Sports teams can reach a new level of success when all their players are on the same page, focused and motivated. King’s Fork High School’s field hockey team matched that description during a 4-0 victory over visiting Northampton High School on Thursday evening.

“I was really proud of the girls,” Lady Bulldogs coach Courtney Van der Linden said. “I just felt really great about the way the girls were playing. I really feel like we’re getting more into a consistent groove, and that was something I’d been hoping for all season.”

She noted that the last couple of games have gone really smoothly, with her players capitalizing on a lot of offensive opportunities. They certainly had a generous amount of them against the Lady Yellowjackets on Thursday.

“We really seriously controlled the game and the pace,” Van der Linden said, having expected more of a challenge. “It was at our offensive end, pretty much the whole time.”

Citing another ingredient in her team’s recipe for success, she said, “It was senior night, too, so the girls were really amped up.”

The seniors definitely had a hand in the offense, as Kayla Filio produced two goals, Rachel Gist had one and Randi Fiel contributed an assist. Junior Emma Marston and sophomore Lauren Park each had an assist.

“I think what changed the game and what I think made the game so good for us was the fact that everything is starting to click,” she said. “The girls came out with intensity, and (lack of) that was something that was hurting us (before). We couldn’t find consistent intensity, and we couldn’t all want it on the same level.”

In the past, some girls would be focused and ready, some were not and others seemed lost, and they might trade places in those categories from game to game. But not on Thursday.

“Everybody had such a great game,” Van der Linden said. “This is what I was hoping for — the whole team just showing up.”

Pressed to highlight some standouts, she said, “Randi played a heck of a game. The numbers may not show it, but she definitely changed our play.”

The defense also had a notable star in junior Carlee Morse.

“I’d say that Carlee also had a really great game,” Van der Linden said. “She’s had some really, really vital switches in the play, and was just calling out some great back passes and spreading out the field. She did a really good job with that.”

King’s Fork has progressively performed better against Northampton over the last three years, first losing, then winning in overtime and now winning by four.

“I guess I expected it to be a little bit different in terms of the matchup,” Van der Linden said regarding the challenge of Thursday’s game. “So, that’s definitely something I’m looking into next year is trying some new things and trying to branch out just to different teams to hopefully continue some positive growth.”

King’s Fork (10-4, 3-1) returns to the field on Tuesday, resuming its conference schedule when it plays on the road against Denbigh High School.