In mid-September, Catasauqua’ field hockey team was struggling with a 2-6 record, but fist-year head coach Amanda Freiler remained positive that her club could make a run at districts. The Rough Riders have been vacant from the district playoff bracket since 2015 when they were a fifth seed.

So, reaching districts this season certainly was going to be a challenge for a program that had less than a combined 10 wins the past few seasons.

Yet, Freiler believed her team could make the run.

The Rough Riders responded by winning seven of their final 10 games and finished with an overall 9-9 record, securing their first district berth in eight seasons.

In the opening round of the district Class 1A bracket, the sixth-seeded Roughies suffered a tight, 2-1 loss to third-seeded Moravian Academy.

However, getting there was what counted.

“I think we had a tremendous season compared to the previous years,” beamed Freiler. “I set a goal before the season to make districts and we did that.

“We had a rough start to our season, but we battled back to be 9-9 at the conclusion. We played Moravian Academy and lost after being up 1-0.”

Freiler credited the contributions of seniors Sophia Becker, Abby Antipas, Kaitlyn Lawson, Jordan Soltis, Riannah Martinez, and Ava Smith. Antipas was the team’s leading scorer with 18 goals and 15 assists.

“Our seniors are going to be missed tremendously,” stressed Freiler. “Sophia Becker was our goalie and held down her end. Abby was our offensive weapon all season, and Kaitlyn Lawson made a huge impact on our defense. Riannah Martinez and Ava Smith added to our forward line.”

With a new stature in the program, the Roughies will be looking to build on their recent season.

Juniors Zoe Roth and Julianna Vazquez are back in the midfield, Sophomores Shelby Haldeman, Dakota Velas and freshmen Kamryn Pushkar and Esmeralda Serrano are all expected to assume huge roles.

Freshman Lizzy Bass will take over the goalie duties.

Freiler is keeping everything in perspective.

“I’m sure the next few years won’t be easy,” she said. But these girls have a tremendous bond and the capability to mold and adapt to their opponents’ style of play.”