Rochester resident Bailey Cusick and Marion residents Chloe Muldoon and Kate Fortier weren't happy with the distance they had to travel to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the 12-and-under field hockey national tournament.
But for the trio, all 11 years old, the drive was worth it and they returned to Tri-Town with gold medals around their necks.
Cusick, Muldoon and Fortier have all been playing field hockey since they were just 5 years old.
Muldoon said he started playing the game for fun, but over the years it has become more competitive.
They currently play on Cape Cod Field Hockey's U12 Blue team. This team primarily features players from, as you might expect, Cape Cod.
The team traveled to Pennsylvania from February 23rd to February 25th for the National Indoor Tournament.
Indoor field hockey is played on a rubber surface, while outdoor games are usually played on grass or turf.
“Playing indoors is a lot smoother and the game moves a lot faster,” Fortier said. “It's more fun that way and the ball doesn't get stuck anywhere.”
In this tournament, the team faced teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, and Delaware, scoring a total of 28 goals and dominating the competition, conceding only three goals in five games en route to the title.
“We were all nervous in the last game, but it felt really good to think we could win with about two minutes left,” Cusick said. “It was a great feeling and a new experience. I'm happy to know that I'm the national field hockey champion.”
The trio agrees that one of the keys to their success is the bond that develops between teammates.
Muldoon said the team has become “more than friends” and when they're not on the field, they spend most of their time at the pool or walking around the hotel.
“We try to get along and have fun,” Fortier said. “We’re here for the gold medal, but we also want to have fun.”
Muldoon, Cusick and Fortier all think they could be playing field hockey at the high school level or even higher.
