Varsity Insider

Last week, I went to interview coach Kate McDonald and her Champlain Valley Union High School field hockey team for a feature that ran in Wednesday’s paper

When I was talking to Emmaleigh Loyer, one of the team’s better players, I noticed a red welt on a cheek. Naturally, I thought it was a field hockey injury so I asked her about it.

“I was being double-teamed and I got hit with the top of the stick when we were fighting for the ball,” Loyer explained. “It’s alright; a little decoration for school.”

Like many team sports, field hockey is physical and demanding.

“I think everyone thinks of (field hockey) as a little girlie sport where you wear kilts and run around,” Loyer said. “No, it’s not. It’s an aggressive sport where you have to work hard and we do our best to kick some butt.”

Well said, Emmaleigh.

The National Weather Service considers its “summer season” the months of June, July and August.

Well, it’s the second of September… time to put away the sunscreen and swimwear. School’s back in session and that can only mean the start of the high school fall sports season.

A few field hockey games — Emmaleigh Loyer got defending champion CVU off to a fast start on Tuesday — have already been played, with opening day of football scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

The Burlington Free Press sports department is ready to cover these sports — from the soccer pitch to the cross country trails. Our new Varsity Insider blog is another medium for us to expand on our coverage while providing insight, information and chatter about high school sports in Vermont.

As a staff, we will post regularly during the school seasons. So check us out.