Just Do It Again

The sticks will be flying fast and furious this month as high school field hockey season gets underway, and one local team is hoping to keep its incredible winning streak alive. After two consecutive perfect seasons, the Valkyries of Sacred Heart Academy are ready to do it all again. "We're very, very strong," says head coach Liz Lewis. "I'm returning three All-Americans, and I've got good younger kids coming up. By the same token, the pressure is on us." Pressure comes in many forms and the girls know that being a superpower also makes them vulnerable. "There's always going to be that target on our backs, but that just makes us run harder, sprint harder, and get to that ball one second faster than everybody else," says returning senior Olivia Miller. One of the biggest rivals for Sacred Heart will be the Bearcats of Kentucky Country Day. KCD made it to the state finals against Sacred Heart in 2006 and 2007 only to fall short each time. This year, a rematch comes early. The two teams play each other in the first game of the regular season. "It's a great rivalry. The year they beat us in 2004 for state champions, Katie Deskins was their coach. Katie left KCD after that and came over here. So I say, if you can't beat 'em, have 'em join you," laughs Lewis. Deskins is now an assistant coach for Sacred Heart. As head coach, Lewis has spent the past four years building a powerhouse. Although Lewis has only seven players returning from last year's team, she says she is up to the challenge. "I love being able to take a group and at the beginning, shake my head and think, no way... and then have them come together and find a way," she says. Several of the team's leaders believe they can bring home a third state title, once they perfect working together. "Coach Lewis really emphasizes us coming together as a team. We really work on team bonding and once she sees that, then she just works us and it's such a mental thing," says senior forward Kristen Henn. While it is no secret that Coach Lewis is competitive, she stresses that field hockey is not just about the thrill of victory. "Sure, I love the competition. I love to win and hate to lose but what I really want to do is teach them life lessons," says the coach. "With girls, it helps their self esteem so much when they're active in a sport. It just keeps them focused." Practicing five nights a week definitely provides focus, and the players say they can't imagine their lives without the game. "It's a complete team sport," says senior forward Jessica Lindner. "It takes the whole offensive line, the whole midline, and defensive line to win the game. You can't just be a solo player out there." The Valkyries get their first shot at defending their undefeated record this month at the Apple Tournament.