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06/02/2016 12:00 AMEmmy Norton is a sophomore at North Branford who’s played for the high school’s field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse squads since her freshman year. Emmy didn’t expect to take on such a big role across the board right away, but she’s proved an impact player for each of her teams.
“Coming into high school, I had it set in my mind that freshmen wouldn’t play. I had to work for the positions and I was embarrassed at first to be playing as a freshman, but it’s all about competition,” says Emmy. “When you get on the field, you forget ages and numbers; you just play to play. That’s what I like—being competitive, no matter how old you are.”
Emmy started with field hockey and lacrosse in 6th grade and has been playing hockey for about nine years. Emmy’s dad Jack Norton coached her throughout youth hockey days and still is these days as he’s the head coach of the Branford-East Haven-North Branford girls’ team.
“He was my coach through youth, so I grew up playing with him. I love having him as my coach because, when I get on the ice, I don’t look at him as a dad; I look at him as a coach,” Emmy says. “When I get off a shift, I’m able to take constructive criticism because he knows what’s best for me.”
During her two years with the ice hockey squad, Emmy, a left wing, has recorded 38 points on 21 goals and 17 assists. However, she claims she’s actually a better player in the defensive zone by helping keep the puck out of her own net.
“Throughout my youth, I played defense because that’s where the team needed spots, so I have a good [defensive] mind,” says Emmy, who helped her team win the SCC Division II title two years ago. “I play better setting people up on offense. I’m more getting people open in the offensive zone.”
Emmy also plays left wing for T-Birds’ field hockey and her stick skills have translated well between the two sports. As a lefty, Emmy is excellent with her backhand and uses it to get past defenders.
“Field hockey is only right-handed, but I’m a lefty, so I have pretty good stick skills on my backhand. I can go from ice to field hockey using the switching over,” says Emmy, who transitioned to left wing in field hockey after playing the midfield in middle school. “I learned to adapt. The whole game switched because field hockey positions are very specific. It was challenging, but I learned a whole new way to play.”
Emmy is a midfielder in lacrosse and North Branford Head Coach Lori Connelly says that she’s always all over the field and doing everything she can to help the team win. This season, Emmy has netted 29 goals and handed out 11 assists, while also scooping up 35 ground balls. For her varsity career, she’s recorded 53 points and grabbed 39 ground balls.
“Emmy is a whole player. She’s not our leading scorer on offense, but she moves the ball on offense, has a quick shot, and plays in the midfield, so she’s up and down the field,” says Connelly, whose team will compete in the Class S State Tournament this week. “Being a midfielder, she plays defense, she’s on the circle for draws, and she’s just a complete player. Good stick skills, a great attitude, and never gives up. Emmy always works hard and is a positive role model for the other athletes on the team.”
Emmy really enjoys patrolling the midfield because it allows her to make an impact on all ends of the turf.
“I think this year I’ve grown more defensively. In practice, one of the main things we focus on is the defensive basics and I’ve been able to transfer that to the game,” says Emmy. “This year, we a very solid offense because our three midfielders are all quick and our attack is very good. We all have that mindset where we know we can score mindset. We all contribute equally.”
As a result of playing three sports, Emmy has the stamina to run through the midfield during the lacrosse season. She focuses on her leg muscles since skating involves a different motion than running.
“Ice hockey is more of a different motion, so I’m well-conditioned in terms of skating, but running for lacrosse, I have to do extra work to get back into the spring,” says Emmy. “I do extra conditioning for that where I run at my house and at the school with the team without our coach. We get together and run after school to get ourselves ready.”
Emmy says that she often gets asked about which of her sports is her favorite or which one she enjoys playing the most. In the end, she has enough love to go around for all three of them.
“I think ice hockey is the most fun sport to play, but I think field hockey and lacrosse also have a special place in my heart,” says Emmy. “Whichever sport is in season is my favorite.”