November 15, 2023 by Emilia Hall (‘26)
November 15, 2023 by Savannah Winter (‘26)
In this Fall Sports season, an impressive six Saratoga Teams competed in sectional finals, but only one team, boys cross country, ended up the champions. The other five teams, Girls Tennis, Field Hockey, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, and girls cross country took home second place. These teams proudly represented Saratoga throughout the regular season and into the postseason. This article explores an in-depth look into these teams’ environments and what was pivotal to their success stories.
Field Hockey
The Field Hockey had a 13-6 season record that earned them the number three seed in sectionals. Last season the team was seeded number one and failed to advance past the Semi-Finals when they lost to Shen. As Anna Krotow, captain of the Saratoga Field Hockey team, said, “It was a heartbreaking experience to lose a game you expected to win.”
But as the team grew throughout the season, that heartbreak grew into hunger. At their Cancer Awareness Pink Game, the team beat Shen 1-0 in overtime which, as Krotow stated, “Was a defining moment that gave us the confidence to go far.” In the Quarterfinals they defeated Niskayuna 6-0 advancing to Semi-Finals. They went on to take out Shen (ranked number two) in the Semis.
When asked about that game, captain Eleanor McNamara said,” It was a well-deserved win that we worked hard for.” For the first time since 2018 the team competed in Sectional Finals. Although Guilderland (ranked number one) went on to win 2-1, the young talent on the team gives hope for the future. Krotow believes that with the “strong team connections and ability to learn” the team will go just as far if not even farther in the upcoming season.
Soccer
Saratoga Boys Soccer also had a very eventful season. With an undefeated regular season winning eleven games and tying two games, they were seeded number one in sectionals. However, to the boys, the team was more than soccer. The energy and environment the team had was very special. “It was electric”, said senior and captain Xavier Ruscio.
In addition to that, the boys are very proud to be a part of their team. There was “a lot of team spirit. We all love Saratoga.” stated senior Owen Winter. The relationship between the teammates is very special. Winter said, “Toga soccer has given me friendships that will last forever”. The bonds these boys share allow them to play even better on the field.
The build up to the sectional finals helped prepare the team for their final against Shaker. During the semifinal, Toga soccer had to play CBA. The team went out confident as Winter said, “losing wasn’t an option.” While in the sectional semifinals, Ruscio said the team “had a good core in place.”
Unfortunately, the sectional finals did not end in the way the team had hoped with a heart-breaking loss to Shaker in overtime. However, this team continues to move forward and focus on their success. Winter said that the “team is going to face a lot of adversity from losing many seniors and the coach, but we have young players coming up that will shine.” Saratoga Boys Soccer will continue to grow and expand with even more hunger to get the job done.
Volleyball
Girls Volleyball finished their season with a 16-3 record, earning them the number four seed in sectionals. With their first sectional game against Shaker, ending in a shutout score of 3-0, the team advanced to finals. Senior Brook Poutre said, “That game helped us prepare for finals and got us excited to play.”
The team then took on Shen in the finals, ending in a 3-0 loss. Although the season did not end in their favor, the success throughout the season cannot be overlooked. Making it to the sectional final is an accomplishment worth celebrating. The relationships one makes with their teammate in an experience like this is unmatched. Poutre said, “I definitely feel I made some lifelong friendships from this team.”
Tennis
In addition to several other Saratoga sports, Toga Tennis has also been successful. The girls’ tennis team was placed as Sectional finalists for 2023. However, they are familiar with this title as they have placed sectional finalists for the past 6 years. The team environment has been incredibly positive throughout the season as strong friendships were created. Molly Beauregard, senior and captain of the Toga Tennis team, said, “I feel like we all grew close and were stronger together.”
Although the team faced a difficult loss, they continue to stay confident for upcoming seasons. “I think the team has lots of potential and will come back with more experience and skill,” said Beauregard. Starting the sectionals, the team was, according to sophomore Addison Jones, “seeded #1 which added a lot of pressure, but I think we all handled it well.”
From an undefeated tennis season of 12-0, the team knew they had potential to be sectional champions. Especially because of the previous rounds of sectionals, there was a lot of positive energy. Jones said, “Winning quarterfinals and semifinals helped us a lot with our confidence in sectionals.” Unfortunately, after a long and tough match against Bethlehem (seeded number two) in the section finals, Toga lost 5-4.
It can be hard to lose in the finals for several years in a row. Jones said, “the win slipped through our fingers which is a little disappointing in the fact that we wanted to win badly.” However, the team “has lots of potential, and will come back with more experience and skill.” said Beauregard. Although the girls’ season did not end the way in which they had hoped, it gives them room to improve. Plus, with several young players coming up, the team hopes to finish what they started.
Girls Cross Country
Saratoga Girls Cross-Country has been a force of dominance throughout the running community for the last several years winning sectional, state, and national titles year after year. With the loss of two key players, McKinley and Sheridan Wheeler (running at Iowa State University this year), the team encountered some challenges.
Senior Emily Bush said, “Our team knew that we needed to step it up in terms of training and motivation to fill the gap left by our teammates.” They faced their first losses since 2019 which had a tremendous impact on the team. Bush said, “We used these losses to spark a new fire leading to extreme growth as athletes.” After the team successfully won the sectional tournament, the team had a lot of hope for the future. “The younger girls on the team have really flourished and excelled this year,” said Bush.
With the completion of their fall season in December, there is still a lot more hard work and training to be done. Then the following indoor and outdoor track seasons will ensure more growth for the team. But the connections made with teammates are the most valuable. “These girls are more than just my friends, they truly are family,” said Bush. As these girls take their confidence from sectionals to the state tournament, they will be a strong force.
Boys Cross Country
Some Saratoga teams landed just short in the Sectional finals, but not all. Boys Cross-Country finished as Sectional champions! With an undefeated season, the boys’ team hoped to land first in the section. Not only was the team strong but the environment was also positive.
“We are all each other’s best friends,” said captain Darren Pasek. Going into sectionals, the team felt excited. The team’s biggest competition was Guilderland but “we felt confident we could get it done,” said Pasek. At the start of the season, the boys knew they were a powerful team.
They had big ambitions “to win sectionals and go on to compete at states and nationals,” said Pasek. With a victorious season, boys cross country was highly successful. In addition to the team’s successes, it is more than just a sport and “we couldn’t race as well as we do if we didn’t trust each other to take risks,” said Pasek. Congratulations to Boys Cross Country with an outstanding season of many accomplishments.
Although some Saratoga sports ended in a tough way, it is a huge accomplishment that so many Toga teams got so far in the Sectional tournament. All teams should be very proud of their season and success. This past fall season will spark the hunger to win and accomplish many more goals these teams have in mind. The friendships these teams share is very special, and some will last a lifetime. With new ambitions and potential in the future, these teams will continue to work hard and put out their best selves. Congratulations to all Saratoga sport teams, you made Toga proud!