My first regular season covering field hockey is now behind me, but before moving into postseason play, here are a few of the things I’ve noticed.

Determining a Top 15 poll is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Games played on turf between two good teams look a lot like a Foosball game on a felt table.

Corner plays that are supposed to be a major advantage to the team that gets them often are not. Bryn Mawr, however, is adept at making opportunities count and has what might be the best corner play among private schools and possibly of any school in the state.

Roland Park’s Sally E. Nyborg Invitational Tournament is a wonderful way to see some of the best teams in public and private schools play -- even on a rainy day. Not to mention it also raises money for Lupus research.

Broadneck’s Courtney Tomchik is an outstanding ballhandler on a team that plays a beautiful long-ball game.

Fans at field hockey games get just as excited as football fans.

Once positioned in the Top 15, it is difficult to move up the poll when the teams above you keep winning.

Fallston senior forward Caitlin Dempsey, South River senior midfielder Brooke Griffin, Dulaney senior forward Hannah Whiteley, Westminster senior forward Lauren Keffer and Bryn Mawr senior forward Paige Hanson are Energizer bunnies.

Once positioned in the Top 15, it is difficult to move up even if you win and another team loses if they’re ranked higher and then start to win again before your team can reach their ranking.

No. 2 Westminster (13-0) knows that feeling, sitting behind No. 1 Garrison Forest (14-1-2).

Hidden inside Severna Park’s goalie -- well, maybe not so hidden -- must be the heart of an artist with a large color palette. Senior Ashley Dalisera comes to play in an array of colors. Her inside leg pads are maroon. Her pants dark blue. Her vest lime green. And topping it all off -- a baby-doll-pink helmet.

High schools generally need to improve their press box facilities that serve not only field hockey but also football team announcers and statisticians besides the media.

Field hockey is a touchy sport. A lot of whistles. Several Fallston football players showed up at the Cougars’ first game of the season. After watching for about 10 minutes, one of them shook his head. “This game has too many rules!” he said.

Garrison Forest, whose team is not often populated with freshmen, has several dynamic ones. Among them, Brooke Adler and Cody Magness.

The Westminster defense could rival the famous Steel Curtain of the NFL’s 1972-1974 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Owls have eight shutouts and have given up only five goals while going 14-0. Take a bow, Emily Cauliflower, Michelle Hodiak, Kara Evans, Carlyn Thompson and Ashley Franklin.

Hereford’s defense, which has seven shutouts, and Fallston’s, which also has seven and an 11-game winning streak since opening the season with three straight losses, are also impressive.
A team can have a wonderful season like B Conference competitor McDonogh (13-2) and still have difficulty getting the attention it deserves.

Field hockey players are tough. They play through torrential downpours, biting cold and wind.

They do it in short skirts and knee socks, while their fans sit bundled in multiple layers of warm clothing, under blankets with umbrellas.

All of it is pretty impressive.