Fresh start for field hockey season
Field hockey teams rejoicing over a return to normalcy as the MIAA ditched COVID modifications from 2020 are ready for a fresh start culminating in a new state tournament format, with a large group of familiar teams contending for their respective titles.
FIELD HOCKEY PREVIEW
Acton-Boxboro, led by legendary coach Mae Shoemaker, expects big things with her returning core as standout senior midfielder Marissa Politano leads a young group with senior forward Claire Kearney and senior defender Nina Depew. Chelmsford is loaded with college-level talent, bolstered by forwards Maddie Priestly (Vermont) and Lexi D’Angelo, as well as Remore Serra and Sarah Latham (Stonehill) in the midfield.
Andover similarly returns college-bound senior midfielders Lily Farnham (Endicott) and Hailey Doherty (Assumption) to run alongside one of the best scorers in the state in All-Scholastic junior Emma Reilly, and Central Catholic will be trouble with senior talents in Brooke Jankowski, Sydney Moda, defender Sofia Coletti and goalie Alexis DeMattia.
Walpole ranks high among contenders in a packed Bay State Conference by returning versatile All-Scholastic senior Caroline Whelan, senior midfielder Jess Tosone and senior forward Lauren Wong. Needham fields sophomores Lily Schmalz and Megan Ledbury alongside senior stars Maeve Hymovitz (defense), Emma Ferrara (forward) and Lucy McHugh (forward) to present challenges, while Natick boasts a strong defense through seniors Emma Peck, Hadley Green and goalie Angela White.
Top-tier defense is the theme in Franklin, working through Kendall Jones, Kate O’Rourke and Katelin Carney. King Philip gives it trouble in the Hockomock league.
Lexington is senior-laden, bolstered by Sandy Raman and Allison Libby on the attack, as well as Kennice Brennan and Naomi Arnold on defense. Winchester is very confident in a speedy senior group of Brooke MaloneyKolenberg, Maddy Dengler, Camille Clarke and Shannon Miranda, while Concord-Carlisle and Belmont are on the radar as well.
Masconomet is a Div. 2 favorite, returning four-year varsity players in forwards Ava Collins and Cecily Paglerani, midfielder Lily Conway, defender Ava Tello and goalie Ainsley Gruener. Depth helps Danvers pose a major threat itself, returning seniors Grace Brinkley (forward), Sabrina Auciello (midfield), Ashley Clark (defense) and junior forward Emma Wilichoski. Bishop Fenwick’s All-Scholastic senior Grace Morey follows a big 2020 with fellow senior standouts Arianna Costello (forward), Emily McPhail (midfield) and Kailey Silva (defense).
All but one player returns for Holliston in a tough Tri-Valley League, and standouts Peyton Hastings, Jordyn Kuharich and Bridget Daigneault look impressive. Westwood returns a heap of experience, with seniors Kendall Blomquist (midfield), Kate Deehan (defense), Lindsey Diomede (forward) and Amelia Cogan (goalie) returning as four-year varsity players.
Notre Dame (H) features a strong defense with Caelan Stewart, Cameron Bourassa and senior goalie Erin Carney. Two-time defending state champion Somerset Berkley takes a youthful turn, but Lauren Rothwell comes back to lead with sophomore Karissa Albin.
Canton, Nauset, Marblehead and Plymouth North should each makes some noise, too.
The Watertown legacy continues under coach Eileen Donahue in Div. 3, as her group returns All-Scholastic junior dynamos Maggie Driscoll and Lizzie Loftus. All-Scholastic senior Paige Hawkins returns to Sandwich to pair with senior Haley McLaughlin and junior Emily Souke for a dominant attack, while seniors Lily Tobin and Emma Dintino control the middle and seniors Lily Moore and goalie Sarah Currey anchor the back.
Dennis-Yarmouth looks to give it trouble with three-year starter Isabelle Gannon (midfield), senior defender Tess Labelle, goalie Amelia Veara and top scorer Jordyn Pineau in the fold, while Dover-Sherborn defends its state title behind senior captains Nicole Mayer and goalie Loren Root under new head coach Molly McGill.
Gloucester gears up for a strong playoff bid, returning starters Aria Caputo (midfielder), Chiara O’Connor (defender) and Ella Costa (forward).
Foxboro looks to do the same with senior midfielders Mia Dinunzio and Paige Simoneau, senior defender Lilly Jones and senior forward Kate Collins commanding all three phases. Longtime Pentucket coach Ruth Beaton isn’t shying away either, aided by senior midfielders Meg Freiermuth and Lana Mickelson, as well as goalie Charlene Basque and junior forwards Reese Gallant and Haley Dwight.
Forward Ella Stone and midfielders Kylie Campbell and Meghan Enos highlight a fierce group of nine seniors for Hanover. Pembroke, Austin Prep and Middleboro also should be competitive.
With a heavy Div. 1 nonleague schedule, Cohasset ranks among the top of Div. 4. Junior twins Catherine and Frances Brisbane will be a force along with superstar junior forward Ainsley Allen, defensive anchor Brooke Evans and returning AllScholastic senior Molly Stephens. Case brings back everyone from varsity, boosted by plus scorers Megan Smith, Emily Greene and Lexi Yost, along with junior captains Brooke Orton and Kaelyn Lecomte.
All-Scholastic standout Caroline DiGiovanni guides a promising Monomoy group with senior goalie Caroline Upson and midfielder Madeline Silvester. St. Mary’s (L) is off to a fast start behind electric scorers Lily Pregent and Maggie Pierce, and Ipswich has playoff aspirations under a strong senior group.
Lynnfield and Manchester Essex also figure to be in the mix.