GNAC Championship Recap and What’s Ahead for Dean Field Hockey

Dean Field Hockey hoisting the GNAC Championship Trophy. Photo Courtesy: Harrison Soep

Dean’s field hockey team took home the GNAC championship over the weekend for the first time in school history with a stunning 3-1 victory over #3 Colby-Sawyer Chargers. 

The Bulldogs did not disappoint with one of the largest crowds at a Dean athletics event drawn to the championship. Sophomore Emma Gragen got the scoring going for the Bulldogs with a scrum out in front of the net, and with just 80 seconds left in the first quarter Gragen would sneak a shot by Chargers goalie Addy Araneo.  

Senior Captain Sydnee Ramos would continue the scoring for the Bulldogs late in the second quarter. With just 2:08 to play, Ramos would follow up on her own shot and get another clean look at the net and score the second goal of the GNAC championship for the Bulldogs. 

Life on the Charger sideline began to recharge as Zoe Dries would tip a shot into the back of net to give the Chargers their lone goal of the game trailing 2-1 with 4:47 to play in the third quarter.  

Heading into the fourth quarter, it felt this game could go either way. Coming into this game, the Bulldogs had never beaten the Chargers, losing the previous six match ups and even a game earlier this season. The Dean Daily had the opportunity to talk to Bulldogs Head Coach Megan Gutierrez and asked her what it took to come in and beat the Chargers. She said, “Before when we played them, we were in the middle of a five-game slump and that wasn’t our best product, and now we have the confidence of what we're doing, what we're doing works, and we know how to adjust our gameplay to different opponents”.  

Heading into the fourth, the crowd was now on their toes waiting for that final buzzer. Just three and half minutes into the fourth and sophomore sensation and GNAC Tournament MVP Emily Yazzetti put the icing on the cake for the Bulldogs. She displayed her incredible stick handling skills getting around defenders and slapping one off the cross bar and into the net for the third Bulldogs goal of the game to lead 3-1.  

Eleven and a half minutes would go by and the final buzzer of the season at Grant Field would sound where the Bulldogs would officially be crowned GNAC Champions. The first Dean Athletics team to do so.

Head Coach Megan Gutierrez. Photo Courtesy: Harrison Soep

The Dean Daily asked Megan what the huge crowd meant for her and the team during the championship. She said, “That is what fuels us, and they love the energy of the crowd." Megan also added, “I think it really speaks to the community of this institution because of how much people rally around teams doing well and working hard”.  

The Bulldogs are dancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament and will go to Medfield on Wednesday to take on Tufts University at 5 PM. The Dean Daily asked Megan what the mindset is going into what is one of if not the biggest game in this school’s history. Megan said, “The student experience is my biggest priority, but we just want to compete, represent our conference very well as well as our institution for the first time being in the NCAA tournament." Megan then added, “These girls have that X-factor of their willingness to do anything to do compete and put their best product forward”. 

Tune in Wednesday at 5 PM on NCAA.com to watch the broadcast of the Dean College Bulldogs first trip to the NCAA tournament.