Herstory is made in Franklin, Massachusetts as the Dean College Bulldogs take home their first championship in program history.
The Dean College field hockey team brought home their first ever Greater Northeast Athletic Conference title on Saturday afternoon, beating Colby Sawyer College 3-1 in an exciting matchup on Grant Field in Franklin, Massachusetts. Over 800 fans, friends and family members showed up to support the two teams, which is significant considering field hockey games at Grant Field (Dean College Campus) typically see 60-100 in attendance. Even the semifinal game, which was held on the same field, saw about 400 fans.
The three goals for the Dean College Bulldogs came from sophomore Emma Gragen, senior Sydnee Ramos and sophomore Emily Yazzetti. The lone goal for the opposing Colby Sawyer Chargers was from first-year Zoe Dries. Dean College did dominate this game, outshooting Colby Sawyer 24 to 12, as well as having more corner opportunities, with 9 compared to Colby Sawyer’s 4.
Most of the season has been like this, with multiple games being won by a large margin, the largest being an 11-0 win against Elms College. The team had a 9-1 conference record, and a 16-7 overall record. Senior captain Sydnee Ramos has been a large part of this team, earning GNAC Offensive Player of the Week two weeks in a row. She leads the team in goals with 26, and is second in assists as well. It is not surprising that she was on the scoresheet for this championship game.
The field hockey team is made up of three seniors, who are confident that their teammates will continue to grow the sport. “The work you put in, it means something, it goes somewhere,” said senior defender Emma Mock, remembering how just a few years back they were the worst team in the conference. “We’ve put the work in and we’ve seen where it can take us.” She also noted that she was “very proud to be a part of this team and in this culture.”
It has been a string of many firsts for the Dean College women’s field hockey team. From winning their first ever playoff game, to hosting their first ever championship, to now winning the GNAC Field Hockey Championship title, this small school has had a lot to celebrate. Now, with this win, the field hockey team has punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in program history as well.
It’s important to note that Dean College is not a school necessarily known for their sports. Being a small liberal arts college, most of their national praise and recognitions have come from their strong Dance and Theatre programs. Just three years ago, this very field hockey team had a winless season. Now, the No. 1 seed and the champions, the program has given the school something to talk about.