Somerset Berkley field hockey makes statement in return to play after forfeit victory

SOMERSET — The Somerset Berkley field hockey team returned to the playing field after a 12-day hiatus.

Raiders head coach Jen Crook had some concerns prior to Tuesday's non-league contest against Dennis-Yarmouth. For three quarters, Crook's hunch was spot on.

"I think we were rusty today," said Crook after SBR erupted for five goals in the final 15 minutes to pull out a 6-0 victory over the Dolphins. "It took us awhile. It's hard to get back into it. I don't think the score indicates how competitive it was for three quarters of the game. The kids finally found their groove."

One of the reasons for the long layoff was due to the Dighton-Rehoboth field hockey team forfeiting their game against the Raiders due to SBR having a boy on the team. The forfeit drew regional attention. SBR had its next game against Apponequet last Saturday postponed due to inclement weather.

The Dighton-Rehoboth school district implemented a policy in June that allowed sports teams to forfeit games against teams that contained players of the opposite sex. The policy was passed after a D-R field hockey player was injured in a playoff game and was hospitalized after she was hit in the face by a ball shot by a male player.

Dighton-Rehoboth superintendent Bill Runey wrote in a press release that the decision to forfeit the game against SBR was made by the team's coaches and captains.

The policies in place by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state male players are allowed to join female teams if there is no alternative male team for that sport. D-R was the first team in the state to challenge the rules in field hockey with a forfeit.

"Like I've said before, it was an unfortunate incident that happened," said Jen Crook in response to D-R's forfeit. "(Last year's injury was a ball that) ricocheted off a girl's stick and it had nothing to do with the boy's shot. But whatever, if they're uncomfortable playing against a boy, then so be it. They can come watch this guy (Ryan). He's not dangerous.

"I would not put any boy or girl out there if they were dangerous. I would take them off the field if I thought they were. I always invite them to watch a game if they like to. But if there is people out there that don't want to see boys play, then so be it. It's fine."

Jen Crook has coached six other boys on her team during her tenure at SBR. Ryan Crook is Jen's son.

Ryan Crook, who had a hand in nearly all five late goals, played the whole game for the Raiders in a 2-1 loss in last season's Final Four contest against a talented Norwood team that had only girls on the roster.

As for Tuesday's game, Ryan Crook (assist) got things started for SBR (5-0) with a goal in the 11th minute. Afterward, D-Y (5-2-1) settled down and played the Raiders tough. But a pair of goals by Emily Carr and goals by Addie Finlaw (assist), Maura Kennedy (assist) and Ella Vaught put the game away for good in the fourth quarter.

SBR netminder Sophia Valcourt was brilliant in net, making seven saves for her fourth consective shutout.

"They're hungry but I take it one game at a time," Jen Crook said. "We are going to learn from today and build upon that. We aim to get better each week."

Crook and the Raiders will be tested next month against non-league opponents Acton Boxboro, Uxbridge and Sandwich.

Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Chezsports

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Somerset Berkley field hockey makes statement in return to play after forfeit victory