SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity field hockey team earned a win on Friday that was meaningful in more ways than one.
An overtime goal scored by Claire Frasier propelled the Blue Streaks to a 1-0 win over rival Shenendehowa during the team’s annual Pink Game, held this year in support of Saratoga field hockey alum Olivia Allen.
Allen, a 2023 graduate, was diagnosed with leukemia in June, and on Friday, the team was able to pick up a momentous win in Allen’s presence. She said the support shown “means a lot.”
“It means a lot for them to be playing for me,” said Allen. “And I love the sport, so it’s nice to be here.”
Allen said she made some of her best friends during her time with the team, and said it was “awesome” to see the victory.
“I made my four best friends on the team. Some of which were from elementary school, but we played together all through high school,” Allen said. “So the friendship and the competitiveness is the best part for me.”
Saratoga head coach Jo-Anne Hostig said the exciting victory puts “a little icing on the top” of a meaningful day.
“That’s what the game’s about,” Hostig said.
Hostig said it is meaningful to support Allen, saying she was “our sunshine” on the field hockey team.
“I want to give to her now, because she gave to us. And that’s how all the kids feel,” said Hostig. “She was our ray of sunshine, so we’re going to help her through it, whatever it takes. It’s good to see her.”
Saratoga also held its Pink Game several years ago in memory of former assistant coach Beth Roberts, who died of cancer. Hostig noted that Allen “always checked in” on her following Roberts’ passing.
“Like it’d be my birthday, and she’d be like, ‘How are you doing, Coach?’” Hostig said. “And I’m like, ‘OK, this is way out of the season.’ Because she knew that I was hurting, because I was so close to my assistant coach.”
Hostig credited the team and its community for their support, saying that her players were selling ribbons in school throughout the week to raise money, and that several coaches and alumni returned for the game.
“We’ve rallied around it, and we’ve rallied around Liv, and her family,” Hostig said. “I know that they appreciate it. And I know that if anything happens to any other, we’d do the same thing. That’s the best part.”
Frasier’s game-winner came following a penalty corner, off an assist by Charlotte Drabek.
“It was definitely not what I expected,” said Frasier of the goal. “I was intending to pass it off, but it was a great opportunity.”
Hostig said the team has been consistently improving as the season has continued, with Friday’s victory avenging an earlier 2-1 loss to Shen on Sept. 18. Frasier also added that the win gives the team confidence as they prepared to enter the final week of the regular season.
“We are maturing leaps and bounds each game that we’ve had, and our confidence level has gone up so much,” said Hostig. “And they are trusting their teammates more, and that’s what the best part is. You can only hope that this time around, when you get toward sectionals, you want to be peaking.”
And ultimately, the win was about more than just field hockey.
“It’s an experience that’s really important,” Drabek said.
“They’re realizing that there’s more than them. There’s an outside world, and we need to make sure that we remember that,” Hostig added. “I’m glad that (Olivia) was able to make it, and that we are able to share this with her.”
