The Fall 2006 Field Hockey Team promises to be an experienced and tight-knit group. Lauren Jackson ‘07 predicts “this season will be a season of extremely hard work, where each player will give their best, and refuse to settle for anything but the best.” The team will return to the field, lead by Captain Annie Boylan, ’07, who has been a Varsity letter winner since her junior year. Each player on the team possesses an overwhelming desire to win. With strong team chemistry as support and motivation, each player will strive to take its game to the next level. Holding conditioning as a higher priority than skills, Coach Kate Dolan spent a majority of this preseason whipping her players into shape. She coaches her team to be aggressive on the field and give 100% in every game and practice. Andover welcomes many first-year players but every athlete is playing well and progressing with each practice. Captain Boylan is confidant in the team’s “strong core and great returners.” The six other returning seniors include goalie Ale Moss ‘07, midfield/forward Lauren Jackson ’07, forward Meg Shea ’07, defensive back Arielle Filiberti ’07 and Kristen Macdonald ’07 and Ali Zindman ’07. Strong returning contributors to the team will include three rising uppers Britney Van Valkenburg ’08, Lindsey Weiner ’08 and Jamie Harisiades ’08. Though these players may be used to one position, each will have to step up and fill any gaps left in the team. Beyond a strong focus on overall conditioning, Coach Dolan will push the team to focus on ball movement, execution of plays, and communication. Strong ball movement skills aid the players’ individual ability to set up double teams and triangles. This support is crucial in Andover’s ability to execute plays. With these skills, Andover will weave past their opponents, move quickly down the field, and score goals with ease. A final essential element of Andover’s success is communication. Stressing communication on and off the field ensures unity and teamwork. Moss ’07 is a very strong goalie and will be a key communicator in the back field, but it will take every player working together to have as successful as a season as last year. The team aims to pull all of these elements together and defeat its strongest opponents. Last year Hotchkiss defeated Andover in the playoffs. This year Andover hopes to meet them again in the tournament to avenge its loss. Captain Boylan predicts both Exeter and Nobles to be difficult and pivotal games this season. Though Exeter and Nobles will be important matches to win, it is important to remember that every single game is a crucial step on the way to the tournament. As Jackson ’07 concludes, “every match is important this year. We must take one game at a time—we cannot focus on past games whether it was a win or a lost—and we can not look too far ahead in the future, or we will not be well enough prepared for the present.” With their predominate senior leadership and strong desire to win, the Phillips Academy Field Hockey team is primed to win.
