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11/23/2016 11:00 PMSydney Hogan put together another outstanding season with the North Branford field hockey team this fall, earning her latest All-Shoreline Conference bid, as well as a second-consecutive All-State First Team selection. Sydney, a senior, has been an offensive monster since first stepping on the field for the T-Birds and she was once again their top scorer this year.
“She has been the catalyst for our team all season, scoring and assisting in every game. Her stick work in field hockey is outstanding as she maneuvers the ball around her opponents like a hot knife through butter,” says Head Coach Babby Nuhn. “She sets up many scoring opportunities for her teammates and her own personal record of 27 goals and three assists is rather impressive. I’m really proud of Sydney’s dedication this season as a true team player. She really came through for her teammates.”
Sydney is also a top player for T-Birds’ girls’ lacrosse in the spring, as well as the Branford-North Branford-East Haven girls’ ice hockey squad in the winter. Sydney plays all three stick sports alongside Emmy Norton and the duo has developed outstanding offensive chemistry with one another.
“It definitely helps that they are all played with a stick. They’ve all helped my skills,” says Sydney. “One of the things that has really helped me out is my left wing Norton. I play with her in all three sports, so we click well. We know where we’re going to be and set each other up, so we’re used to each other. That’s one of the things I’m going to miss the most.”
Sydney was good enough to compete on varsity for all three of her teams as a freshman. Sydney’s older sister Stephanie played field hockey and helped ease her transition into that team, but Sydney didn’t have that luxury with her other two sports. Still, Sydney quickly acclimated herself to the varsity level and made an impact in all three seasons.
“I had my sister and she was welcoming, but for hockey and lacrosse, it was overwhelming. The game was so much faster than I was used to from middle school, but after the first few weeks, I got used to it and I felt like I was ready for that speed of play,” says Sydney. “I feel like I’m better under pressure because of it. I work harder and do more to impress people. Being on the field as a freshman definitely prepared me for higher levels and I was determined to do better.”
Not only did this fall mark Sydney’s second-straight All-State nod for field hockey, she’s also made it in lacrosse the past two years. Through her time on the lacrosse turf at North Branford, Sydney has compiled 191 points on 116 goals with 75 assists, and her 40 helpers this past spring set a school record for assists in a season.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done. It’s really exciting. Not many people are able to say they’ve gotten those honors for two sports for two years in a row. It’s really hard to do,” says Sydney. “I’m not one to flaunt, but it is a big honor, and I appreciate my coaches nominating me. I work really hard, care about my sports and teammates, and am proud I get honored for that.”
Even with all of her success in the fall and the spring, Sydney’s first love is actually ice hockey. She’s been playing that sport the longest and will continue doing so as Sydney recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play at Division II Post University in Waterbury. Sydney will also be joining the women’s lacrosse program at the school.
“I first got in contact with the ice hockey coach because one of my friends went to play there. When I went to visit, the lacrosse coach approached me and asked if I wanted to play both sports. Unfortunately, Post doesn’t have field hockey. If they did, I’d try to continue playing all three,” says Sydney. “It’s very hard for girls to get on an ice hockey team at that level when you don’t go to prep school, so it was one of my only opportunities to play hockey and that’s what drew me there.”
Sydney knows there will be some challenges on the horizon with competing in college, but she’s prepared to overcome them and live her dream of playing two sports at the next level.
“I’m looking forward to being able to play the sports still and getting on a new team with a different atmosphere,” says Sydney. “The challenging thing will be my time management. I’ll have to balance out schoolwork and a schedule for both sports. There will be a lot of pressure, but I do better when I’m busy, so hopefully, I’ll be ready.”