The Orchard Park varsity field hockey (OPVFH) team currently has a record of 15-1 with the regular season done. Losing 15 seniors last year, this season was looked at as a year to rebuild, but stats say otherwise. Last year, the team also had a record of 15-1 and won their Section, but they dealt with a tough loss in the Far West Regional game against Rome Free Academy. Orchard Park is ranked 1st in ECIC I and in all of Section 6. Their top scorer is midfielder Grace Bottlinger, who has 10 goals and 8 assists, with Izzy Senn right behind her. Emily Markarian and Chelise Seraday coach the team. This interview is with Emily Markarian to talk about how the team had been labeled as underdogs but proved this title wrong.
What was it like for you going from a collegiate player to a coach, and what adjustments did you make?
It was really fun because I still got to do the sport that I loved, but it was challenging because I just wanted to get out there and play. So…pulling it back and just letting the players play and doing the coaching was definitely a challenge, but an exciting one.”
What is your coaching style/philosophy?
My philosophy is talk, show, talk. So I’ll explain a drill, demonstrate it, and then talk about it again. When I pick my drills, I make sure that they apply to game-like situations, so I’m not going to have people do things that might not apply to the real game. But I think breaking it down, step by step, is something I do often when creating practice plans. While coaching games, I like to make sure everyone’s on the same page and knows the team dynamic.
What did you think this season was going to look like after losing 15 seniors last year?
I knew that people were going to be talking that we were the underdogs. We heard it from the news; we heard it from other coaches. But deep down, I knew we weren’t going to be the underdogs. I knew we’d be as good as we are with the talent we have, especially the returning players we have. Seeing all the returners show up in offseason training and developing during early practices, I was confident going into this season knowing we would have a pretty decent record.
What has been going right in games that’s helping the team win?
I think the way we condition, this plays into how we’ve been doing in games. I think it makes us prepared. We’re going to be the half team. Typically, teams who aren’t as conditioned will run out of stamina. It comes down to the coaching and the conditioning we’ve put the players through.
What drills do you work on in practice that carry into your games?
Transition drills, one-touch release, and cut to the ball drills. Having your body language ready for the next step, so we can take what we learned in practice and apply it to games. Being in the moment and ready for anything to come your way.
How do you keep the girls involved and driven?
Team bonding is huge, having fun on and off the field in a constructive way, but still working as a team adds to the culture and community. The most important thing is having fun, but having constructive feedback and making sure that I’m the best version for all my athletes.
What do you think next year will look like after losing 8 more strong seniors?
I think next year is going to be like any other year. We are going to miss the girls that are top dogs, but again, it starts with who’s going to be putting in the work in the offseason. We have some talented athletes down on JV that I’m thinking I want to be pulling up. It all comes down to attitude and what they’re going to show us in the offseason. Even having a JV goalie we pulled up for playoffs, she’s already excited about offseason stuff and seeing her practice with us for two days, we’ve already seen some improvements.
What do you think we can do to boost the exposure of the sport and give it the attention it needs?
In 2025, social media will create a huge awareness in kids and youth; make a silly TikTok page, and show people what field hockey is. Starting Buffalo Blizzard [a field hockey club started by Coach Markarian] is one way of doing that in WNY, as well as other clubs. Our modified team has 33 girls and shows the growth of kids who want to be there and want to work hard.
What’s your favorite pre-game meal?
This is weird… My favorite pre-game meal is peanut butter and jelly crackers. I make them myself. Ritz crackers with pb and strawberry jam. Boom!
The team’s culture and bonding are very important to the girls and the coaches. Bonding activities such as team dinners, boxing, hiking, and getting food all play a role in how cohesive they look on the field. Another reason the Orchard Park field hockey team is thriving is the conditioning. Pre-season mile timing, pacer test, snake run, and sprints make sure that endurance is better than whoever they’re playing. Stamina is important during the game, but also during 7-v-7 overtime when it’s a race against the clock.
OPVFH was undefeated with a 14-0 record up until their game against West Seneca on Friday, October 17th, which broke their streak. The loss will be used as motivation in the playoffs, which started on the 27th.
