their mental toughness that pushed them to the win.”

Julia Martin paced the Trojans offense with two goals. Emma Brayford, Darby Reyburn and Elaina Fragassi all found the back of the net once in the victory. Makayla Brunnabend tallied a team-high two assists, while Brayford and Logan Oswald each added one for Parkland.

The Trojans host Freedom in another EPC clash Thursday before traveling to take on East Stroudsburg South on Saturday morning.