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01/02/2019 11:00 PMChelsea Piccirillo had all the pieces in place to put together a great senior season with the Morgan field hockey team this fall. Backed by a supportive family of teammates and coaches, Chelsea capped off her high school career with an excellent year that saw her earn a few major accolades.
Chelsea started playing field hockey when she was in 6th grade. This year, she led the Huskies as a senior captain while locking things down on defense at the stopper’s position. Chelsea was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player for Morgan, in addition to solidifying spots on the All-Shoreline Conference First Team and the All-State Second Team.
“I fell in love with field hockey mostly because of the fellow players. I’ve been with the same girls since 6th grade, so it’s like a family,” says Chelsea. “Communication is important in field hockey, and I did my best to do that. In a defensive position, you can see the whole field and can help your teammates score. I just tried to do my best every day.”
As a stopper, Chelsea was the final figure on defense prior to the goalie. Chelsea had to deal with some heat while trying to stifle the opposition’s offense, but she loved the rush that came with making that crucial clear for her squad.
“As the last person before the goalkeeper, there is a lot of pressure to get the ball out,” Chelsea says. “Everyone is counting on you, but that’s what makes it also rewarding when you do end up bringing the ball out.”
Much of Chelsea’s improvement with Morgan stems from the work she’s done during the offseason. As time went by, Chelsea sharpened her skills as a result of increasing her endurance.
“I noticed over the years that running is important with this sport with running up and down the field, so I’ve tried my best to run in the offseason to stay in shape,” says Chelsea. “I’ve also practiced at least once a week in the offseason to keep up with my skills.”
Chelsea served as a role model for Morgan in her capacity as a captain. Chelsea always gave a top-notch effort on the field, because she wanted her fellow Huskies to follow her lead.
“I try to do my best in everything,” she says. “Being a captain, you have to set examples for all the girls, and I did that by trying my best in hoping that it inspires others, as well.”
First-year Head Coach Emily Lisy says that Chelsea is the type of athlete who always puts her team first. Lisy adds that no task was too tall for Chelsea to take on when she was patrolling the defensive end of the field.
“Chelsea was a very important part of our team this season. Her leadership on and off the field helped the team do well in many games. She had the ability to break up plays, dribble the ball up the field and around the other team, and get it to our offense,” says Lisy. “Chelsea always had reliable drives and could stop some of the best offensive players as they came down the field. She was one of the most coachable athletes I have ever coached. You could tell Chelsea something one time, and she would go and do it.”
Chelsea says the Huskies meshed together quite nicely with their new coach this season. Chelsea thanks Coach Lisy, former Head Coach Melissa Fritze, and her teammates for making her tenure with Morgan field hockey such a memorable experience.
“Coach Lisy has taught me so much and fit right in this year,” says Chelsea. “The Morgan field hockey program has helped me extremely. The whole team is a close family. The bonds I made here will be with me for the rest of my life.”