Ending last fall with a well-earned trip to the semi-finals, the Girls Field Hockey team enters this season with high expectations. A combination of strong returning players and young, new players promises to create a formidable force. Last season the team finished with an impressive record of 10 wins, three losses and three ties. Even though it graduated many valuable seniors, the team boasts nine returning players. Seniors Alina Pechacek ’09 and Co-Captains Kaitlin Gaiss ’09 and Kaitlyn McInnis ’09 will all play pivotal roles on the field this fall. Returning Uppers Eliza Flynn ’10, Colleen Flanagan ’10 and Captain Avery Stone ’10 have also taken on leadership roles on the field and will be important to watch as the season continues. Lowers Summer Washburn ’11, Shannon McSweeney ’11 and Kellie Walsh ’11 have all returned with significantly improved skills. They will provide good depth and should be a big help in carrying the team. Coach Kate Dolan said, “We have a great core group of returning players, and [Coach] Martha [Fenton] and I believe that they will provide a strong foundation for the team throughout the fall.” In addition to the talented squad of returning players, there are many new students in all grades who will make an impact this season. New Upper Kyleigh Keating ’10 brings a large set of skills and years of experience and is expected to be a critical member of the team. Coaches Dolan and Fenton believe the team’s success depends on many factors, including practices and team communication. It will also rely on how driven the team is and its level of motivation. Dolan additionally said the team’s success will be significantly depend on how well it can bounce back from mistakes and setbacks. Co-Captain Mcinnis said Dolan and Fenton create a fantastic coaching pair, especially on the field, and they can take the team far “with their talent for developing players and giving useful advice.” A combination of these coaching skills should provide a strong foundation and help bring the team to a winning season. Mcinnis also commented, “Avery, Gaiss, and I are very excited to lead a team that’s already showing a lot of promise. It’s just going to take some hard work and a positive attitude and hopefully we’ll surpass our achievements from last year.”
