The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
FIELD HOCKEY PREVIEW
As the 2021 field hockey season approaches, here is a look at some of the top players, storylines and games to watch:
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Zita Cohen, Greenwich, M, Sr.: A key player in the transition game, on defense and she can score. Will play at Brown.
Emily Curtis, Cheshire, M/D, Sr.: She transferred to Cheshire from England last season. Her exact position was still being determined by first-year coach Kya O’Donnell at press time. But she has developed a strong 1-2 punch on defense with teammate Lauren Houle, providing a strong line of defense for the Rams.
Reilly Dolan, Hand, M, Sr.: The defensive midfielder leads a strong on-field defense for the Tigers with her speed, field vision and ability to grab loose balls to create the team’s transition to offense.
Maddie Epke, Guilford, M, Sr.: She was the leading scorer in the SCC last season with 20 goals and 21 assists and led Guilford to a 12-1-0-1 record. She had two goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over Cheshire in the SCC A Division championship game. All State 2020 and 2019, All-SCC 2020 and 2019, New Haven Register All Area 2020 and 2019, and Connecticut Sports Writer Alliance female athlete of 2020-2021. She will play lacrosse at James Madison University.
Megan Hart, Hand, G, Sr.: Defense will be the strength early in the season for the Tigers led by Hart, who has committed to play at Connecticut College. While relying on her raw talent in the past, the threeyear starter has developed into a solid goalie with her quickness, positioning skills and field vision.
Lauren Houle, Cheshire, M, Sr.: First-year coach Kya O’Donnell said Houle is a force to be reckoned with on the field. Her strength as a stickhandler allows her control the tempo of the game and control ball possession. She will play field hockey at Hamilton.
Aerin Krys, Ridgefield, M/F, Sr.: A 2020 CHSCA All-State selection and one of the team captains, she is a four-year starter who excels as a scorer and playmaker. She scored the team’s only goal in a 4-1 loss to Darien in the Class L semifinals in 2019. She has committed to play at Northwestern.
Sofia LaFalce, Fairfield Ludlowe, M, Sr.: - Committed to play field hockey and lacrosse at Rochester University, her work ethic, leadership, desire to mentor younger players and ability to motivate the team are intangibles that separate her from other players.
Sonali Patel, Farmington, M, Sr.: The team’s leading scorer and playmaker
contributes on offense, defense and the transition game. The captain is a team leader on and off the field.
Reagan Schoen, Newtown, F, Sr.: All-State last season and has 21 goals and 16 assists in her career. Coach Ellen Goyda said she is “expected to lead the Newtown surge to the top of the (SWC) conference with her unmatched speed and stick skills.” Plays for Competitive Edge Field Hockey in the offseason.
Nina Shamas, Branford, G, Sr.: She had 101 saves last season and was named first team CHSCA All-State.
Olivia Toto, North Branford, F, Sr.: The Thunderbirds have a long history of being a top challenger in the Class S tournament each season and a solid offense is typically a strength. Coach Babby Nuhn calls Toto a “feisty offensive wing.” She was All-State in 2020 and a New Haven Register All-Area selection.
STORYLINES
Embracing a return to some “normalcy”: Despite the impact of the current Delta Strain variant of COVID-19 with spikes throughout Connecticut, field hockey coaches interviewed throughout the state are embracing a return to a more complete 2021 season. Their players and parents are excited about 2021 as well. Due to the pandemic in 2020, teams were limited to league competition with the CIAC cancelling postseason tournaments for all sports. While COVID-19 protocols (mask wearing, social distancing, etc.) are still in place, the CIAC is moving forward with its usual postseason tournaments last held in 2019. The CIAC Class L, M and S tournaments begin with qualifying rounds on Nov. 8 with all three finals at Wethersfield High on Nov. 20.
Hall, Glastonbury among top teams in northern Connecticut: While Staples and Darien
are two of the top teams in the south, CCC rivals Hall and Glastonbury are two of the top teams in the north. Attacker Molly Harding and midfielder Kaitlyn Welsh are among the top players for Glastonbury and Hall forward Bridget McGann has committed to play at Connecticut College. In prepandemic 2019, Hall finished the regular season 15-1 and Glastonbury was 12-1-2-1.
The late Cathy McGuirk big part of Branford’s season: Branford has dedicated the season to the memory of McGuirk who passed away last spring and had coached at Branford 41 years. Coach Pete Frye said players will wear some form of yet-to-be-approved item on their uniforms in honor of McGuirk. A memorial event has also been organized prior to the home game against SCC rival Shelton on Oct. 9.
GAMES TO WATCH
Hall at Glastonbury, Sept. 9, 3:45 p.m.: Two of the top teams in the north meet in a key CCC seasonopening game. “It’s a great early season test for both teams,” Glastonbury coach Maureen Perkins said. “We played them three times last year and it’s a really good rivalry that has developed over the past few years.”
Cheshire at Guilford, Sept. 17. 3:45 p.m.: O’Donnell and the Rams get an early test against SCC defending tournament champ Guilford. The game will showcase two of the SCC’s standout players in Epke and Houle.
Staples at Darien, Sept. 22, 4 p.m.: Two of the state’s powerhouse teams face off in an early-season key FCIAC matchup. The teams met in the CIAC Class L finals three times between 20162019 with the teams ending up Class L co-champs in 2016, Staples won 1-0 in 2017 and Staples won 4-2 in 2019.