Neily Ware ’25 concludes her four-year journey with the Girls Field Hockey team with excellence by leading them through an undefeated season. With Andover achieving an impressive 15-0 record, outscoring opponents overall with 99 goals compared to seven scored against the team, and securing the top seed in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) playoffs, Ware has been a pivotal contributor to the team’s success as a Co-Captain.
Ware grew up watching her mother play and coach field hockey at the college level, following closely in her footsteps. Finding inspiration in players that her mother coached, Ware pointed to the competitive spirit and team environment as elements that drew her to playing field hockey.
“I started playing field hockey when I was 12 or 13. My mom played in college and coached so I grew up watching her teams and looking up to her players as role models so that encouraged me to start playing, and I’ve been doing it ever since. I love the sport because of how competitive and committed our team is while simultaneously being really close and cherishing our time together,” said Ware.
Ware emphasized her approach of leading the team with energy and passion as a way to encourage the team members to bring dynamism and joy to practice. Ware strives to be a role model for the younger players and find ways to demonstrate the team’s significance to her.
“I try to be a very inclusive and positive leader. I try to hype up the team and encourage us to play our hardest when we need that energy. I hope my teammates feed off of my energy and I think that I have helped to convey how special our team is to the younger members,” said Ware.
Regan Driscoll ’28 reiterated the Co-Captain’s infectiously positive style of leading with a high-energy approach on the field. In times of need, Driscoll described how Ware always bolsters the team and is a role model and reliable player on the field.
“She’s always very positive and uplifting and always brings good energy to the team, always picking up everyone on the team. She strives to build everyone up and reassure us that everything is going to be okay, always keeps a positive environment, and energizes the whole team. She’s always getting her head up before making passes and you can tell she’s very aware of everything that’s happening on the field. I always feel really supported by her defense and the positive energy she always tries to bring to the team,” said Driscoll.
Driscoll continued, “Out on the field and as a player, she’s a very dependable defender and can always be relied on to get the job done. She’s mastered a very fine balance of being both dependable and fun and you can really tell how much she loves the team and the community and I think that’s so special.”
Meg Stineman ’25, a close friend and classmate of Ware, reflects on how her passion and leadership in field hockey have grown since their Junior year. Though Stineman herself is a key Senior contributor, she admires Ware’s efforts in making every member of the team feel valued.
“I think Neily is just a very kind leader. Between her and our other Captains, they always strive to balance each other out and apply different kinds of leadership on the team. For me, just from watching Neily for a long time, I’ve loved watching her grow into the Captain she is today. I think there’s really something so special about how she truly is [field hockey’s] biggest fan and really is motivated by the team and loves it a lot,” said Stineman.
When reflecting on her strengths and weaknesses as a Co-Captain, Ware shared how her ambition can sometimes distract her from focusing on day-to-day tasks. However, she sees her drive as a strength that fuels her commitment to be a supportive presence on and off the field, both in leading plays and encouraging her teammates.
“My biggest weakness is that sometimes I can focus too much on the future and our eventual goals rather than the day-to-day. My biggest strength is staying positive when we are struggling and keeping up our energy. I also try to be an encouraging, supportive player to my teammates. I try to feed my teammates as a defender and support our attacking plays from the back while having effective communication. I’m really grateful to be a leader for PAFH and to continue the legacy of this team,” said Ware.
