In the last couple of years, Saint Ignatius’ field hockey program has had huge successes and developments. The team that was once a no-cut sport now faces different circumstances.

Just five years ago, the team drew fewer than 20 players and was a no-cut sport. Today, the varsity roster sits at 23 athletes, 17 of whom have played together since freshman year. Captains Fallon Urquhart, Kingsley Goldman, Kiley Cavanagh and Jackie Goodwin, shared similar feelings about the tight group and the importance of support and good community.

“When your team is close or you have a good bond, you are able to compete better, and the sport is more enjoyable,” said Goodwin.

Field hockey itself has always carried high global prestige and history. It is ranked as the third most played sport in the world and has been a consistent Olympic event since 1928.

The evolution of the sport at Saint Ignatius, however, expresses something deeper. While a well-known sport on the East Coast, the rise in popularity in the Midwest has been seen over the last couple of years.

“People wanting to try new sports,” furthering the attention drawn to it.

Fourteen of the 17 seniors on this year’s team first picked up a stick in high school. The 3 Ignatius seniors who had prior playing experience were University of Michigan commit and captain Kingsley Goldman, Miami University commit and captain Malena Batisteza, and Saint Louis University commit Lauren Reed. This wide variety of skill sets further proves the depth of the program.

Megan Jamieson, second-year coach of the Saint Ignatius field hockey team, has seen the evolution of both player performance and the team’s record against top competition.

Jamieson said, “It was really exciting. I came in, and there was a ton of talent, so to have a group of girls who already understood the game and then could just see it in another way of seeing the field was really exciting. When you have a group of athletes that are excited about playing and winning, it makes a really coachable group.”

Jamieson said “we’ve built a culture of kids that work really hard, who are very fit, and also just want to work together as a team.”

Jameison said this season carried lots of excitement from players when it came to practicing and competing weekly. “Winning is great, but I want a group of girls who want to be here and work hard.”

Image from the game in which Saint Ignatius beat their biggest rival, Loyola academy, for the first time in program history. The Wolfpack won 2-1. A link to highlights can be found here.

Seniors Urquhart, Goldman, Goodwin, Cavanagh, and Batisteza are captains who have an impact on the program’s overall development and success by addressing the mental demands of the sport, such as time management, work ethic, and upholding high program expectations.

Goldman said “the biggest difference will be the skill and speed, especially since I will now be playing on water turf.”

Goldman has played field hockey since second grade, but the adjustments she will have to make—such as performing on water turf, a highly specialized synthetic turf kept wet to increase precision and speed—seem to be her biggest concern.

Saint Ignatius was ranked sixth in the state and achieved the most wins in program history this season.

“We had 17 seniors, so there was a lot of maturity on the team, which allowed us to work together and gain success,” Goldman said. Goldman also credited the team’s experience as a major contributing factor to their record-breaking performance. The combination of profound talent and team maturity demonstrates the factors that have propelled the program’s exceptional growth over time.

Urquhart said, “The program has taken off in the last couple of years. I know people in the program who had siblings in 2019–2022 who said there wasn’t much growth throughout the years, but I think having all of our players—especially a lot of girls in our grade who committed to the sport for all four years—shows consistency and dedication that changed the program.”

As a member of the varsity team since her freshman year, Urquhart mentioned how they were barely in the top 13 in 2022, while this year they were ranked sixth and battled the number two seed, New Trier, during playoffs.

The remarkable transformation of the Saint Ignatius field hockey team has become a part of its legacy, serving as a powerful example of how player commitment, hard work, and program expectations drive success.

As the Wolfpack look back on their record-breaking season, their progress represents far more than their record. The team’s success mirrors the dedication of athletes who have learned to trust one another both on and off the field. With underclassmen ready to carry on their legacy, the future of Saint Ignatius field hockey looks promising.

“Every single person contributed to where we ended up,” Goldman said. “That’s what makes this team so special—knowing that every moment mattered. For me, this season wasn’t special just because of our success on the field, but our connection off of it. Our growth collectively is what pushed us to where we are now.”