Main Line field hockey teams aim for glory this fall

The Main Line high school field hockey scene this fall is packed with teams coming off championship-caliber 2017 campaigns, including Central League champion Conestoga, Inter-Ac champ and PAISAA state champion Academy of Notre Dame, Catholic League runner-up Archbishop Carroll, Haverford High (17-4) and Merion Mercy Academy (13-4).
Here’s a beginning-of-the-season look at the Main Line high school field hockey squads (these are the schools that provided preview information as of Sept. 4):

Academy of Notre Dame
Head coach: Adele Williams, 17th year.
Last year’s record: 17-2-3 overall, 9-0-1 Inter-Ac (champions), PAISAA state champions.
Key returnees: Eight starters – sophomore goalie Paige Kieft, senior defender Lindsey Barnes, senior forward Lauren Curran, senior defender Belle McHugh, senior defender Maggie Pina, senior midfielder Jessica Schneider, junior defender/midfielder Emily Graeff, junior midfielder/forward Mia Leonhardt.
Others to watch: senior forward Mary Kate Trevisan, senior defender Lily Allen, junior midfielder/forward Megan Mitchell, junior forward Vivi Trumpbour, junior defender Brianna Odgers.
Team strengths: According to Williams, speed, athleticism and experience.
Outlook: Williams said, “With the core of our team returning from last season, we are looking to build on last year’s accomplishments and bring that same energy into this season. We have added some challenging competition to our existing schedule to prepare us to compete for another league championship.”

Agnes Irwin
Head coach: Alison Monzo, sixth year.
Last year’s record: 12-9 overall, 4-6 Inter-Ac.
Key returnees: senior goalie Paige DiLullo, junior midfielder/forward Kacy Hogarth, junior midfielder/defender Ciaran Scott, sophomore midfielder Emma van der Veen.
Others to watch: freshman forward/midfielder Lily Botta, freshman forward/midfielder Ariana Karalis, junior forward Avery Niedland.
Outlook: Monzo said, “With the graduation of several starters, we are excited to welcome a number of new, talented players and see how they contribute to the team. We feel optimistic about the season ahead and are looking forward to a competitive schedule.”

Archbishop Carroll
Head coach: Christina Elisio, third year.
Last year’s record: 11-5 overall, 8-1 Catholic League.
Key returnees: senior defense/midfielder Keri Daly, senior forward/midfielder Maeve Riehman, junior defender/midfielder Carly Bateman.
Others to watch: senior forward Katie LaBella, senior forward Alex Almonte.
Lost to graduation: midfielder Hannah Bateman (playing for Catholic University), forward Jade Orsatti, midfielder Madison Nord (playing for University of Scranton), forward Sydney D’Orsogna, defender Jenna Barrett, defender Mary Bushner.
Outlook: Elisio said, “Our biggest challenge that we face is having lost five starters to graduation, mostly in the midfield and on defense. Many of our [returning] girls have varsity experience, and are willing to play any position. They keep raising the bar, their skill work has improved and their vision on the field is remarkable. They work extremely well together as a unit. We are extremely excited and confident about our team and season. With change comes opportunity and we know the girls are up for the challenge.”

Conestoga
Head coach: JaJa Kentwell, first year.
Last year’s record: 19-5 overall, 11-0 Central League (champions).
Key returnees: five returning starters – senior midfielder Charlotte de Vries, senior defender Anna Mayock, junior midfielder Sarah Rogalski, junior striker Annie Hirshman, sophomore midfielder Carly Hynd.
Others to watch: junior striker Choloe Ziegler, freshman midfielder Caroline O’Brien, freshman defender Maia Dechiario.
Outlook: “The key to our success is developing players – it will take some time to teach and develop these players, especially when I only see them a couple months out of the year,” said Kentwell. “There is a lot of technical work to work on, and the challenge for us is to get more people involved in club hockey and play year-round, so when they get to the high school level they have a good foundation of technical skills and understanding of the game.”

Friends’ Central
Head coaches: Lisa and Bobby Mansure, first year.
Last year’s record: 1-11 overall, 1-7 Friends Schools League.
Key returnees: senior defender and tri-captain Katie Leone, senior defender and tri-captain Tori Lane, senior goalie and tri-captain Nora Wadsworth.
Others to watch: junior midfielder Lindsey Schweitzer, sophomore goalie Leah Anderson.
Outlook: Mansure said, “Our greatest strength this season is our senior leadership. Our biggest challenges are coming together as one team with one vision – while having a blast!”

