Field hockey isn't a huge sport in Cincinnati. Of the 129 schools The Enquirer covers, fewer than ten have a team.

Field hockey is a pretty big deal at Indian Hill, however. One of the best programs in the state, the varsity field hockey team has enough players for a full intrasquad scrimmage with some subs despite an enrollment of fewer than 700 according to US News and World Report. That doesn't count the middle school program, which has grown from 24 to 32 future Braves' athletes since being founded three years ago.



 

The 2024 Indian Hill Braves are hoping to make a run at the state title. Currently sitting at 14-2, they're in the midst of their best season in years. They lost a disappointing game 2-1 to Dublin Coffman back on Sept. 14. Their only other loss came three days later, 4-0 at the hands of Mount Notre Dame, who was a state semifinalist last season.

"We were playing strong with MND to start," said senior forward Samantha Kayne. "Then we kind of lost our mojo a little bit. But when we see them in the playoffs, they're going to have a new team coming at them."

Just last week, Indian Hill had what players called their signature win so far this season, beating Ursuline Academy 2-1. Ursuline knocked Indian Hill out of the playoffs last year, beating them 2-0 in the Southwest Regional semifinals.

The team's seniors, Olivia Carson, Charlotte Condorodis, Lauren Eckert, Emma Fitzpatrick, Kincade Givens and Kayne, say that they made a conscious effort coming into this season to create a culture of good vibes every day. They say that in past years, the team had been a bit cliquey, but that's not the case this year. At the beginning of the season, the seniors talked to the whole team and made it clear that it's not ok to talk bad about a teammate.

That's part of what Eckert says makes their team special. They come to the field with smiles every day, working to get better not for themselves but for the team as a whole. Even more than a team, they consider themselves a group of more than 20 close and supportive friends. It's a part of what the players consider their team's main identity.

The other main part of what the Braves say sets them apart is their intensity.

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