It's been a bit of a rollercoaster so far this year for the Whitehall field hockey team.

After dropping four games in a row, the Zephs climbed back up the track, winning two consecutive games last week to get their record to 3-4. Their ability to rebound after some close games can prove valuable as they fight for a playoff berth in the tough Lehigh Valley Conference.

Their first win was a 1-0 blanking of Easton Area High School. The game winner came off the stick of Kourtney Cunningham who found the back of the cage in overtime. Interim head coach Jennifer Callahan said that Kourtney Cunningham capitalized off a rebound, deftly placing the ball via a backhand shot out of Alex Pennington's reach.

Prior to that time, the Red Rover goalkeeper had faced 25 shots, continually thwarting a potent Zephyr attack until overtime. Callahan said that the team persevered, overcoming a stingy Easton defense that kept turning away their scoring opportunities.

"I think that they just really stuck with it," said Callahan. "They believed that eventually they would put the ball in the back of the net and they did it."

Callahan also said the Zephs managed to keep their poise and focus despite the hot and muggy conditions during the game.

"They did a great job pushing through," said Callahan. "They showed great tenacity during the game."

Defensively, the Zephs were strong, with goalkeeper Kayla Nailor stopping 10 shots. Callahan said their back line has a "good mix" of youth and veterans, as newcomers Nailor and Rachel Schannauer are growing every game.

"Both of our freshman are playing like they're not freshman," said Callahan.

They followed that victory with another close game, upending Pocono Mountain East 2-1 Once again, the game winner was scored in overtime. This time Sarah Schannauer provided the punch that gave the Zephs the hard fought victory over the Cardinals. Callahan said that Sarah Schannauer, who just returned to the roster after an injury, scored on a rebound, sending the game winner through Maddie Scheuch's wickets.

Callahan said the team did a good job transitioning to grass to get the win. It was another case of playing on a surface that will present some challenges for a team that's accustomed to turf.

"I thought they did a good job adjusting to that," said Callahan.

They also did a good job defending the Cardinals strategy of driving the ball deep on offense and then chasing it down in hopes of setting up a scoring opportunity. Conversely, the Zephs used their passing attack to set up chances. They had 13 corners and peppered Scheuch with 13 shots. Kourtney Cunningham opened the scoring for the Zephs, rattling the cage in the first half. She also assisted on the game-winning goal. Nailor had five saves, once again being a bulwark on the back line.

Callahan also said the team had to overcome a lot of hardship against the Cardinals to get the win, dealing with injuries and penalties throughout the game.

"We faced a lot of adversity and stayed mentally strong," Callahan said. "That shows what we can do."

The Zephs finished their week against a buzz saw, dipping back down the track a bit. They lost to Emmaus High School 6-0. Callahan said the team needed to bring their A-plus-plus game to beat the Green Hornets, something the Zephs couldn't muster against the perennial Lehigh Valley Conference powerhouse.