It wouldn’t be the FAA Field Hockey Tournament final without neighborhood rivals Greenwich Academy and Sacred Heart Greenwich embroiled in an intense game with the outcome in doubt right up until the final buzzer.

These premier varsity field hockey programs have met in the Fairchester Athletic Association Tournament title game numerous times the past two decades, so when they faced each other at Greenwich Academy on Nov. 7th it was the latest chapter in one of the most storied rivalries of any sport in New England.

The regular season matchup between the Gators and Tigers saw GA build a three-goal lead, then hold off SHG for a one-goal win and the 2025 FAA final followed a similar scenario.

Seizing a two-goal lead before allowing a goal, top-seeded Greenwich Academy captured the FAA Tournament championship, defeating second-seeded Sacred Heart Greenwich, 2-1, before a large gathering at GA’s new artificial turf field. The championship victory marked the first time GA won both the regular season meeting and tournament match against the Tigers since the 2016 season. The Gators are the 2025 FAA regular season and tournament champions.

“I’m really excited, it’s been a pretty long time since we’ve won the actual title and also the tournament, so it’s really exciting,” Greenwich Academy senior defender/captain Mallory Walker said. “I won the tournament my two first years, but never both, so I’m really excited.” 

Sacred Heart was victorious against Greenwich Academy during the regular season in 2024 and in the FAA Tournament final, but it’s been GA’s season in 2025.

“Sacred Heart is always such a great team to play against, it’s always great competition and we had a lot of fun,” GA senior midfielder/captain Georgia Schmitz said following the Gators’ championship victory.

Junior forward Emily Rizzi recorded a first-half goal and freshman forward/midfielder Annie Hanson tallied in the second half for the Gators, who took a 2-0 lead on their rival in the FAA final.

Sophomore Lindsay Schwind scored Sacred Heart’s goal, which came off a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter.

“I thought it was a pretty even game,” SHG coach Alex Gheorghe said. “Being 2-0 down it took us a while to score our first goal. Overall, it shows that we are a little young, but we tried our best.”

Trailing 2-1, Sacred Heart went on a man-up advantage with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter due to a Greenwich Academy infraction. However, the Gators displayed stellar defense in the final minutes of action to secure the win and claim the championship trophy.

“I’m proud of everyone for being able to stay so calm and composed,” said Walker, who helped lead GA’s effective defensive effort, along with freshman Barrett Hanson and junior Melanie Saunders. “I was trying to keep everybody calm and collected and make sure we maintained possession as much as possible. I feel like we held it off pretty well and managed the clock too.”

The Gators drew six penalty corners for the game, while the Tigers took four. Senior goalie Ella Loehnis made five saves for Greenwich Academy, which is a perfect 9-0 against its FAA foes this fall.

GA coach Jamie Brower emphasized the importance of her squad’s strong start, which was the theme when the Gators posted a 3-2 win over the Tigers on Oct. 15.

“That’s something that over the years we struggled with, especially in big games, it would take us some time to settle in,” Brower said. “I think this team was feeling really good about the practices we had before these games. They feel prepared and they feel that they can trust their teammates and I think that’s making a huge difference in how we come out during games like this.”

Liv Starr made several saves in goal for Sacred Heart, which is 7-2 against its FAA opponents this season.

“I think we came into the game really excited and ready,” said Sacred Heart junior Caeley Clough, who helped pace the Tigers’ play in the midfield and on defense. “We had a strong tactic that Alex (Gheorghe) gave us to handle them and I think we did a great job of executing that plan.”

Like the Gators, the Tigers didn’t waver and exhibited poise in this tournament final.

“Everyone was connecting and working together,” Clough noted. “When they scored, we didn’t let it get to us. We played our hardest and left it all out on the field.”

Rizzi’s goal in the opening half gave GA a 1-0 lead. Her tally came off an assist from Saunders off a penalty corner.

“It was during a corner and Melanie was shooting the ball and I just quickly tipped it in,” Rizzi said of her key goal. “Everyone was fighting super-duper hard and getting that first goal was what started our drive and got us more pumped up for the game.”