Harriton
Head coach: Kirsten Taylor, first year.
Last year’s record: 10-6-1 overall, 6-4-1 Central League.
Key returnees: senior forward Grace Copeland, senior midfielder Nikki Handel, senior midfielder Amelia Coursen, senior midfielder Lily Silbergeld, sophomore forward Sydney Odiorne, sophomore defender Ashton Odiorne, junior midfielder Paige Fisher, junior defender Lucy Dwyer, junior defender Kat Berberian.
Others to watch: sophomore forward/midfielder Nina Hollin, senior forward Elle Seward, senior forward Katelin Williams.
Team strengths: “One of our strengths this year is definitely our defense,” said Taylor. “We work really well in transitioning the ball down the field. The team works together to make sure the field is balanced and everyone is playing their positions and supporting each other.”
Outlook: “The biggest key to success this year for us is communication and working as a team, and working to score early and score often,” said Taylor. “Our biggest challenge is that we lost a few strong players last year [to graduation] and have a big spot to fill in the goal.”

Haverford
Head coach: Christa Taylor, third year.
Last year’s record: 17-4 overall, 10-1 Central League (second place).
Key returnees: senior midfielder Sydney Corcoran, senior forward Carly Gannon, senior forward Kelsy Knapp, senior defender/midfielder Megan Phillips, junior forward Caroline Boornazian.
Others to Watch: junior midfielder Eilie Kent, junior forward Katie Redding, junior defender Shannon Quiale.
Team’s strengths:According to Taylor, speed, endurance, and key players’ ability to eliminate defenders and feed the ball.
Outlook: Taylor said, “If we can utilize our speed to stretch the field and pass well, we should find success. We need to maintain focus for the duration of the game to execute basic skills.”

Merion Mercy Academy
Head coach: Margaretha Ehret, third year.
Last year’s record: 13-4-1.
Key returnees: junior midfielder Alex Lavelle, junior midfielder Tori Natale, junior forward Emily Hauck, junior midfielder Grace Lopresti, sophomore midfielder Victoria Arra, sophomore goalie Kristin Rake.
Others to watch: freshman defender Cate Voegele, senior defender Maggie McGovern.
Lost to graduation: defender Caitlin Farkas, midfielder Katie Murphy (playing at Catholic University), forward Arianna Lavelle (playing lacrosse at Fairfield University).
Outlook: The Golden Bears lost senior midfielder and captain Margo Carlin (Boston College commit) to a torn ACL last spring, but Ehret said, “We have many younger players who will look to step up and fill holes. We have a strong junior class led by Alex Lavelle who will help control and distribute from the center of the field. I expect to see heart and hustle from our players who are determined to win 50/50 balls and play for every second of the game. We always set big goals and continue to work on stick skills, off-ball movement, and spacing in practice. We are excited to see how far we can play, and hope to be playing in the cold weather of November.”

Radnor
Head coach: Katie Maguire, third year.
Last year’s record: 8-9 overall, 7-4 Central League.
Key returnees: senior forward Page Lowry, senior forward Olivia Shea, senior defender Meredith Webb, junior forward Barbara Civitella, junior midfielder Brigid Lowry, junior defender Olivia DeCain, junior midfielder Genevieve Mehra, sophomore midfielder Madison Milhous.
Others to watch: freshman defender Hope Delaney.
Team’s strengths: Maguire said, “A lot of our girls have been playing together for years, so the team chemistry is strong.”
Outlook: “I think big things are going to happen this year,” said Maguire. “We are still young but experienced, so we are looking forward to having some great wins.”

Sacred Heart
Head coach: Patty McNevin, fourth year.
Last year’s record: 8-10 overall, 4-8 AACA.
Key returnees: senior center mid Julia Flood, senior center forward Dani Santora, senior defensive back Sara Terzian, senior forward Catie Gordon, senior midfielder Liz Franz.
Others to watch: senior goalie Gigi Backe, sophomore forward Mary Lauren Franz, junior defensive back Maura Gibson.
Outlook: McNevin sees the Lions’ biggest strengths as depth and versatility, with many players being able to play both sides of the ball. “Our biggest key to success will be unity, trust and teamwork, and our biggest challenge will be to stay competitive in our league,” said McNevin.

Shipley
Head coach: Avery Safford, second year.
Last year’s record: 12-6 overall, 8-1 Friends’ Schools League.
Key returnees: senior goalkeeper Taylor Wells, senior midfielder Kate Scutt, senior forward Sydney Nagorsky, junior forward Carolina Riley, junior defender Gianna McDougall.
Others to watch: senior midfielder Emma Durham, senior forward Chloe Sobel, junior midfielder Elle Christine, freshman Midfielder Peyton Turner, freshman defender Meera Patel.
Outlook: Safford said, “Defensively, we are strong. Our team is quick to get back on defense, ready to redefend when they lose the ball, and are very communicative with the rest of the team. Our biggest challenge this year is to learn how to play with creativity. The girls know what they need to do, but sometimes don’t realize the other options they have on the field. Our biggest key to success comes from our junior and senior leadership. They are really the players on the field who make things happen and are great examples for the underclassmen.”