Last year, Rice field hockey's season ended in heartbreak losing to South Burlington in the D-I field hockey championship game.
The Green Knights' young core made sure they wouldn't suffer the same fate in 2024.
"Last year's loss, while it hurt, was the best thing for this team because they came back with their redemption tour," head coach Kelly McClintock said.
No. 1 Rice utilized resiliency and composure they learned last year to claim D-I field hockey championship after defeating No. 3 South Burlington, 1-0, at UVM's Moulton Winder Field on Friday.
"It's definitely revenge from last season," said sophomore Violet Clough, who scored the game's lone goal.
The Green Knights also had to battle through a key missing part of their lineup. Maryann Nunn, the team's penalty corner inserter, injured her knee during the final week of the regular season and has been out since.
"It was really hard, and you would think that it was a physical battle, but it's more a mental battle than a physical battle because all you want to do is get out there, but you can't," Nunn said.
Freshman Audrey Morris filled in admirably as the penalty corner inserter. With under 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter deadlocked at zero, Rice earned a penalty corner.
Morris inserted the ball perfectly to Clough at the top of the circle. Clough hit a shot that sailed past South Burlington's goalie Amber Rousseau, giving the Green Knights the lead with 9:17 left in the game.
When the final horn sounded and Rice's bench spilled onto the pitch to celebrate, Clough and goalie Molly McGibney made sure to move the celebration back up the field to celebrate with Nunn, who couldn't sprint out to hug her teammates.
"It was so sweet of them, and they know that this has been so hard for me and the fact that they let me have my moment," Nunn said.
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The Green Knights secured their first title since 2019 while capping off an undefeated season, finishing 2024 with a 16-0-1 record.
McGibney played the game of her life making seven saves, including some impressive diving stops to keep the game scoreless until Clough delivered.
"Molly played lights out, amazing," McClintock said. "She brought it to the next level."
With just three seniors on the roster, this may just be the beginning of Rice's field hockey dynasty.
Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.