The Kirkwood girls’ varsity field hockey team lost 2-0 to Villa Duchesne in the semifinals at Sportport Nov. 1. This was the first time in KHS history the team to make it to the Final Four.

The game was their second time playing Villa Duchesne in the season. The first match ended with the same score of 2-0 won by Villa Duchesne. In the semifinals, Kirkwood held their own, keeping the score at an even 0-0 until the last 11 minutes of the game when Villa Duchesne scored.

“They’re definitely one of the better teams,” Taylor Losse, sophomore defender, said. “I felt it was a good game defensively because we kept them from scoring [until the end].”  

With the loss in the semifinals, the team placed fourth in the state tournament. Siena Pack, sophomore defender, described the moment.

“It was kind of nerve-wracking being a sophomore because this was my first year on varsity,” Pack said. “It was really fun, and we made the most out of our experience there.”

Looking ahead to the next season, Losse and Pack see both positives and negatives. They feel as if there are big shoes to fill, but that the team is up for the challenge.

“We’re gonna lose a lot of really good seniors, like most of the forwards and the main goal scorers,” Pack said. “I think the upcoming freshman class has a lot of people that are gonna play, so we are just gonna have to fill the spots.”

Both agree making it to the Final Four had a positive impact on the team and will not be forgotten any time soon. For Losse, she felt her involvement in the fourth place win was something uncommon and treasured.

“It was really fun, and I was trying to make the most of it because I’m pretty sure it’s the only time it will ever happen to me with any sport,” Losse said. “It was definitely really cool to see what it feels like to be in the final four.”