One word comes to mind when watching field hockey: toughness. In Sussex Academy’s season-opening 3-2 overtime loss to Newark Charter, the girls proved why.

The temperature directly on the turf was reading well over 130 degrees, and at hip’s length, the phone read mid-120s. Where the girls were breathing maintained the triple-digit mark, albeit 100. None of that got in the way of an instant classic that was played out mostly in the midfield.

“The heat just decided to show up today after practicing [mild conditions] all week, but I think we did a great job handling the playing with the conditions,” senior Ryan Lowe said.

“Amazing job from both teams,” coach Caitlyn Hardy said. “Our girls really stepped up; we didn't know what we were expecting. They did lose a lot of girls last year, and we did as well. So, really, just two new teams taking the field out there, and they played their hearts out the entire time.”

Despite maintaining possession for most of the first quarter, Sussex Academy trailed 1-0 after the opening frame. Senior Shea Danahy got the Seahawks on the board early in the second quarter to tie the game going into halftime. 

The Patriots took a 2-1 lead on a penalty stroke, but Sussex Academy’s defense continued to play tough.

“We were doing really well talking, especially on defense,” senior goalkeeper Kacie Rawlings said.

Rawlings led a defensive unit that stepped up when needed, and she was figuratively standing on her head in the cage.

“She's there for the initial shot, she's there for the rebounds and she's got her people behind her,” Hardy said. “Liz Layton did a great job of keeping the goals out too.”

Layton, Meredith Schiff, Maeve Lawson and Logan Stiles were just as aggressive as their goalie, who came out a few times to cut down angles.

“It's the confidence I have in my game, and the confidence I have in my defense and my team in front of me,” Rawlings said.

Using the defensive stops as momentum, the offense kept plugging away in search of the equalizer. Freshman Maddy Lehman provided it late in the third quarter to make it a 2-2 tie.

A scoreless fourth led to overtime. Sussex Academy outshot Newark Charter 16-13 in the game, but Newark Charter had 12 penalty corners compared to Sussex Academy’s 10. Rawlings had 10 saves, while her counterpart registered 14.

The ending was more confusion than finality. While it appeared the referee closest to the goal and ball was making a ruling other than a goal, the Newark Charter players began to celebrate the game-winning goal. Sussex Academy players felt the ball never went in, while Newark Charter players believed it was taken out of the goal.

The Patriots rode back north with a 3-2 overtime victory. For the Seahawks, they believe they can use the bitter loss as motivation moving forward.

“We're definitely using it as fuel, and coming out stronger next game,” Lowe said.

Sussex Academy will travel west to take on Woodbridge at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 11.