It’s been an exciting first few weeks of the St. Margaret’s School sports season, with Scotty athletes on every team showing potential.

Cross-country: Coach Tracy Harter is pleased with her cross-country team’s performance this year, which is the best in SMS history. A multi-school meet at Richmond’s Maymont Park on Saturday, September 24, brought out the team’s competitive spirit. The Scotties participated as two squads, placing 4th and 8th out of a field of 15 independent schools.

A cross-country newcomer, junior Taylor Miller, finished first for SMS in 23:11, which also was her personal best. Miller was followed across the finish line by freshman Caroline Casey (25:03), junior Aubrey Sozer (25:55), junior Keri Straughan of Hague (26:24) and sophomore Ellie Schneidman (27:45). “This was a great race for us,” said Harter. “Nearly all SMS runners exceeded their best times thus far.”

St. Margaret’s placed third at a September 21 meet in Richmond against Collegiate, Godwin, Henrico, Trinity and Armstrong. Miller, Casey, Sozer, Straughan and freshman Anna Beth Lawler of Sandy Point were the top five Scotty runners. Miller placed 11th overall out of 85 runners with a time of 23:21.

The Scotties made a local splash at a September 17 meet hosted by Washington & Lee in Montross. SMS placed first as a team, ahead of Franklin, Mathews, Middlesex, W&L and West Point. Miller, Casey, Sozer, Schneidman and Straughan were the first five SMS runners to finish. Miller placed first overall in 23:59.

St. Margaret’s got off to a winning start as well, taking first in a September 14 meet against Richmond’s Trinity Episcopal and Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot. Miller, Casey, Sozer, Straughan and Lawler were the first five to cross the line for St. Margaret’s. Miller placed first overall with a time of 23:54.

Field Hockey: St. Margaret’s varsity field hockey team has shown marked improvement since its season began three weeks ago. On September 24 against Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, the Scotties managed to fend off the aggressive plays of the VES Bishops until the very end, in a game that ended 0-0 after two overtimes.

The hard-fought tie brought back memories of the Scotties’ home opener against VES on September 9. Freshman starter and team high-scorer Crystal Thomas put one into the net late in the second half to even the score at 1-1. Despite the fierce defense of senior Rebecca Dickinson of Loretto, the Bishops scored a few minutes into overtime to top St. Margaret’s, 2-1.

Senior Graycie Overman made the first goal of her SMS hockey career in a September 20 game at St. Catherine’s in Richmond. It was the highlight of a contest that ultimately saw the Saints triumph, 2-1, as they wore down the Scotty defense to score two goals in the game’s final minutes. Earlier in the season, St. Margaret’s fell to Christchurch, 2-1, and to Northumberland, 2-1.

The varsity field hockey team would like to welcome Laura Dusablon as assistant coach. Dusablon comes to St. Margaret’s from Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, PA, where she taught science and coached three sports. Head Coach Cupper Dickinson appreciates the energy that Dusablon, an Academic All-American in field hockey at Immaculata University, lends to this year’s team. Dusablon also won league all-star and team MVP honors multiple times during her collegiate career.

Volleyball: Head Varsity Volleyball Coach Sue Ball is thrilled with her team this year, which is sporting a winning record. The Scotties came back strong from a first-game loss to squash Steward 3-1 in Richmond on September 22. Ball credited the consistent serving of senior Jackie Brunk and senior Allison Ryan of Tappahannock, dependable setting of senior Brooke Shafer and 110% defensive effort of senior Melissa Farara. The victory was particularly sweet coming on the heels of a September 20 loss to St. Catherine’s, 3-1.

At the Wakefield Tournament on September 17 in The Plains, the Scotties made it into the championship by trampling Massanutten Military Academy 3-0, but were defeated by Wakefield in the championship match, 3-1.