Hingham’s field hockey coach since 2006, Petrie picks up her 250th coaching victory
October 19, 2026 By David Wolcott (Pictures By Joshua Ross)
Susan Petrie stepped into the coaching shoes of a legend in 2006 when she took over the Hingham High field hockey program from Meredith Gordon.
Twenty years later, Petrie continues to cement her own coaching legacy with the Harborwomen. She reached a coaching milestone Saturday with her 250th career win in Hingham’s 7-1 victory over Scituate.
What makes the accomplishment even more notable is that Gordon and Petrie are the only two head coaches in more than 50 seasons of Hingham field hockey.
“I think that’s amazing,” said Petrie. “I’m proud to be a part of that legacy, but all of the credit goes to the girls and my coaches. They are the ones that make it fun for me to come back every year.”
Twenty seasons is a long time to coach at one high school, but Petrie sees no reason to slow down now.
“The best part about coaching is that it’s still fun for me. Every year a different group of players comes through and leaves their own mark on the program,” said Petrie. “Field hockey has always been a big part of what I do each day. I can’t imagine it not having a place in my life.”
Two players on the current squad, Quinn Hallisey and Jenna Varholak, spoke about how Petrie helps keep the program continually on a winning path.
Said Hallisey, “(Coach Petrie) is very good at getting us focused and prepared for every game. We go into each game knowing we are as prepared as we can be.”
“Coach Petrie focuses on the little things in our game that we need to fix and that helps us so much when it comes to our overall game,” said Varholak.
Victories Are Stacking Up
Any team can catch lightning in a bottle and go on an epic run for one season. It’s the top programs that can string those kinds of seasons together again and again. Year after year.
Hingham field hockey has worked its way to that level of consistent excellence.
A year separated from last season’s loss in the Division 2 state finals to Somerset-Berkley, the Harborwomen immediately knew they had their work cut out for them this year with the loss of 13 members from the Class of 2026.
Challenge accepted. A new crop of players has emerged as leaders and has Hingham ready to make another challenge for the program’s first state championship. Five different goal scorers stepped up Saturday as part of a 7-1 Homecoming win over Scituate.
The win pushed Hingham’s record to 9-2-1 entering the final portion of the regular-season schedule on a five-game winning streak. They were fourth in the most recent MIAA Division 2 Power Rankings.
One of the newest additions to the field hockey program, freshman Quinn Hallisey, scored twice in Saturday’s win. The younger sister of one of last year’s captains, Ryan Hallisey, Quinn has quickly made an impact on the team.
“Ryan helped me get ready (for this season) over the summer and told me how much fun I was going to have being with this team,” said Hallisey. “We’re pretty much a new team this year and we’re starting to jell together. We’re connecting well right now and that’s helping us move the ball around.”
Junior midfielder Jenna Varholak said the way the new teammates have bonded off the field has made things smoother on the field.
Said Varholak, “Our passing has improved as the season has gone along, which has helped us get the ball up the field and into scoring position.”