RM field hockey beat Churchill Thursday in a historic upset, winning 2-1. After losing several close games in overtime this season, the 6-6 Rockets were looking to showcase the the skills, energy, and passion they had been harnessing since August.

“This has been a long-time coming,” said senior Tori Cruz-Falk. “It feels great to finally win a game that you’re ‘supposed’ to lose. We knew we could do it. This is what we’ve wanted to show people all season.”

Before this playoff game, RM was 2-5 in the 4A division. However, this statistic did not hinder the team’s ambition and intensity, as they came out strong against Churchill. “No one on the team went into the game expecting to lose. We played to win, and that’s what we did,” junior Zaynah Moen said. “Our team has great chemistry and works as a single unit to pull through.”

Unfazed by Churchill’s first goal, RM worked together to stop the opposing team’s advances, earn penalty corners, and get the ball up the field. Goals were scored by senior Nicole Cunningham and sophomore Ella Scarano, but it was clear that the whole team stepped up their level of play to pull out the win.

“I expected us to play our game and we did. This is an incredible feeling and I’m just so excited we played to our potential and finally capitalized the opportunities we had.” senior Devon Goetz remarked.

Tears were seen on the faces of players and coaches from both teams, and the Rockets’ coach Alie Brooks, who played field hockey when she attended RM, was so happy she could barely speak. The game was also momentous for the seniors, who in their four years had never witnessed RM win in the playoffs before. “This is a great step for the RMFH program, and I couldn’t be happier with today’s outcome,” senior Samantha Griffin reflected.

Looking to keep their momentum going, the Rockets will play Wootton in the next round of the playoffs on Monday.