District playoff games often include hits, hurts, and bruises that are remembered for a lifetime.

 

But, there is no pain equivalent to the complex feelings of sudden loss in a close-knit community.

 

Mechanicsburg field hockey pushed through its emotions Saturday morning of wanting to win and support the Dollman family. Andrew Dollman passed away unexpectedly last week leaving behind his family, among them, are Madi, a junior field hockey player, and Isaac, a senior football player.

 

The Wildcats won 2-1 against Cumberland Valley at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Stadium.

 

With the win, the ‘Cats secure their spot in the District 3 Class 3A semifinals, as well as their spot in the first round of the 2024 PIAA Class 3A postseason.

 

“I feel like our team is such a big family, and even, the whole community, just came together and I think it’s really special, what we have in Mechanicsburg,” sophomore Mary Olivetti said.

 

Olivetti scored the game-winning goal early in the fourth. And, as seen at a lot of field hockey games, the girls celebrated. The hugs, though, had a much deeper meaning.

 

 

“Today, we really needed to win, we wanted to win really bad for Madi Dollman,” said Olivetti, who was struggling to find her words. “We really wanted to win that for her. So, we could go on to the next round…and keep going and going.”

 

She scored the winning goal off a passing sequence that started outside the circle. The ball was passed from stick to stick and then sent in, where Olivetti was able to get her stick on it and score near the post.

 

A handful of the ‘Cats athletes adorned Madi’s jersey number, No. 5 on their shoulders, using temporary tattoos, showing their unity and support for their girl.

 

The game began with a solemn feeling just after 10 a.m. A few hours later, they all knew they would be attending a funeral at 2 p.m.

 

“We’re very unified, in the fact that we’re playing for a teammate that recently lost her father,” Mechanicsburg head coach Tonya Brown said.

 

She added: “The girls have really come together through it and are supporting each other and this was a big game, and they’re honoring their teammate through playing.”

 

Brown, who also was celebrating her birthday, said she was proud of her girls because she knew they were thinking about the funeral during the game. She said playing the sport is good for their mental health as they continue to work through their feelings.

 

There was very little mental review of the competition post-game. The game was very even, and Brown acknowledged Cumberland Valley’s goalkeeper Katie Hume. Hume, and her defense, was able to prevent Mechanicsburg from capitalizing on several scoring opportunities.

 

Mechanicsburg came on strong, scoring its first goal in the first quarter, off the team’s first penalty corner. They scored with 10:37 remaining in the first. Olivetti reverse passed to Brielle Garman, who tapped the ball past Hume.

 

 

Kayla Weldon then had her turn in the fourth being the distributor to Olivetti, who again, on a field goal, scored the one-point edge they needed to win.

 

It took the Eagles five consecutive corners to score their only goal of the game. It happened right before halftime: Morgan Smeltz to Lexi Hunter.

 

 

Cumberland Valley and Mechanicsburg have a longstanding rivalry, which was reignited in the 2024 Fall campaign after the PIAA announced new statewide realignments. The Wildcats moved into the Class 3A standings, which meant they would have at least two meetings with the Eagles. Cumberland Valley remained in Class 3A.

 

The ‘Cats won the first contest 2-0. The teams tied 0-0 in the second. And, Mechanicsburg won the third game.

 

But, none of that seemed to be the focal point of the quarterfinal round. Cumberland Valley brought flowers and a card for Mechanicsburg’s field hockey family. And, Brown, postgame, was making sure one of her captains had the game ball for the Dollmans.

 

“I think our defense continues to improve each and every game,” Cumberland Valley head coach Ashley Taylor Hooper said. “They continue to be patient and prevent scoring on corners. More often than not, I think we were able to shut them down defensively. It was four shots against six shots. Shots wise, it was very similar. We need to regroup for Wednesday.”

 

Mechanicsburg will play either Manheim Township or State College on Wednesday at the higher seed. All District 3 game tickets are $6 and can be purchased online.

 

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Photo: Cumberland Valley at Mechanicsburg, 2024 District 3 Class3 quarterfinals. Jana Benscoter



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