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09/15/2019 12:00 AMHead Coach Kitty Palmer and the Guilford field hockey team went on a magical run last year. The Indians not only won the SCC Tournament for the first time, they also claimed their first outright state title in program history by earning a 3-1 win versus Sacred Heart Academy in the Class M final. Now, Coach Palmer and her squad will try to repeat those feats in 2019.
“It’s so hard to win one,” said Palmer, who enters her 38th season as Guilford’s head coach. “We shared the title twice [in 1991 and 1997], and I still remember how hard we worked as a team in both of those seasons. We did it last year with a team that didn’t have a superstar. It was 17 or 18 kids all working hard together to reach a goal.”
After finishing with a record of 19-2-1 last fall, Guilford is turning the page to a new campaign. The Indians graduated 14 seniors from their 2018 team, five of which were starters, including Celia Mariconda, Emily Torre, and Janie Danaher.
On the plus side, Guilford is bringing back its fair share of talent and experience on both the attack and in the midfield, in addition to junior goalkeeper Eve Young, who had an excellent sophomore season. Young posted a shutout when the Indians started off their new year by notching a 5-0 home victory over Stonington in their first game of the year.
Guilford is also bringing back two forwards who earned All-SCC Second Team honors last fall: senior captain Ella Stanley and junior Hannah Tillier. Stanley had three assists, and Tillier scored a goal in the Indians’ win versus Stonington.
“Those two complement each other very well,” Coach Palmer said. “Both can score, and both have the ability to feed each other the ball.”
Other key forwards for the Indians include seniors Ava Bucci and Lexi Hitchcock, and sophomore Allie Petonito. Bucci scored two goals when Guilford blanked Stonington in its opener.
In the midfield, Maddie Epke is back for her sophomore year on the heels of an outstanding freshman campaign. Epke, who netted a pair of goals in the Stonington victory, also plays ice hockey and lacrosse for the Indians.
“She’s a three-sport kid who we started as a freshman,” said Palmer of Epke. “She can control the middle of the field, and we depended on her last year.”
Epke isn’t the only midfielder that Coach Palmer can rely on. Palmer also expects seniors Sarah Minuit, Megan Fernandes, and Nicole Auger to make an impact in the midfield, along with junior Maddie Cunningham.
On the other end of the field, goalie Young will be backed up by senior defenders Cat Larrow, Julia McDonald, Lily Mackey, Caitlyn Cunneen, Sadie Smith, and Mia Suchy, as well as junior defender Ella Kagan.
“Our defense needs to step up and play well,” Palmer said. “We have an experienced player in Cat. The other kids are going to improve as the season goes along.”
The Indians will certainly be tested by their difficult schedule, which features some strong non-conference opponents like Stonington, Enfield, and Glastonbury, along with the typical grind within the SCC.
“Every year, it’s always the same,” said Palmer, whose assistant coaches are Kiernan Willis, Ben Willis, and Tara Slowik. “Playing in the SCC is like having a State Tournament opponent on your schedule each game. It does make us much better when the states roll around.”
As she gears up for another season, Coach Palmer said that’s looking forward to working with the 2019 edition of the Indians.
“These kids keep me young and on my toes,” Palmer said. “I love being on the field each and every afternoon with them.”