McCaskey's returning field hockey players still exude excitement when they describe reaching the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs last year even though eventual state-champion Warwick eliminated them in the first round.
Players attending media day:
(from left)
Maggie Olenik, senior, midfielder
Lydia Frey, junior, midfielder
Makayla Ressel, senior, forward
"It was our first time at leagues for quite some time," says Ressel, "so it was like just the experience, and we got to do it with a really good group of girls. I think that stood out for all of us."
"I feel like it really pushed us to work harder," says Olenik. "They had a lot of long passes, and so we had to try and cut those passes off."
Ressel aims to advance beyond the league to the District 3 playoffs this year. "We have a good group of girls who can get us to that point," she says.
Frey sees this team as being quite different from last year's and it will be a matter of growing this team to make it that far.
Meagan Groff, coach since 2019, says she's still working to increase the numbers toward the 40 she had in her first year. Four feeder programs have dwindled to one, and she's counting on only 16 girls, although she's hoping for 20-25.
Olenik is the primary two-sport athlete among the group, competing in long jump and triple jump in winter and spring track.
LNP | LancasterOnline hosted Field Hockey Media Day at its downtown Lancaster office to connect local media with Lancaster-Lebanon League players and coaches.
