Two of those losses - to Haverford High and Strath Haven - came on consecutive days in early October, so Ryan is not unfamiliar with quick turnarounds.
"It was a rough 24 hours," she said of the two one-goal losses. But to get through them, she added, it was necessary for her team to focus on how it approached the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.
Naturally, last week's barrage of games - and wins - was a positive for Conestoga.
"It felt good for the team to set that statement again and should help them moving forward," Ryan said. "I give them so much credit because it was an exhausting couple of days."
Ryan hopes that with a win over Central League foe Penncrest on Tuesday, the Pioneers will be given a chance to play in the postseason. Since all three of Conestoga's losses came against league teams, the best the Pioneers can do is receive an at-large bid to the District 1 tournament, which will be announced Thursday night after a seeding meeting.
Ryan hopes last week's win over a strong Garnet Valley squad will put Conestoga "over the edge" with the selection committee and into the tournament.
"The future is unpredictable, but I think with the skill on this team, I'm looking forward to this last game and, hopefully, postseason," she said.
The district tournament begins Oct. 22.
Freshman, senior mesh. It's common for players to connect on the attacking end after a few years developing chemistry on the field together, but a freshman-senior duo? That's something you don't see every day.
In a 4-0 win over Tower Hill on Wednesday, Episcopal Academy senior Alana Dumas and freshman Margaux Paolino teamed up for three goals - two from Dumas - in the Churchmen's 15th win of the season.
Dumas and Paolino have combined for 33 goals for Episcopal this season.
But two days later, Notre Dame spoiled Episcopal's chances of a perfect season.
In both matchups between the two teams this fall, the games have come down to the wire. Plays have been made in the closing moments and athletes have played tooth-and-nail to the end.
On its home turf Friday, Episcopal fell, 2-1, to Notre Dame after beating the Irish by the same score earlier in the season.
And though penalty strokes are rare in field hockey, Notre Dame was awarded two, one in the final two minutes, and Moira Putsch converted both for the Irish.
Now each team has just one loss on the season with four Inter-Ac games remaining for each squad.
Defense dominates. In 16 games so far this season, Villa Maria has posted 10 shutouts, and its only loss came on opening day to Notre Dame, 1-0.
Sophomore goalie Erika Miller has anchored the Hurricanes' defense, which has allowed just nine goals this year.
