Catonsville, Perry Hall Field Hockey Players Form Unexpected Bond

When Catonsville’s varsity field hockey team lined up for the routine postgame handshakes following their match at Perry Hall on Monday, the occasion signified much more to the players—for both sides—than just a chance to utter the customary sayings following any athletic event.

Instead, it was a welcome reunion for two groups of teenage girls that shared a horrific experience together just two weeks prior at Catonsville when Perry Hall junior varsity player Breanna Sudano along the sideline in the game’s waning moments.

In the aftermath of the September 27 incident, with Sudano working toward a full recovery and each team back in action, Monday’s rescheduled game was as competitive as any other, but played with an overarching sentiment of compassion and friendliness. With what they had gone through, the teams had not only bonded with themselves, but with each other as well.

“It was nice getting to talk to the girls after the game because you could tell they knew that we were there for them and they were there for us,” Comets senior captain Hannah Jeffrey said.

“It felt like it was more than just saying ‘good game, good game’. It was kind of like, we know what you were going through and we are proud of you for coming out of it the way you have.”  

Although it came via truly unfortunate means, Catonsville head coach Lindsey Springer is proud of how her team has matured and gained perspective following a difficult time.

She also noted how Monday’s game provided a strikingly different atmosphere compared to the average high school contest.

Catonsville offered to travel to play at Perry Hall even though the original schedule called for a Comets home game.  The Comets Booster Club also provided a tailgate for players and fans from both teams following the game.

“The atmosphere was a whole community from players to coaches to parents,” Springer said. “It was a real sense of togetherness. Two schools coming together as one program so to speak.”

“From a coach’s perspective, that game was a friendly competition where the coaches were working together and the players were working together on the field. Although they were competing, they were working together.”

Meanwhile, Jeffrey and her teammates have a newfound appreciation for themselves and each other. The sobering thought sunk in that what happened to Breanna could have happened to any one of them and that nothing in this life should be taken for granted.  

Jeffrey says that her squad is no longer a bunch of individuals just playing a game. They’re a family.

“I think it’s made everybody appreciate what we have now and that we are so fortunate that nothing like this happened to us,” Jeffrey said. “Just the fact that we were all there for each other, that made us all realize that if we can get through something like that, we can get through virtually anything.”