Host Greenwich Academy increased its lead on Sacred Heart to 2-0 when Annie Hanson tallied off a scramble in front of cage.

“Everyone on the team worked to get the ball to the front of the field and someone to get baseline and I was just there in front of the goal ready to get it in,” Hanson said of her clutch goal.

She has enjoyed her first varsity season on the GA team with her twin sister Barrett.

“The team has the best mojo and team support I could ask for and it’s been really fun,” Annie Hanson said. “It’s always nerve wracking but more exciting than anything and I’m so lucky to be part of this team.”

At the 14:38 mark of the fourth quarter, Schwind converted her penalty stroke, driving her shot past Loehnis inside the left post, making it a one-goal game. However, the Tigers couldn’t tally the equalizer, as GA held on for the win.

“We played them regular season and we did lose by one goal, but I think this game we were less nervous and more excited to play,” Sacred Heart senior co-captain Casey Smith said. “We knew what their team looked like, so I think we were more excited to play them than the last game.”

“It was a really good game, both teams were really strong,” Smith added.

The FAA Tournament may have just concluded but the season is far from over for the Gators and Tigers. Greenwich Academy earned the No. 1 seed in the 2025 NEPSAC Class A Field Hockey Tournament and will host eighth-seeded Tabor Academy in the quarterfinals of the eight-team tourney on Nov. 12th.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Schmitz said. “There is a lot of great teams in the conference, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”

Schmitz knows the Gators played one of their best games of the season in the FAA final.

“I’m so excited, it feels so amazing,” she said. “We put a lot of work in and I’m really excited of how the season has gone so far. The first quarter we were definitely trying to get our feet on the ball, but as the game went on, we got more momentum and the energy started picking up, which really translated on the field.”

Said Brower: “Our passing was strong, our corners were good, it never felt like it wasn’t super intense. I’m proud of the girls for keeping their foot on the gas at all times and keeping their poise when they had to. The second half was a little more frantic, but we figured it out and it’s always such an exciting and close game with these guys.”

Sacred Heart is seeded fifth in the NEPSAC Tournament and will be on the road for the quarterfinals. The Tigers will visit fourth-seeded Deerfield Academy in the 2 p.m. NEPSAC quarterfinals on Nov. 12th.

“We’re obviously, hoping to do really well – to succeed, we need to stay connected,” Clough said. “Lately, we’ve been doing a really good job of connecting and finding each other.”

Gheorghe was proud of his squad’s overall performance in the title game.

“I think the girls played hard and they tried their best, obviously, we’re disapointed we didn’t win and it’s a very good learning experience for the girls,” he noted. “Next year, we’ll be a little bit older and have some more experience of playing in games like this. Our set pieces like the penalty corners, the ball didn’t bounce our way.”

Should GA defeat Tabor Academy and Sacred Heart top Deerfield Academy, the Gators and Tigers will play each other in the semifinals, marking their third meeting of the season and another chapter in their rivalry.

Here’s a look at the results of the season series between Greenwich Academy and Sacred Heart Greenwich since the 2017 season.

2017: The teams went 1-1 against each other, with GA winning the regular season game and SHG taking the FAA Tournament title matchup.

2018: Sacred Heart went 2-0 vs. GA.

2019: The squads split their two games, with Sacred Heart winning in the regular season and GA winning in the FAA Tournament title game.

2021: SHG was 2-0 against Greenwich Academy.

2022: The Tigers and Gators met four times, going 2-2 against each other. Sacred Heart went 2-0 in the regular season and GA won in the FAA final and in the NEPSAC Class A Tournament.

2023: Sacred Heart won the regular season game and GA defeated SHG in the FAA final.

2024: SHG went 2-1 vs. GA, winning in the regular season and FAA Tournament final and GA was victorious in the NEPSAC quarterfinals.

2025: Greenwich is 2-0 versus Sacred Heart Greenwich, winning both the FAA regular season and tournament titles.