The girls varsity field hockey team defeated the Braintree Wamps 2-1 on Monday, Sept. 29, at Downes Field in their “Shoulder Check” game.

“Shoulder Check” is a new mental health initiative being introduced to Brookline athletics. Before the game, both teams came together for a talk on the importance of mental health, promising to “reach out, check in and make contact.”

Senior and captain Clara Thibault said the team spent the day reflecting on the mission of “Shoulder Check,” engaging in conversations about their thoughts and emotions to strengthen their team bond.

Head coach Emily Hunt also talked about the impact of the “Shoulder Check” initiative on the team.

“I think it just helped everyone feel really positive,” said Hunt. “They work really well together, and I think starting with that helped us focus.”

The Warriors came out strong, but ultimately the Wamps put the ball in the net first; however, the goal was called back for dangerous play, and the score remained an even 0-0.

The ball continued to pass back and forth between the two teams, with multiple Warrior shot attempts stuffed by the Wamps’ goalie.

Finally, senior Caroline Hughes passed the ball into the box. After a scramble for the ball, junior Ellie Haberkern managed to put a shot in the back of the net, giving the Warriors the lead with 26 seconds left in the first quarter.

Hunt said that several players had moved positions, notably junior Ellie Haberkern, who moved to forward.

“Our defense played incredibly today, and it set the tone for some of the offense,” Hunt said. “They came up with big stops, and Ellie [Haberkern] was in perfect positioning.”

The Wamps came out hard in the second quarter, scoring an early goal off a rebound only two minutes in.

The Warriors responded with a flurry of shot attempts, but were held scoreless for the quarter, ending the first half tied, 1-1.

Out of the break, the Wamps looked poised to dominate, spending much of the first five minutes in the Warriors’ half. Despite the Wamps’ momentum, the Warriors scored first, with yet another assist to Haberkern from Hughes.

“She just passed it right into me,” Haberkern said. “I was that stroke again, just ready there to tap it in.”

The Warriors held onto their lead for the rest of the quarter with three saves from sophomore goalie Anna Sooben, including a sliding save outside the box.

The Warriors cruised through the fourth quarter as well, spending most of the quarter in the Wamps’ half, and ending the game with possession of the ball.

Hunt said the defense played incredibly, setting up opportunities that the offense was able to capitalize on.

“I thought this might have been the best game we’ve played because of the passing, the teamwork and the confidence,” Hunte said. “We didn’t let any negativity come in, and we played with confidence throughout and got a big win.”

Thibault spoke on the team’s goals, saying that the team looks to bounce back for the rest of the season, hopefully earning a playoff seed in the top 16, securing the home-field advantage for the first match of the playoffs.

“We definitely hope to play some of the tight competition that we’ve had in the past, the teams that we’ve tied to, we’re going to play them again, so maybe we can pull out a win,” Thibault said. “But, mainly to get in the playoffs and be successful.”