> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Bond between seniors helping to lift Bedford field hockey - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/bond-between-seniors-helping-to-lift-bedford-field-hockey/ - Published: 2025-10-03T16:30:44.000Z - Updated: 2025-10-03T16:30:44.000Z - Description: BEDFORD – There hasn’t been a time where Teagan O’Donnell can remember playing a sport and not having Eloise Montagano on her team. Whether it’s been lacrosse, skiing or field hockey, the pair of been side by side, working together to contribute to whichever team they’re playing for in that moment. - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Division I, Bedford, Bulldogs, Eloise Montagano, field hockey, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, Teagan O'Donnell, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 BEDFORD – There hasn’t been a time where Teagan O’Donnell can remember playing a sport and not having Eloise Montagano on her team. Whether it’s been lacrosse, skiing or field hockey, the pair of been side by side, working together to contribute to whichever team they’re playing for in that moment. “I remember meeting her in third grade at a lacrosse camp, and from there we just became friends because we played every single sport together,” O’Donnell said. “We’ve played club field hockey together, we did ski team growing up, club lacrosse. Pretty much everything. I don’t remember playing sports without Eloise.” Now as seniors, their connection and friendship are helping the Bedford High School field hockey team through one of its best regular seasons in the pursuit of a place the program has only been once before. Going into Friday’s game at Londonderry, the Bulldogs won 10 of their first 11 games this year and were tied with the Lancers for the top spot in the Division I standings. Despite registering double-digit wins in four of the last five seasons, Bedford has reached the semifinals in D1 just once in program history, back in 2021. A year ago, Bedford coach Kate Gaudreau felt the players put a lot of pressure on themselves to not only make that happen, but to reach a championship. Instead, the Bulldogs lost to Exeter in the quarterfinals. This season has had a different feel to it even with the team’s success. “Last year, my team was like ‘we’re winning the whole thing,’” the coach said. “This year, I think they’re like, ‘ok, we need to enjoy what we’re doing.’ It’s such an important game to all of us, we’re trying to grow the sport, we’re trying to get people excited for it.” For O’Donnell and Montagano, the love for the sport came almost from the moment they both started playing. After they both began playing lacrosse around the same time, they ended up trying field hockey together and realizing that was going to be the main sport for both of them. “The second I started playing, I loved it,” Montagano said. “I like how it’s fast paced, but also very skill based. I feel every time I come to practice, I learn a new skill or a new passing pattern. There are so many aspects to it. I feel like it’s one of the harder stick-skill sports. It’s fun to do something challenging and that’s what drew me into field hockey.” After having played together for so long, they’ve developed a connection on the field that makes it easy to play together and hard for other teams to counter. “Playing with Eloise is almost like playing with a twin sister,” O’Donnell said. “She knows what I’m going to do and I know what she’s going to do and we’re able to work off each other from that. There’s never a moment where I’m like ‘oh why didn’t she pass me the ball.’ It’s always, if she knows I’m open, she passes to me. If I know she’s open, I pass to her. We work really well together and she’s an easy person to play with.” The pair, along with fellow senior Mia Katane, have been captains for Bedford this season, and Gaudreau sees them being leaders for the Bulldogs in different ways. Where O’Donnell is more vocal and helped organize a lot of the program’s offseason work, Montagano has led by example and never stops working. “(O’Donnell) stepped up so big this summer,” Gaudreau said. “Everything I needed, she was the first one to make sure things were ready. She was holding girls accountable even before I had to hold them accountable. “Eloise is more of a lead-by-example type of kid. She’s a beautiful field hockey player. Her finesse is unbelievable, her vision is great. She is so amazing to watch.” O’Donnell, who has committed to continue playing at Stonehill College, and Montagano, who is undecided about her college plans, know this is likely to be the final time they’re playing field hockey as teammates. “We know this somehow has to come to an end,” Montagano said. “It’s definitely going to be bittersweet.” But that doesn’t mean the Bulldogs don’t have their sights set on ending it as best they can. “It’s heartbreaking,” O’Donnell said. “I feel very confident in this team. Every year, we shoot for the final four. We want to win the whole thing, but (Gaudreau’s) expectation of us is to play as if every game is the state championship game. It’s going to be work, and that’s for any team. It’s going to come down to who wants it more.”