The Northampton field hockey team wrapped up their 2024 season last Thursday against a familiar District XI quarterfinal foe, Easton. Unlike in years past, the K-Kids were not able to push the Rovers into a nail-biting, one-goal game as the host school claimed a convincing 3-0 win.

Easton had 18 corners to just 1 for Northampton. They broke the scoreless deadlock on their first one of the second quarter as Zoe Angelinas was the final touch on a hard hit ball that was deflected multiple times on its way into the Kids’ cage.

Angelinas and Arianna Deliso scored within the first 7 minutes of the third quarter to quash any hopes of a Northampton upset.

This season, Easton, Parkland, and Nazareth grouped themselves into a tier below Emmaus but distinctly better than the rest of the EPC, so the result was not unexpected.

“Easton is fast, they have great sticks. They were taking it right off our sticks and we kind of let them. I don’t feel like we played strong like we could play. They’re a great team. They’re going to be district contenders,” lamented head coach Carrie Saul after the game.

The squad had graduated a large senior class in 2024, including their three EPC All-Stars, so there was uncertainty about whether this team would continue its winning ways. They responded by claiming the fifth seed in the EPC tournament and the sixth seed in districts as part of an 11-9 campaign.

Saul described the grit of the team, “After losing 7 starters and some really good players, it was a question mark (coming into the season). As these kids played the season, they’re very resilient, they tried multiple positions. They fought back, they fought hard, and they didn’t give up tonight even when they were down 3-0. They fought hard to the end.”

The team placed three players on the EPC All-Star team. A year after being overlooked, Brooke Saul was named to the first team. The senior is headed to Frostburg St (Md) to continue her field hockey career. Juniors Lauren Reznick and Grace Roberts were named to the second team.

An emotional Brooke Saul offered some closing thoughts on her Northampton playing career, “I’m so happy I got to play with them. I love my whole team. I love my coaches and I’m so grateful to have been given this opportunity to play with them and then play college. I’m so happy I got the memories I did.”