Once a Titan, Always a Titan: Three Alexandria Sisters Share One Field Hockey Team

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Born and raised in Alexandria, Philomena Fitzgerald graduated from T.C. Williams High School in 2016 after a decorated athletic career. A decade later, she is back at the school now known as Alexandria City High School, leading the field hockey program where she once starred as a player and team captain.

And two of her players happen to be her younger sisters.

Ella Purugganan is a senior and team captain who has verbally committed to play field hockey at Rhodes College in Memphis. Maire Purugganan is a freshman.

“Alexandria is home,” Fitzgerald said. “I returned back to Alexandria after college to be close to family.”

Alexandria City Public Schools named Fitzgerald head coach in January. She was inducted into the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023 for her accomplishments in field hockey, soccer and indoor track.

Titan roots run deep

As a senior captain in 2015, Fitzgerald helped lead T.C. Williams to a school-record 21 victories and the program’s first Patriot Conference championship in 20 years. She had nine goals and 15 assists and was named Patriot Conference Player of the Year, first-team all-conference, first-team all-region and first-team all-state.

Fitzgerald was also named T.C. Williams Female Athlete of the Year for 2015–16 and the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club’s 2016 Field Hockey Athlete of the Year.

“That season was so much fun,” Fitzgerald said. “Everyone on the team was locked in, committed to working hard for each other, supported each other, and believed in each other. This created an electric atmosphere that built on itself with every practice and game.”

“I am looking to bring the same kind of commitment, passion, fun, and mindset to get better each day to this program,” Fitzgerald said.

After graduating from T.C. Williams, Fitzgerald played Division I field hockey at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. She became a three-year starter, captained the Crusaders as a senior and earned Patriot League All-Tournament honors in 2019.

After college, Fitzgerald dove into coaching.

“My family and I saw a gap in the field hockey programming in Alexandria, and started AVA Magic Field Hockey Club,” Fitzgerald said.

The club provides year-round playing opportunities and introduction clinics. Fitzgerald said AVA Magic, now in its fourth year, supports nine teams and more than 110 players.

Big sister becomes Coach Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald’s return to Alexandria City began before she took over the program. She served as an assistant coach with the Titans last season before being named head coach in January.

“Being able to coach both Ella and Maire is extremely special,” Fitzgerald said. “This is the first time we will all be on the same team, which is new and incredibly exciting!”

But once practice or a game begins, big sister becomes Coach Fitzgerald.

“On the field, my players are my players,” Fitzgerald said. “I coach all of my players with the goal for them to be the best players and people that they can be.”

Ella sees it the same way.

“When we are on the field, my sister is 100% my coach,” Ella said. “It is easy for me to switch off sister mode during practices or games because I know we’re just here to play field hockey, not be sisters. We wouldn’t be able to do the best job that we can if we weren’t being professional.”

For Ella, having her sister as her coach during her senior year is an experience she knows will not last forever.

“I’m really just trying to take it in while I can, because I don’t think I’ll ever have another coach who mentors me the way my sister does,” Ella said. “She has helped me grow and improve like no other coach has before.”

Their father, Alex Purugganan, remembers Ella and Maire attending Philomena’s high school and college games as small children, watching their big sister play and cheering her on.

Now he watches Philomena coach them.

“I’m filled with immeasurable pride and happiness at every AC field hockey game I attend,” Purugganan said. “I just try to be mindful of this rare experience and try to appreciate every moment and every game.”

Away from the field, Coach Fitzgerald becomes their sister again.

“Off the field, my sisters and I send each other Instagram Reels, grab sweet treats, mainly milkshakes from Holy Cow or ice cream scoops from The Dairy Godmother, and lean into being sisters,” Fitzgerald said.

A very high note

For Maire, the arrangement has made the beginning of high school particularly memorable.

“Beginning my freshman year with my sisters on the team has started my high school experience on a very high note,” Maire said, “because not only do I get to play a very fun sport for my school, but I also get to spend a lot of time with my sisters.”

“I was very excited to learn that my sister would be the head coach because I know how deserving she is of the role,” Maire said, “and it reassured me because I already know how amazing of a coach she is.”

Watching her older sisters has also taught Maire something about developing her own identity as an athlete.

“After watching my sisters play field hockey for so many years, I learned that everyone is their own unique player and that is what makes watching it so fun,” Maire said. “The only expectations I have to live up to are the ones I set for myself.”

Ella expressed a similar thought.

“Of course, it’s a lot of pressure to perform just as well as she did, but I know that my sister is one of a kind and living up to her accomplishments would be impossible,” Ella said. “I know that the most important expectations are the ones I set for myself, to be an amazing captain for my team, in my own way.”

Their father sees another parallel between Philomena and Ella. Philomena entered her senior season having already committed to Holy Cross. Now Ella is a senior captain who has verbally committed to Rhodes.

“The experience is somewhat similar to what I’m seeing with Ella during her senior year,” Purugganan said. “Maire, as a rookie on the varsity squad, gets to learn from both of her older sisters.”

For Philomena, what her players learn from field hockey extends beyond wins and losses.

“Sports teach you so many lessons that can be applied to life,” Fitzgerald said. “Being a good teammate and being resilient are two that I hope my players walk away with.”

Alex Purugganan sees those lessons throughout his family.

“Our family embraces team sports as a means to learn and practice certain values, such as commitment, accountability, communication, and collaboration,” he said. “I’m grateful for what the sport has given us, including the opportunity to bring us all together to support and celebrate the young women in our family.”

Then he summed it up.

“Truly, we are a field hockey family.”

Ten years after Fitzgerald graduated, the school has a new name and she has a new role.

But Alexandria is still home. The Titan pride is still there. And now three sisters share it.

Once a Titan, always a Titan.