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11/01/2017 12:00 AMThe Hand field hockey team is in the midst of an excellent season, led by a group of athletes who are pushing each other to play to their potential every day. One of the biggest reasons behind the Tigers’ success is the strong defensive play and leadership skills of senior captain defender Abi Barry.
Abi didn’t start playing field hockey until 7th grade, but she quickly fell in love with the sport. Now, Abi loves playing for the Tigers, who finished 13-1-2 with nine shutouts for the regular season and are aiming to go on a prosperous playoff run.
Abi says that she’s always motivated to be at the top of her game when she sees everyone around her striving to reach their peak for the good of the team. She adds that her passion for field hockey grew fonder after she had to spend some time on the sidelines during each of the last two seasons.
“What’s really cool about this team is that each one of us care for each other. This is a really good group of girls. We push each other to work harder, and the girls pushing themselves makes me better, because I want to work harder,” says Abi, who also plays lacrosse for Hand. “Last year, I was out for a month with a concussion, and then I missed two weeks this year with an injury. To watch on the sidelines, it’s a sad thing knowing you can’t be out there. But it was a time of a lot of self-reflection, and it’s helped me enjoy the sport more.”
The Tigers were tested right from jump this year with games against fellow SCC heavyweights Cheshire, Branford, and Lauralton Hall, along with defending Class L co-champion Darien, to open the season. Hand weathered the storm by going 3-0-1 in that stretch, showing the rest of the state what the Tigers already knew: that they have the talent and resolve to overcome any opponent.
“Win or lose, this whole team has each other’s backs. We had a tough year last year, so our energy has been driven by not wanting that same feeling from last season,” says Abi. “Those first wins showed the hard work we put in during the preseason and practice. Tying Darien reassured us that we could be the best team in the state.”
As one who patrols the defensive front, Abi’s name doesn’t often show up in the scorebook when it comes to getting goals or assists. However, Abi constantly looks to do whatever is best for her squad by making those sweeps and clears that take the pressure off the players in front of her.
“I like getting the ball away and creating space. I love seeing options for other players on the field, especially midfielders since they are right in front of me,” Abi says. “It’s great knowing I can help alleviate their stress with getting the ball upfield. The defensive line is like the quarterback of the team, because they can see the whole field.”
When she was selected as a captain, Abi says that her family drove home the importance of having that “C” next to her name on the roster. Abi heeded her captain’s call by proving a hard-working leader who listens to her teammates.
“I was extremely honored to be chosen as captain. When I first learned I was captain, my parents taught me what it really meant,” says Abi. “I’ve enjoyed lifting people up and knowing that you have to be the one to say it’ll be fine when we are down in a game. I’ve tried to have traits like having mutual respect between me and the team and letting them know that I care about their success.”
Hand’s Head Coach Sue Leckey says that Abi has everything a coach could want in a captain, including a determination to succeed that’s driven by her love for the sport and her team.
“Abi has been a varsity starter since the beginning of her sophomore season. She is a fierce competitor, a very effective defender, and a consistent leader,” Leckey says. “Although Abi is relentless as a defender, she is thoughtful and considerate of her teammates and coaches. She expects more of herself than she expects from anyone else and commits to being the hardest worker she can possibly be. The thing I admire most about Abi is the willingness she has to play with tenacity and passion for her teammates and for the game. It is really fun to watch her compete. I’m always thankful she is on our team.”
Hand’s first defeat of the season was a tough loss against Guilford, but Abi and company saw it in a positive light, and felt it showed that they could overcome a little adversity. Now, the Tigers are taking that same mentality into the postseason, where they’re looking to contend for conference and state crowns.
“We had that big first loss against Guilford, but we all said how we needed that loss to help bring us back to reality, and how we need to change our mentality,” says Abi. “We all said how, thankfully, it didn’t come in the postseason. We know we’ve beaten the same teams we need to beat to win SCCs.”