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11/23/2017 11:00 PMThe Guilford field hockey team went on a 21-game journey that saw the Indians reach the semifinals of both the SCC and Class M State tournament this fall. While the Indians weren’t able to advance to the championship games of either bracket, Head Coach Kitty Palmer’s squad still gave its opponents everything they could handle throughout the season and wound up finishing with a robust total of 16 victories.
Guilford entered the 2017 campaign fresh off an appearance in last year’s Class M State Tournament final. This year, the Indians compiled a strong mark of 13-2-1 during a regular season that saw them deal eventual SCC and Class M champion Hand its only loss on the year. In the SCC Tournament, the Indians defeated Scared Heart Academy 4-0 in the quarterfinals before taking a 1-0 semifinal loss against Branford. Then for the state draw, Guilford blanked Lauralton Hall (2-0) and Avon (6-0) to reach the semis where the Indians dropped a 2-1 contest to Hand to finish the year at 16-4-1 overall.
Coach Palmer said her squad had the right mix of talent and intangibles to claim SCC and state supremacy this season. Although those dreams didn’t come to fruition, Palmer said the Indians constantly gave their all while striving toward those goals.
“Going into this year, we wanted to place well in our league and in the state. We got to the semis, but we just couldn’t get past Branford and Hand,” said Palmer. “Both of those games were very close. A bounce of the ball the other way in both games, we could’ve won. We were the only team to beat Hand this year, and this team had what it took to go all the way. We did place well in the league and state, and we came up just short of the finals, but it wasn’t from lack of effort by the girls. We had a really good season. The girls gave effort every game. We came up just a bit short, but I am proud of the girls.”
The Indians didn’t have any captains this fall, but they still featured a strong core of leaders who held them together with a senior class that had nine athletes. Guilford’s seniors were forwards Olivia Clarke and Meg Reynolds, midfielder Bryce Makula, and defenders Emma Macy, Audrey Larrow, Erica Jermacans, Theresa Dell, Mallory Peters, and goalkeeper Maggie Marrone. Clarke and Peters were named All-State First Team and All-SCC First Team with Clarke earning the honor of being selected as the SCC Player of the Year. Junior defender Emily Torre garnered All-SCC Second Team honors for Coach Palmer’s senior-laden squad.
“The seniors kept the team together. Including the JV and freshman teams, we had 68 girls in the program this year,” said Palmer, whose starting goalie was junior Nicolette Spotlow. “The seniors worked hard to keep everyone on point and support each other. It will be a tough class to replace.”
Palmer felt extremely proud of her club’s effort when it posted its 2-0 road win over Hand on Oct. 19. She was also quite pleased with the Indians’ victory versus Avon in states as Guilford’s seniors emerged triumphant from the final home game of their careers.
“One of our bigger accomplishments this year was that win at Hand. We don’t often go to Hand and get a win,” Coach Palmer said. “Another big game was our final game at home against Avon in the state quarterfinals. Avon was a quality team throughout the year, and it was one of our best games. All of our seniors played, and it was a nice way for the seniors to end their career at home.”
Guilford will feature some new faces in 2018 after graduating nine players from this season. However, Coach Palmer said that her the program is strong within the underclass ranks and saw a successful run from its JV team this year. The Indians will also welcome a good amount of new athletes into their field hockey family next season.
“We will have some big shoes to fill with the senior class. All of our seniors contributed to our program in one way or another the last four years,” said Palmer. “We have about 18 or 19 8th graders coming up, so we are string numbers wise. Our JV team won SCCs and went 14-2. To have that many people in the program, it’s a great sign for Guilford field hockey. We have the quality and the quantity, but we just have to have it jell together.”
From the Sidelines
Guilford’s varsity roster consisted of seniors Olivia Clarke, Bryce Makula, Emma Macy, Audrey Larrow, Meg Reynolds, Erica Jermacans, Theresa Dell, Mallory Peters, Maggie Marrone; juniors Celia Mariconda, Renee Sanacora, Mariah Cretella, Cassie Clayton, Mia Tilton, Ava Gladwin, Emily Torre, Maddie Constantino-Lyons, Janie Danaher, Erin Norton, Elannah Devin, Kelsi Putnam, Nicolette Spotlow; sophomores Nicole Auger, Lexi Hitchcock, Jaime Neleber, Lily Mackey, Mia Suchy, Ella Stanley; and freshman Hannah Tillier.
In the regular season, Guilford defeated Sacred Heart Academy (3-1 and 2-1), Mercy (4-0 and 2-0), Amity (8-1), Hamden (2-1 in overtime), Lauralton Hall (2-0), North Haven (9-0), Lyman Hall (7-0), Hand (2-0), Haddam-Killingworth (6-0), Shelton (8-1), and Sheehan (7-0). The Indians’ losses came against Cheshire (4-0) and Branford (2-1), and their tie was against Hamden (2-2).
This was Kitty Palmer’s 36th season as Guilford’s head coach. The Indians’ sssistant coaches this fall were Kiernan Willis (JV coach), Ben Willis (freshman coach), and Tara Slowik (volunteer assistant).