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09/15/2016 12:00 AMThe world of high school sports is a cyclical one that frequently features new faces in different places after seniors graduate each year. Such is the case this fall for the Hand field hockey squad, although the Tigers are ready to grow as a group while the campaign wears on.
Head Coach Sue Leckey’s Tigers netted a 12-3-1 regular season record before taking a 2-1 overtime loss to Lauralton Hall in the team’s fourth-consecutive SCC Tournament final appearance last season. Hand was then seeded 6th as the defending champion in the Class M State Tournament and dropped a 1-0, double overtime decision to Sacred Heart Academy in the first round.
Thus far this year, Hand has taken a 3-0 loss at Cheshire in its season opener on Sept. 10 and then battled Lauralton Hall to a scoreless draw in a rematch of last year’s SCC title game. Hand was outshot 12-4 in the Lauralton Hall contest with junior Kylie Gargiulo making a dozen saves in the cage.
The Tigers feature several nine seniors on their roster this year, but seven of them are new to the varsity ranks. While Coach Leckey said that Hand will face some growing pains in 2016, she added that the Tigers will ultimately become a better team as a result of persevering through them.
“We will be a developing team this season and we are hoping to contend as the season progresses,” said Coach Leckey. “Goaltending and defense are certainly strengths for our team this season, but scoring will be a weakness.”
Two of the Tigers’ more experienced seniors will serve as their co-captains this year with Hollis Wivell on the defensive end and Erin Soboleski anchoring the midfield. Coach Leckey feels that Wivell and Soboleski form a dynamic duo that will help Hand stay true to its tasks throughout the grind of the campaign.
“They will do a good job supporting their teammates and helping to keep our focus and motivation high,” said Leckey on her co-captains. “The seniors that will also be crucial to our success this season are Jessica Lundgren, Sophie Carbone, Mariah Concannon, Kelsey Delahunt, Briana Friend, Maddie Combs, and Abby Meehan.”
The Tigers welcome back a few more returning standouts in their junior class with Abi Barry in back, Sophie Schreck playing both defender and midfielder, Nora McCarthy as a midfielder/forward, and Gargiulo in net.
Coach Leckey added how Hand will look for significant contributions from junior MacKenzie Larson and sophomores Taylor Leckey Erickson Richard, along with juniors Grace Lucibello, Glenna-Kate Gies, Jenni Burris, and Izzy Kennedy.
As always, Hand has a difficult schedule and will face some familiar suspects in the highly competitive SCC with duels against postseason perennials like Cheshire, Guilford, Lauralton Hall, and Branford—each of whom have plenty of talented players and well-regarded coaching staffs.
“The teams to beat in our league are Cheshire with an experienced All-State goalie, experienced field players, a strong defense, and a terrific coach. Branford, Lauralton Hall, and Guilford will all be contenders for the league title with great coaches and great field hockey tradition,” said Leckey. “Some of the top players in the league are Alyssa Stevens [Cheshire goalie], Sarah Pierpont [Cheshire forward], a quiet, crafty forward with speed and a nose for the goal; Sam Simeone [Cheshire defender], who may be one of the best scorers in the league this season; Olivia Clarke [Guilford forward], Carol Frye [Branford midfielder], Madelyn Monahan [Lauralton Hall], and Kylie Forrest [Lauralton Hall].”
From the Sidelines
Sue Leckey is in her 14th year as the head coach of Hand field hockey and owns a career record of 198-45-19.
Mike Niekrash will serve as assistant coach for the Tigers. He is also Hand softball’s head coach.
Since the SCC began holding a postseason field hockey tournament in 2010, the Tigers have made the final every year with the exception of 2011. Hand claimed the conference crown in 2010 and 2014.