One Dutch, one field hockey team, one goal

Obtaining the most SPC Championships out of any sport, although foreign to many Tulsans, field hockey is a competitive sought after game at Holland Hall.

The sport is basically hockey on grass with a hard ball in place of the puck. The length of the field is 100 yards long and 60 yards wide, requiring a lot of physical exertion during play. The game lasts 60 minutes with two 30 minute halves.

The practices require commitment, occurring everyday for two hours during season, which lasts from two weeks prior to the first day of school until the SPC Championship.

The girl's assistant coach Tina White has a background in fitness and conditioning which comes in handy with the required strength and agility needed to succeed in the sport.

"Because of this, the players and I have a love hate relationship," White laughed.

White has been at Holland Hall for eight years and coaching field hockey for three.

"This year we have six seniors, nine juniors and one sophomore. We have a lot of potential and were stronger this year than we ever have been in my years of coaching here," White said.

The varsity team has had a great season sp far, with goals set high for the SPC Championship on November 7 and 8 fast approaching .

"The girls' record is ten wins, two losses and one tie which is a phenomenal record to have this late in the season.The last SPC Championship was 1995 so we've been in a 13 year drought that were hoping to end this year," head coach Maggie Durbin said.

This is Durbin's first year at Holland Hall and as head coach.. She was assistant coach at MICDS in St. Louis.

The varsity team isn't the only one to seek success this season, the junior varisty team is undefeated and has obtained that record for three consecutive years.

Due to the fact that Holland Hall is the only school that contains a field hockey team, they play mainly schools from Texas with the exception of Casady and Heritage Hall from Oklahoma City.

"Casady is our biggest rival, and we usually beat Heritage Hall pretty handidly," Durbin said.

This year's team consists of one of the most enriched girls talent wise that Holland Hall has seen in a while.

"We've really come along way and this year there's more depth per player. The three years that I've been playing we've gone from 12 place at SPC to second place last year," junior Maggie Brady said.

Brady is a starter and plays center defense. She is an extremely talented athlete, starting for the Dutch ladies' soccer team as well.

"Even though college decisions are still a little over a year away I'm getting started early. I am on the fence of whether or not to continue my career in soccer or field hockey. I feel that I'm equal in ability at both so it'll definitely be a hard decision," Brady said.

With six seniors on the team, college has proposed opportunities to several starters on the team. Senior Allyson Berklacy plans to continue playing the sport she loves in college

"I've been playing since fourth grade so it'd be impossible to hang it up now," Berklacy said.

Annie Adelson is also a starter for the Dutch and a senior hoping to play in college. She's not only looking for a school with a strong field hockey team, but academics as well.

"School is also very important to me, so my decision will definitely have a lot to do with that," Adelson said.

Placing in the division one level last year, that remains a goal for this year as well. The top eight teams compete in division one and the other eight compete in division two at the SPC tournament.

"I think that this group of girls really has what it takes to go a long way at the Championship this year" Durbin said.

The girls finished their season placing first in division two at the SPC Championship.

"It wasn't our ultimate goal, but the season ended on a high note," Brady said.